Steven Kitshoff, the former South Africa and Ulster prop, joins Nathan Johns on The Counter Ruck.

Kitshoff has won two World Cups with South Africa and has worked extensively with both Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber. He was also forced to retire due to a serious neck injury that could have developed into a significant issue known as the ‘hangman’s fracture’.

Kitshoff joins the podcast to give an insight into the inner workings of South Africa’s historic run, his injury, the Springboks’ relatively new rivalry with Ireland and his time within Irish rugby.

Presented by Nathon Johns. Produced by Andrew McNair.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan join Nathan Johns to pick through the weekend’s interpro action. Friday night saw Connacht struggle away in Glasgow with the set-piece and maul proving an issue. The panel discusses how Connacht continue to look to improve their tight five while analysing Bundee Aki’s return to action at the start of what could be his last season in Irish rugby.

Elsewhere, the first interpro of the season brought about a thriller as Ulster and Munster went tête-à-tête for a draw in Belfast. Clayton McMillan’s side raced out to a commanding hall-time lead only for Ulster, spearheaded by the likes of Robert Baloucoune, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale, to pull things back for a dramatic draw.

Finally, Leinster returned to the RDS for the first time in competitive action as they saw off Cardiff. In a performance that featured impressive counter-attacking displays from the likes of Hugo Keenan and Sam Prendergast, our trio looks at how Leo Cullen’s side are trying to evolve their attack in a bid to ultimately catch up with some of their French foes later this season.

Produced by John Casey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following Munster’s appointment of former Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee as CEO, can the province build towards former glories?

In today’s Counter Ruck rugby podcast Nathan Johns and Gerry Thornley look back at an era for the province which has been criticised for underachievement and ask whether Lee is the man to fix a culture that former players have described as “broken”.

Gerry believes there are some strong indications that Munster has at last got the backroom leadership it has been lacking with Lee “fronting up” to the media and the public rather than leaving it to head coaches to explain what is amis.

Munster travel to Ulster this weekend for the season’s first inter-provincial tie. The loser, Gerry explains, will go into the first round of European fixtures in the bottom eight of the URC table.

So what does the future hold for Munster? And can it produce the consistent success its fan base expects?

Presented by Nathan Johns. Produced by Andrew McNair.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.