On this episode of the Left Wing, Sinéad Kissane and Cian Tracey joined Luke Fitzgerald ahead of the Ireland squad announcement, where the team ask if Andy Farrell will use the four-game Autumn series to rotate new talent.The team also discuss Munster’s lineout issues, Jack Crowley's kicking and we react to Leinster extending Leo Cullen’s stay as head coach.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Left Wing, Sinéad Kissane and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joined Luke Fitzgerald to rebuff claims that the Leinster/Munster rivalry is dead, break down where the 10 situation is at, and ask if now would have been a good time for Leinster to travel to South Africa in the URC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Left Wing, Sinéad Kissane and David Kelly joined Luke Fitzgerald to preview this weekend’s pair of Interpro derbies, with Munster set to travel to a boisterous Croke Park on Saturday. The team give their verdicts for both games, discuss whether emotion can benefit Munster in GAA HQ, and ask what impact RG Snyman will have.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We want to introduce Indo Daily listeners to our brand-new sister podcast, Indo Sport. It’s free, it’s daily Monday to Friday and features the best sporting analysis from across the country, with veteran sports broadcaster Joe Molloy at the helm. In this episode Joe sits down with Irish rugby legend Paul O'Connell for an in-depth discussion. From fishing, changing room speeches and coaching in the modern era, and how does O'Connell look back on his career? Subscribe to Indo Sport, wherever you get your podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Left Wing, Sinéad Kissane and David Kelly joined Luke Fitzgerald in the aftermath of a historic victory by the Irish women over New Zealand in the WXV series in Canada. The team also debate the wisdom of players going to places like France to further their career, talk about Johnny Sexton’s new book, and ask if Munster can bounce back from a damaging defeat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Left Wing, Rúaidhrí O’Connor joined Luke Fitzgerald to break down the first week of URC action, and ask if Leinster are using their resources correctly at this stage of the season.  Also: what to like about Munster and Connacht after early-doors thriller; is the Emerging Ireland tour fit for purpose; South Africa drop to put Ireland on top of the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2024/25 season is upon us and so is the new season of the Left Wing. Rúaidhrí O’Connor joined Luke Fitzgerald to assess where expectations lie in each Irish province ahead of the URC’s kick-off. Also: what to do about Ireland’s Number 10s; Simon Easterby announced as interim Ireland head coach; How Andy Farrell’s absence will be felt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery select their Lions team to take on Australia next summer. With Andy Farrell set to coach the team down under, the lads speculate as to how much that will benefit the Irish players. Luke think Jack Crowley could well be the starting out-half while everyone agrees that it will be a big season for Garry Ringrose.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery answer readers' questions on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. How to give gametime to Ireland's U-20 talent, where Leinster should play Jordie Barrett and whether there is pressure on Paul O'Connell are all topics of discussion. The lads then finish off by asking whether Hugo Keenan should regain his Ireland place in November or if Jamie Osborne should hold onto the 15 jersey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruaidhri O'Connor joins Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery to reflect on Ireland's famous win over South Africa on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. Ciaran Frawley was the hero with a late drop goal and once again his future at Leinster is a big topic of discussion. The lads break down Ireland's stellar first half, South Africa's comeback and the key role Andy Farrell played in the victory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruaidhri O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Will Slattery to digest Ireland's famous win in South Africa after Ciaran Frawley's late drop goal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruaidhri O'Connor joins Will Slattery to discuss the Ireland team announcement and Andy Farrell's decision to drop Peter O'Mahony for the second Test against the Springboks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's relationship with referees is in the spotlight after the opening Test match defeat to the Springboks on Saturday. Luke Fitzgerald and Ruaidhri O'Connor joined Will Slattery on The Left Wing podcast, with Caelan Doris' interactions with referee Luke Pearce a major discussion point. South Africa's more attacking style of play also caught the eye, although Luke thinks it might be a mistake for the Springboks to move too far away from a power game. The lads finish off by looking ahead to the second Test in Durban this Saturday and discuss what changes Andy Farrell might make after a suffering a number of injuries on SaturdaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruaidhri O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Will Slattery on The Left Wing podcast to discuss Ireland's narrow defeat to South Africa in the first Test in Pretoria. Two costly errors from James Lowe in the second half saw the Springboks score a brace of vital tries and the lads are on hand to pick through all the talking points from a dramatic encounter. There were contentious TMO calls, some strong Irish play and some areas of concern as thoughts now turn towards the second Test next weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Osborne has been handed a shock debut at fullback as Andy Farrell named the Ireland team to face the Springboks. Ruaidhri O'Connor joins Will Slattery on The Left Wing podcast to discuss the stern test the Naas youngster will face in Pretoria. Craig Casey starts at scrum-half ahead of Conor Murray while Farrell has opted for a 5/3 bench split with Garry Ringrose wearing the number 23 jersey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Fitzgerald, Ruaidhri O'Connor and Will Slattery give their verdict on Ireland's chances in South Africa on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. The lads preview the first Test, which takes place in Pretoria on Saturday, and discuss the budding rivalry between Ireland and the Springboks. Rassie Erasmus' team selection, areas of concern for Ireland and the Champions Cup draw are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery look ahead to Ireland's Test series against South Africa on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Despite the club season ending on a sour note for the Irish provinces, Luke thinks that Andy Farrell can build his players up to take on the Springboks. The lads discuss some of the selection dilemmas facing Farrell such as at full back, scrum-half and the back five of the scrum. They then finish up by looking at the Leinster log-jam at out-half featuring Ciaran Frawley, Ross Byrne, Harry Byrne and Sam Prendergast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leinster and Munster's URC semi-final defeats and Ireland's squad announcement were up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. Ruaidhri O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery to pick through a very disappointing weekend for Irish rugby. Luke says Leinster have major questions to answer after a third season without a trophy while Cian says that Munster got their team selection badly wrong for the semi-final loss to Glasgow. Andy Farrell has also named his Ireland squad for the tour to South Africa, and the lads are mixed on whether it is a strong enough selection to beat the Springboks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rúaidhrí O’Connor join Cian Tracey and Luke Fitzgerald to assess the chances of a Leinster v Munster decider in the URC. Leinster have logistical headaches and altitude to contend with as they travel to face the Bulls in Loftus Versfeld - Luke remembers how playing at such heights can impact your body. Meanwhile - Munster can make most of their partnerships; who Andy Farrell may pick to face the Springboks; should Simon Zebo get a call-up? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery look ahead to the URC playoffs on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. Munster are in the box seat after securing top seeding with an exciting win over Ulster and the lads think the Thomond Park factor could see them defend their URC crown. Leinster will have to do it the hard way with a likely trip to South Africa if they beat Ulster in the quarter-finals, with the future of young out-half Sam Prendergast still a big talking point. Hugo Keenan's Sevens switch, Connacht's poor finish to the season and Ulster's resurgence under Richie Murphy are up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery break down Leinster's dramatic Champions Cup final defeat to Toulouse on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. Poor handling, bad decision making, and some heroic Toulouse defence saw the French side triumph in extra time. The lads discuss all the major talking points after Leinster's third successive Champions Cup final loss, including the pressure on Leo Cullen and attack coach Andrew Goodman, who is now taking up a role with Ireland. The URC is still in play for Leinster, but the question is whether they can bounce back from their latest heart-breaking defeat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was more Champions Cup final heartbreak for Leinster this weekend. They were beaten 31 points to 22 after extra time by Toulouse in an epic final at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London. Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane to discuss another lost final for Leinster with Antoine Dupont producing a man-of-the-match performance to lead the French side to a sixth title.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stage is set for the first Champions Cup final between Leinster and Toulouse tomorrow in London. Leinster are going for their fifth title when they play the French side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to discuss the team selections and give their final thoughts on what should be an epic game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Ruaidhri O'Connor, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery preview Leinster vs Toulouse in the Champions Cup final Leinster's record in deciders has not been good in the last few years and Ruaidhri thinks the psychological baggage they are carrying could be significant. Luke says Jacques Nienaber's defensive influence could be a deciding factor while the lads also talk through all the big team selection talking points. The URC playoff race, Simon Zebo's retirement and Sam Prendergast's possible loan move are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Munster's rich vein of form is a main topic of discussion on this week's episode of The Left Wing where Luke Fitzgerald and Cian Tracey join Will Slattery. Just like last season, Graham Rowntree's men have timed their URC run nicely, and after a big win over Connacht, their title defence looks in a great place. It's a different story for Connacht, who face a must-win game against the Stomers after an abject showing in Limerick. The lads also look ahead to Ulster vs Leinster this weekend after both teams enjoyed impressive wins last Saturday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leinster nervously inched their way closer to a fifth European Champions Cup, after a nail-biting finish at GAA HQ on Saturday evening. A James Lowe hat trick capped an impressive first 60 minutes in style, but why did things fall apart as the final whistle approached? Will Luke and Cian discuss how a 37 minute period without a score will be punished by a better team than Northampton. Leinster will now line up against a very tricky Toulouse team for the final, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, May 25th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leinster's selection policy ahead of their Champions Cup semi-final is a big topic of discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Luke Fitzgerald, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Will Slattery discuss whether Leo Cullen made a mistake in resting so many starters for the recent trip to South Africa and break down some of the big selection talking points for the semi-final at Croke Park. Meanwhile, Munster continued their strong record in South Africa and look primed for another URC title tilt while Ulster's form under Richie Murphy leaves them in danger of missing out on a playoff place. Plus, why Croke Park can be a hindrance for kickers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a memorable weekend for Ireland after they secured automatic qualification for next year's World Cup in England. Scott Bemand's team finished third in the Women's Six Nations table which also means they will play in Tier 1 of the WXV competition later this year. Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly joined Sinéad Kissane on the Left Wing podcast to review the campaign and discuss what needs to be done for Ireland to become World Cup ready.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Munster's performance in Loftus, can their win over the Bulls be the catalyst for a URC defence and what about the difference RG Snyman makes? Cian Tracey and Luke Fitzgerald join Rúaidhrí O’Connor on this week’s Left Wing podcast to discuss all the big talking points for Irish rugby from the weekend. After Leinster’s uncharacteristic loss to Lions are they repeating past mistakes as the coaches fly home to prep for Saints? There’s also been a lot of talk about central contracts and the panel asks is the model working and does it need tweaking or wholesale change? Plus, selling out Croke Park - what it means for Leinster, Irish rugby and what it's like to play in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

England dished out a 88-10 hammering to Ireland in the Women's Six Nations at Twickenham last weekend. The world number one-ranked team completely overwhelmed Ireland as they ran in 14 tries. Scott Bemand's side will play Scotland in Belfast in next Saturday's final round with an automatic place in next year’s World Cup up for grabs for the team that finishes third in the table. Former Ireland player Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly of scrumqueens.com joined Sinéad Kissane to go through last weekend's demolition and look ahead to the biggest game of the year for Ireland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leinster's emphatic win over La Rochelle and their blockbuster signing of Jordie Barrett are up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Rúaidhrí O'Connor, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery break down the key moments behind Leinster's victory and single out the key performers like Will Connors and Joe McCarthy. Jacques Nienaber's influence on Leinster is also discussed before talk turns to the signing of All Blacks star Barrett. The lads debate whether the signing should have been signed off by the IRFU and the worrying gulf that has emerged between the provinces. Ulster and Connacht's heavy European defeats are also on the agenda.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland have jumped to third in the Women's Six Nations table after their excellent bonus point win over Wales at Musgrave Park on Saturday. Ireland scored five tries as they won 36-5 to record their first win in the championship since April 2022. Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly joined Sinéad Kissane to talk through this very impressive performance and look ahead to Ireland's daunting task against England at Twickenham next weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leinster's showdown with La Rochelle and Munster's Champions Cup exit are both up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Cian Tracey, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery look back on the round of 16 clashes that saw Leinster beat Leicester and Munster go down to Northampton. La Rochelle now loom for Leinster, and the lads break down where the game will be won and lost. Ulster and Connacht's Challenge Cup victories and the Moment of the Week are on the agenda too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rúaidhrí O'Connor, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery look ahead to the Champions Cup last 16 on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Leinster and Munster take on Leicester and Northampton respectively this weekend, while Ulster and Connacht also face French opposition in the Challenge Cup. The lads preview all four games as well as looking back on another interesting weekend of URC action. Rúaidhrí also breaks down the documentary looking at South Africa's recent World Cup win, while Luke thinks Peter O'Mahony should hold off on retirement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland suffered their second defeat of this season's Women's Six Nations after a 27-21 loss to Italy in front of a record attendance at the RDS on Sunday. Next up for Scott Bemand's team is Wales in Cork on April 13. Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly join Sinéad Kissane on the latest episode of the Left Wing to discuss the factors that cost Ireland and what they need to improve when they face Wales.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The return of the URC and the downside to playing rugby in Croke Park is up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald discuss what Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht need to do to ensure a strong finish to the season with some big games to come over the next few weeks. The lads also discuss Ireland's opening Women's Six Nations game against France and with Leinster set to return to Croke Park later this season, Luke Fitzgerald explains why he didn't think the atmosphere in GAA HQ was great when he was a player.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland opened their 2024 Women's Six Nations with a 38-17 defeat to France in Le Mans but there were some improvements on last year's performance against the French with Aoife Wafer and Aoife Dalton scoring tries with the Irish defence also a plus. Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly join Sinéad Kissane on The Left Wing podcast to discuss the improvements and the areas of concern going into the first home game of the campaign against Italy at the RDS on Sunday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2024 Women's Six Nations kicks off this weekend with Ireland facing France in Le Mans on Saturday. After finishing bottom of the table last year, Ireland - under new head coach Scott Bemand - will hope for a much better showing in this year's edition.  Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly joined Sinéad Kissane on the latest edition of The Left Wing to discuss where Ireland are at going into this tournament, the absence of co-captain Sam Monaghan from the team and the importance of getting the culture right in a team environment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland are Six Nations champions once again as Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery look back on another memorable campaign. The final victory over Scotland failed to hit the heights as Luke and Cian pick out areas where Ireland will look to improve ahead of two tests against South Africa this summer. However, there were also plenty of positives as Andy Farrell's men secured back-to-back titles. Peter O'Mahony's swansong, Italy's impressive showing and an awful few weeks for Wales are all on the agenda too. Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.com pop in code WING and fill out the short survey to be in with the chance of winning a €500 OneforAll voucher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland are back to back Six Nations champions. They beat Scotland 17-13 at the Aviva stadium today.  Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane after the game to discuss the big talking points including the possibility that it could be O'Mahony's last game in an Ireland jersey. ­ Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.com pop in code WING and fill out the short survey to be in with the chance of winning a €500 OneforAll voucher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Farrell has named an unchanged team for Saturday's Six Nations game against Scotland at the Aviva stadium. Farrell has gone with a 5/3 bench split with Garry Ringrose among the subs. On today's episode of The Left Wing, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane to discuss the team and bench that Farrell has named as they chase a Six Nations title in the championship finale. Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.compop in code WING and fill out the short survey to be in with the chance of winning a €500 OneforAll voucher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's shock defeat to England at Twickenham is up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Cian Tracey joins Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery to break down where things went wrong for Andy Farrell's men. A passive defence, poor kicking strategy and a questionable use of the bench all contributed to the Ireland defeat. Italy's surprise win over Scotland, Antoine Frisch's France call up and the Moment of the Week are all up for discussion too. Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.compop in code WING and fill out the short survey to be in with the chance of winning a €500 OneforAll voucher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was heartache for Ireland after they lost to England and a drop goal with the last kick of the game but in the end the better team won. Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey give their immediate post-match analysis from Twickenham and reflect on why Ireland played below par and what it means for their final Six Nations game against Scotland next weekend. And join Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald for their deep dive and reaction to the England defeat on Wednesday’s Left Wing podcast. Listen & follow on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.com pop in code WING and fill out the short survey to be in with the chance of winning a €500 OneforAll voucher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fit-again Hugo Keenan is back in the Ireland team for Saturday's Six Nations game with England with no place for Garry Ringrose in the squad. ­ Andy Farrell has once again gone with a 6:2 split on the bench which includes Ciarán Frawley and Ian Henderson while James Ryan has been ruled out with a bicep injury he picked up in training yesterday. ­ Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane on The Left Wing podcast to go through the big talking points and we also hear from Farrell on his selection as Ireland look to take another step towards the Grand Slam in London this weekend. ­ Don’t forget to join Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian after the final whistle on Saturday for their post-match analysis show. ­ Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.com pop in code WING and fill out the short survey to be in with the chance of winning a €500 OneforAll voucher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's Twickenham showdown against England is up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. Jonathan Bradley joins Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery to break down the big talking points as Andy Farrell's side continue their march towards another Grand Slam. England's stuttering attack, Ireland's bench selection and Jack Crowley's performance to date are all on the agenda as well as plenty more. Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.com pop in code WING and fill out the short survey to be in with the chance of winning a €500 OneforAll voucher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rúaidhrí O'Connor, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery assess Ireland's dominant start to the Six Nations on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. The lack of a World Cup hangover, navigating the post-Johnny Sexton era and a stingy defence have all been impressive hallmarks of Ireland's three bonus-point victories to date. There are two games to go but already it looks like another Grand Slam is on the cards for Ireland. France's implosion, Italy's near miss and the latest crisis in Ulster are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland have made it three bonus point wins in a row in the 2024 Six Nations. Andy Farrell’s team beat Wales 31-7 at the Aviva stadium and Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane after the game to discuss the big talking points from Ireland’s win. And don’t forget to join Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery on Wednesday for their in-depth analysis of Ireland’s win.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ciarán Frawley has been named at full-back in the Ireland team to play Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday at the Aviva stadium. The rest of the team is the same as the one that started the opening round win over France in Marseille while the uncapped Oli Jager is on the bench. Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane on The Left Wing to discuss the big talking points of Farrell's team selection. Join Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian again on Saturday after the final whistle when they will give their thoughts and post-match analysis on the game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's clash with Wales on Saturday is the main topic of discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. Jonathan Bradley joins Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery to look forward to round three of the Six Nations and pick through the major talking points ahead of the Ireland team announcement. The lads also discuss Ireland's formidable record at the Aviva Stadium despite criticism of the atmosphere, and chat about Ulster's latest defeat to the Ospreys.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest Left Wing, Ireland and Leinster prop Andrew Porter joined Sinéad Kissane in studio where he spoke openly about his self-doubt and his questions over whether he was cut out for professional rugby after he returned home from Ireland’s World Cup exit last October. Porter - an ambassador for the Irish Cancer Society - talked about the help he got from coaches to help him recover as Ireland look to make it back to back Grand Slams in the Six Nations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hugo Keenan's replacement at fullback is a big topic of discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Cian Tracey joins Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery to go over all the main talking points after round two of the Six Nations. Jack Crowley's performance, the major TMO controversy and the standard of this year's competition are all on the agenda.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland recorded their second consecutive bonus point win in the 2024 Six Nations scoring six tries - including a brace from Dan Sheehan and a first ever international try from Jack Crowley - in a 36-0 over Italy. Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane after the game at the Aviva Stadium to discuss the performance whilst we also get the views of Andy Farrell, captain Caelan Doris and man of the match James Lowe. Don’t forget to join Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery for their weekly deep-dive on Wednesday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has made six changes to the team that started the record-breaking win over France and he's selected Caelan Doris as captain for Sunday's Six Nations game with Italy at the Aviva stadium. Some of the changes to the team were injury-enforced. On today's episode of the Left Wing, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to go through all the big talking points from Farrell's selection. Join us again after the final whistle on Sunday when Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian will be back with their post-match show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery break down Ireland's record-setting win over France on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Andy Farrell's men were ruthless in Marseille on Friday night and the lads pick out a number of areas where they felt Ireland got the upper hand. Luke and Cian heap praise on the Irish attack and say that France head coach Fabien Galthié faces serious questions after an awful performance. Scotland's near-collapse against Wales, England's win over Italy and Ireland's latest U-20 triumph are all up for discussion too. Join The Left Wing again on Friday for our team news episode as well as the post-match special on Sunday with Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland produced their best ever victory in France with a stunning 38-17 win over Les Bleus in the opening game of the 2024 Six Nations in Marseille. Andy Farrell's team scored five tries with Joe McCarthy producing a man of the match performance. Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane after the game at the Stade Velodrome to reflect on one of the all-time great Six Nations displays from an Irish team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland produced their best ever victory in France with a stunning 38-17 win over Les Bleus in the opening game of the 2024 Six Nations in Marseille. Andy Farrell's team scored five tries with Joe McCarthy producing a man of the match performance. Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane after the game at the Stade Velodrome to reflect on one of the all-time great Six Nations displays from an Irish team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's Left Wing podcast comes to you from inside the Stade Velodrome on the eve of Ireland's Six Nations opener against France in Marseille. Sinéad Kissane and Rúaidhrí O'Connor were at the captains’ run and Peter O'Mahony's press conference today for the final build-up to a game that's been billed as the championship decider. Join us again on Friday after the final whistle when Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian Tracey will be giving their thoughts on the game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ireland team to play France in Friday's Six Nations opener in Marseille has been named. On today's episode of the Left Wing podcast, Rúaidhrí O'Connor joins Sinéad Kissane from Ireland's pre-Six Nations base in Portugal before they leave for France to discuss the big talking points of Andy Farrell's selection, including starts for Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash, Garry Ringrose's absence through injury, Crowley’s start at outhalf and the 6/2 forwards/backs split on the bench. Join us again on Thursday when Sinéad and Rúaidhrí will be back with more news and updates from the Ireland and France camps.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ronan O'Gara breaks down France vs Ireland on the latest episode of The Left Wing ahead of Friday's Six Nations showdown. The La Rochelle head coach joined Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery to look ahead to the blockbuster opening game as well as delve into his coaching journey in France. Luke and Will then preview the Six Nations along with Jonathan Bradley, starting with whether Ireland will suffer from a World Cup hangover. England's dark horse potential, Ireland's out-half situation and the lads' Six Nations predictions are all on the agenda too. Join us again on Wednesday and Thursday as we bring you new episodes with the latest from the Ireland and France team camps.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The final round of the Champions Cup pool stage and round of 16 ties are up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. Jonathan Bradley joins Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery to pick through Ulster's heavy defeat to Harlequins and to assess whether the northern province is better off in the Challenge Cup. Munster's collapse against Northampton, Leinster's win in Leicester and Joe Schmidt's move to Australia are all on the agenda too, and the lads give their moment of the week in association with Bank of Ireland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The launch of the 2024 Six Nations took place at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin today. Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Dave Kelly joined Sinéad Kissane on the Left Wing podcast to discuss the big talking points of the day as Peter O'Mahony spoke for the first time since he was announced as Ireland captain. And head coach Andy Farrell discussed the debrief he'll have with the squad at Carton House as Ireland get ready for the opening game of their Grand Slam defence against France in Marseille on Friday week. Join the Left Wing again on Tuesday as Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery give their weekly deep dive on the main rugby stories.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the final weekend of pool games in the Champions Cup and on today's episode of the Left Wing podcast, Rúaidhrí O'Connor joins Sinéad Kissane to go through the team announcements from the provinces including the selection of the fit-again Harry Byrne at outhalf for Leinster against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road. Munster host Northampton at Thomond Park, Ulster are away to Harlequins - all on Saturday - while Connacht play Bristol on Friday. Rúaidhrí also discusses the confirmation today that former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt will take over from Eddie Jones as the head coach of the Wallabies. We’ll be back on Monday for a special episode from the Six Nations launch in Dublin so do join us then.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Peter O'Mahony named as the new Ireland captain for the 2024 Six Nations and Andy Farrell naming the 34-man squad for the upcoming tournament, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing to talk about O'Mahony's promotion and the squad make-up. They also discuss the players who've missed out on selection in Farrell's squad and the likely make-up of the team to play France in the opening game in Marseille in just over two weeks’ time. And join us again on Friday for our special Champions Cup team news episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Munster's big win, Ulster's collapse and all the Champions Cup talking points were up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing with Luke Fitzgerald and Cian Tracey joining Will Slattery. Jack Crowley's man of the match performance helped Munster beat Toulon and Cian says it was ideal preparation for Ireland's Six Nations opener against France. The lads then discuss Peter O'Mahony's future as his contract discussions drag on. Leo Cullen's future, Ulster's heavy defeat to Toulouse and Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham being unavailable for Connacht are all up for discussion too. Join us again during the week when Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to discuss the Ireland Six Nations squad that is being named.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big weekend of Champions Cup action is coming up with all four provinces taking on French opposition in round three. Munster have Peter O'Mahony back for their trip to Toulon while James Lowe and Tadhg Furlong returns for Leinster who have Ciaran Frawley starting at 10 for the visit of Stade Francais at the Aviva stadium. Ulster are in one of the games of the weekend as they welcome Toulouse while Connacht are away in Lyon. Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane to discuss all the big talking points ahead of a huge weekend in the competition. Don’t forget, Luke Fitzgerald joins Will Slattery on next Tuesday’s episode for their weekly in-depth discussion of the week’s rugby stories.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The identity of Ireland's new captain is up for debate on the latest episode of the Left Wing. Luke Fitzgerald, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Will Slattery go through all the candidates ahead of next week's announcement, and also discuss who might make the cut for the Six Nations squad. Andy Farrell is set to be named Lions head coach later this week, but is it good for Irish rugby if he takes a sabbatical to do it? The lads finish things up with a look ahead to round three of the Champions Cup this weekend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Year's Day inter-pro derbies are up for discussion on the first Left Wing podcast of 2024. Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald digest Ulster's shock win against Leinster at the RDS and Connacht outlasting Munster in a rain-soaked Sportsground. Luke was impressed with Billy Burns' kicking display and thinks that Jacob Stockdale could be making a push for Ireland inclusion. Meanwhile, Connacht finally ended their losing streak but it was double disappointment for Munster - not only did they lose again but also suffered two more serious injuries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another dramatic weekend of Champions Cup rugby is up for discussion on the final Left Wing podcast of the year. Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery look back on Munster's collapse against Exeter, Leinster's sloppy win over Sale, Ulster's impressive victory against Racing 92 and another heavy defeat for Connacht. RG Snyman's controversial switch from Munster to Leinster, Andy Farrell's new contract and the prospect of 15s players competing at the Olympics are all on the agenda too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It could be one of the biggest moves in Irish rugby. It's been reported that RG Snyman will join Leinster next season when his contract finishes with Munster. Rúaidhrí O'Connor and CianTracey join Sinéad Kissane on the Left Wing podcast to discuss the response and ramifications of this possible move. They also go through the teams announced by the provinces ahead of the second weekend of the Champions Cup. Listen & follow on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leinster's big win in La Rochelle was up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast with Luke Fitzgerald, Will Slattery and Rúaidhrí O'Connor. James Ryan's performance and the importance of getting over the La Rochelle hurdle were two big talking points after the game. Munster, Ulster and Connacht all failed to win while Jack Crowley's game time with Munster got particular attention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's opening weekend of the new Champions Cup season and there are some big talking points around team selection with, in particular, Harry Byrne being named at outhalf for Leinster's game away to defending champions La Rochelle on Sunday. It is Byrne's first Champions Cup start while Ciaran Frawley has been named on the bench. Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing to discuss the teams announced by Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht ahead of their games this weekend and which of the provinces can start the season with wins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Fitzgerald, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Will Slattery preview the Champions Cup on the latest episode of The Left Wing. The tournament kicks off on Friday night and the Irish provinces look poised to make a big impact. Leinster's opening clash away to La Rochelle sets things up nicely, while Munster can also be confident of making a deep run in the competition. The new format, Owen Farrell's decision to step away from international rugby and Connacht and Ulster's chances are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery is joined by referee Wayne Barnes to look back on his eventful career. The Englishman recently called time on his refereeing career after taking charge of the World Cup final, and Barnes gives a fascinating insight into what it's like officiating the biggest game in rugby. The life of a top official, the TMO bunker and what it's like refereeing Johnny Sexton is all up for discussion too. ‘Throwing the Book’ by Wayne Barnes is out now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leinster's win over Munster is up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing as Jonathan Bradley joins Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery. Leinster got the win but there were plenty of reasons for Munster to be positive as their attack continued to shine. Luke thinks Ciaran Frawley has a big chance in the coming weeks after Ross Byrne's injury while Simon Zebo reminded people of his quality. Jonathan also gave an update from Ulster after their loss to Glasgow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leinster got their revenge result with a 21-16 win over Munster victory in the URC at the Aviva stadium on Saturday and Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane on the Left Wing podcast straight after tonight’s game to go through the main talking points from tonight’s derby. Don’t forget to join Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery for their deep dive on next Tuesday’s show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leinster and Munster have named their teams for Saturday's URC game at the Aviva Stadium and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane on the Left Wing podcast to discuss what to expect. Robbie Henshaw, Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan make their first starts of the season in a very strong Leinster team. The injured Peter O'Mahony has been ruled out for Munster with Diarmuid Barron captaining Munster and World Cup winner Jean Kleyn also featuring for the first time this season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Fitzgerald, Will Slattery and Rúaidhrí O'Connor look ahead to Leinster vs Munster on the latest Left Wing podcast. With Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster both gone, are Leinster a worse version of themselves heading into this season? Garry Ringrose's missed tackle stats are a concern for Luke and Rúaidhrí. Meanwhile in Munster, Peter O'Mahony has stepped down as captain - does this pave the way for him to take over the Ireland role? The question of whether 15s players should switch to Sevens for the Olympics is also up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Humphreys' to-do list as the new IRFU Performance Director was a big topic of discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. With the Ulster legend set to replace David Nucifora next summer, Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery discussed the big challenge in ensuring young Irish talent get sufficient game time in the coming seasons. The weekend's provincial action was also on the agenda, with Graham Rowntree unhappy with Munster's showing against Ulster while Connacht suffered heartbreak against Edinburgh.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Luke Fitzgerald, Will Slattery and Jonathan Bradley preview the provincial rugby season. As the dust settles on the World Cup, thoughts turn to what the provinces can achieve in the URC and the Champions Cup. Can Munster back up last season's success? Can Leinster end their trophy drought? Can Connacht and Ulster upset the pecking order? All that and plenty more is up for discussion on our provincial season preview.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa's World Cup final win over New Zealand is up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast as Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery give their verdict on the big match. Despite winning back to back world titles, Luke thinks the Springboks got a little fortunate with some of their coaching decisions en route to glory. The lads break down the big talking points from the final and also reflect on the World Cup as a whole while summing it up from an Irish perspective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rúaidhrí O'Connor joins Will Slattery on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast to preview the World Cup final between the All Blacks and South Africa. It is a clash of the titans with both teams looking to win a record fourth William Webb Ellis Cup, and there are so many subplots to look forward to. South Africa's 7/1 bench split, their record win over New Zealand before the tournament and referee Waynes Barnes are all up for discussion. Having tipped New Zealand on Tuesday, Rúaidhrí gives a final prediction and is leaning towards changing his mind to Rassie Erasmus' Springbok side. Join us again on Tuesday when Luke Fitzgerald will be giving his review of the final and the 2023 Rugby World Cup overall.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The issue of scrum dominance was a big talking point on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast as Luke Fitzgerald, Will Slattery, Jonathan Bradley and Rúaidhrí O'Connor discussed its place in the game. South Africa used the scrum as a real weapon against England to book their final place, but is that good for the game? Meanwhile, the lads further discussed Ireland's World Cup exit and previewed the final clash between the All Blacks and the Springboks. Don’t forget to join Will and Rúaidhrí again on Friday for another Left Wing show as they look ahead to the World Cup final.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World Cup moves on without Ireland this weekend and on the latest episode of the Left Wing podcast, Rúaidhrí O'Connor dials in from Paris and joins Cian Tracey and Sinéad Kissane to go through this weekend's World Cup semi-finals. Argentina play New Zealand on Friday night and England play South Africa on Saturday night at the Stade de France for a place in the World Cup final as the post-World Cup comeback continues for Ireland. Don’t forget to join Will, Luke and Rúaidhrí on Tuesday’s show as they analyse the semis and look ahead to the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's latest quarter-final heartbreak is up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing as Luke Fitzgerald, Will Slattery, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Jonathan Bradley pick through Saturday's defeat to New Zealand. Why did Andy Farrell's men come up short in another last-eight tie? The lineout, missed chances and a huge effort from the All Blacks all contributed to a dramatic defeat in Paris. The lads dive into some of the key moments from Saturday's game as well as look into the future as Andy Farrell faces a rebuilding job with a number of star players unlikely to be involved at the next World Cup. The Left Wing will be back again on Thursday to preview the weekend semi-finals so don’t forget to join us then.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's another World Cup quarter-final exit for Ireland. Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane at the Stade de France after Ireland's 28-24 defeat to New Zealand to discuss the regrets Ireland will have in what was Johnny Sexton's last game for Ireland. The Left Wing Live The Left Wing is coming to the 3Olympia Theatre on Thursday 19th October ahead of the World Cup semis and with Ireland potentially playing for a World Cup final place, it promises to be a great night of rugby discussion and banter with Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery being joined by Bernard Jackman and Stephen Ferris. Tickets priced from €29.90 including booking fee and are on sale now at: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/198239/5433842See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the eve of Ireland's World Cup quarter-final against New France, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane on the latest episode of the Left Wing at the Stade de France ahead of one of the biggest games ever in Irish rugby history. Mack Hansen has been passed fit to play, they talk about the bizarre suggestion of spying at New Zealand training that was aimed at Ireland and where tomorrow's game will be won or lost. And don’t forget to join Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian on Sunday morning for their special post-match show. Will we be looking forward to a semi-final game or will it be another quarter-final heartache? Listen and follow on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. The Left Wing Live The Left Wing is coming to the 3Olympia Theatre on Thursday 19th October ahead of the World Cup semis and with Ireland potentially playing for a World Cup final place, it promises to be a great night of rugby discussion and banter with Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery being joined by Bernard Jackman and Stephen Ferris. Tickets priced from €29.90 including booking fee and are on sale now at: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/198239/5433842See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the Left Wing podcast we look ahead to the other huge World Cup quarter-final at the Stade de France this weekend as France take on South Africa on Sunday night. Sinéad Kissane is joined by Illtud Dafydd - a Welsh journalist who lives in France - who's been following France and the Boks this week. We also hear from former New Zealand Maori coach Colin Cooper who's coached Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe in the past and he gives some insights into the drive and ambition of the players at the time. The Left Wing Live The Left Wing is coming to the 3Olympia Theatre on Thursday 19th October ahead of the World Cup semis and with Ireland potentially playing for a World Cup final place, it promises to be a great night of rugby discussion and banter with Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery being joined by Bernard Jackman and Stephen Ferris. Tickets priced from €29.90 including booking fee and are on sale now at: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/198239/5433842See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the outskirts of Paris, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to discuss the team named by Andy Farrell to play New Zealand in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final. Plus we also get the view from New Zealand with former Ulster and Ireland flanker Sean Reidy. Join us again tomorrow when Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian will be at the New Zealand team hotel for the naming of their team. The Left Wing Live The Left Wing is coming to the 3Olympia Theatre on Thursday 19th October ahead of the World Cup semis and with Ireland potentially playing for a World Cup final place, it promises to be a great night of rugby discussion and banter with Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery being joined by Bernard Jackman and Stephen Ferris. Tickets priced from €29.90 including booking fee and are on sale now at: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/198239/5433842See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's showdown with New Zealand is up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing as Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery look ahead to the big game with Jonathan Bradley and Justin Marshall. Luke, Will and Jonathan kick off by looking back at the win over Scotland before All Blacks legend Justin Marshall drops in to give the view from New Zealand. The lads then preview the quarter-final, assess Joe Schmidt's legacy and give their final predictions for Saturday night. Join us again on tomorrow’s show when Sinead, Rúaidhrí and Cian will be discussing the Ireland team to face New Zealand. The Left Wing Live The Left Wing is coming to the 3Olympia Theatre on Thursday 19th October ahead of the World Cup semis and with Ireland potentially playing for a World Cup final place, it promises to be a great night of rugby discussion and banter with Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery being joined by Bernard Jackman and Stephen Ferris. Tickets priced from €29.90 including booking fee and are on sale now at: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/198239/5433842See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest Left Wing podcast, from Paris, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to start the build-up to Ireland's World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand on Saturday. They talk about the legacy of Joe Schmidt, the latest on the injuries to Ireland players and will fatigue be an issue for this team with Andy Farrell largely keeping the same team since the start of this tournament? Listen and follow on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Left Wing Live The Left Wing is coming to the 3Olympia Theatre on Thursday 19th October ahead of the World Cup semis and with Ireland potentially playing for a World Cup final place, it promises to be a great night of rugby discussion and banter with Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery being joined by Bernard Jackman and Stephen Ferris. Tickets priced from €29.90 including booking fee and are on sale now at: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/198239/5433842See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the Stade de France, Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane for their post-match show after Ireland booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals following their 36-14 win over Scotland to top Pool B. Already thoughts are turning to New Zealand in the last 8 of the tournament for the second time in a row. Join us all week as we continue the build-up to Ireland’s make or break clash with the All Blacks. The Left Wing is coming to the 3Olympia Theatre on Thursday 19th October ahead of the World Cup semis and with Ireland potentially playing for a World Cup final place, it promises to be a great night of rugby discussion and banter with Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery being joined by Bernard Jackman and Stephen Ferris. Tickets priced from €29.90 including booking fee and are on sale now at: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/198239/5433842See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the Stade de France, Cian Tracey and Sinéad Kissane are joined by Rob Roberston from the Scottish Daily Mail to give the inside track from the Scotland camp ahead of tomorrow's World Cup pool game with Ireland. We also hear from James Lowe as Ireland go for a 17th test win in a row and if Ireland have been bitten by the bed bugs! Join Sinéad, Cian and Rúaidhrí again on Sunday morning for a special post-match show as they discuss the result and (hopefully) the quarter-final to look forward to.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane at Ireland's new team hotel on the outskirts of Park to discuss the two changes Andy Farrell has made to the team to play Scotland. Iain Henderson and Dan Sheehan come into the team and James Ryan and Ronan Kelleher are on the bench. They also discuss Robbie Henshaw's hamstring injury which could end his World Cup participation. The Left Wing is coming to the 3Olympia Theatre on Thursday 19th October ahead of the World Cup semis and with Ireland potentially playing for a World Cup final place, it promises to be a great night of rugby discussion and banter with Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery being joined by Bernard Jackman and Stephen Ferris. Tickets priced from €29.90 including booking fee and are on sale now at: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/198239/5433842See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest Left Wing podcast – and the last from Tours - Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to discuss the news that Robbie Henshaw has picked up a suspected hamstring injury in training which makes him a big doubt for Ireland's final World Cup pool game against Scotland. They discuss the team Andy Farrell will name tomorrow and we also hear from former Scotland and Connacht outhalf, Dan Parks, on this weekend's game, plus the situation in Australia with the Wallabies on the verge of not making the knock-out stage for the first time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's final World Cup pool clash is up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing with Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald and Jonathan Bradley. Scotland's confident comments in the media are up for debate first, before talk turns to Andy Farrell's selection decisions. Rassie Erasmus and Ian Foster's mind games, a possible Rugby World Cup expansion and the final prediction for Ireland vs Scotland are all up for discussion too On tomorrow’s show, Sinéad catches up with Dan Parks, and she gets the latest from the Ireland camp.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest Left Wing podcast from Tours, Cian Tracey and Rúaidhrí O'Connor join Sinéad Kissane to go through the pool permutations ahead of Ireland's final pool game with Scotland at the Stade de France on Saturday. They also review New Zealand's win over Italy and we hear from Conor Murray and team nutritionist Emma Gardner. Join Will Slattery, Jonathan Bradley and Luke Fitzgerald on tomorrow’s show for their in-depth discussion and if you want to get in touch with questions or comments send them through via Spotify, YouTube or contact the show via email at [email protected], or on X/Twitter @SlatteryWill @JBradleyBT @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Left Wing, we've got an interview with former Ireland, Leinster and Toulouse player Trevor Brennan. Sinéad Kissane went to Toulouse a few days ago to meet Trevor at his bar, Brennan's, just outside the city. Trevor took some time out of the lunch-hour rush to talk about life in Toulouse, his rugby-playing sons, his support of France and why he's backing Ireland to go all the way in this World Cup. Join us again on Monday as we build up to the final pool game against Scotland next Saturday and have the latest from the Ireland camp.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest Left Wing podcast from Tours, Rúaidhrí O'Connor joins Sinéad Kissane to discuss the Ireland players coming back into camp after their few days off earlier this week after the win over South Africa. They look at possible changes in the Ireland team to play Scotland on Saturday week, the return of Jack Conan and the need for Tier 2 nations to be given more support. Listen out for tomorrow's show when Sinéad meets Trevor Brennan in his bar in Toulouse to discuss Irish and French rugby and 21 years of life in the south of France.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

England's World Cup win of 2003 is now 20 years old and Will Slattery chats to UK sports writer, Owen Slot, looking back on that famous triumph on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Owen has written a new book with Lawrence Dallaglio, The Boys of Winter, chronicling England's march to glory and catching up with the entire squad to see where they are 20 years later. From Jonny Wilkinson's meticulous preparation to Clive Woodward's 'mad professor' reputation, there are so many interesting stories to unpack from one of the legendary international teams. We’ll have another show tomorrow with Sinéad and Rúaidhrí in Tours, bringing you the latest from the Ireland camp as well as previewing the weekend games.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A down-week for the Ireland squad so it's a chance to answer some listener and viewer comments and questions on the Left Wing podcast. Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane in Tours to go through various topics including if Ireland is over-celebrating their win over South Africa and what changes Andy Farrell might make for the final pool game against Scotland? If you have any questions about the Irish rugby team or the Rugby World Cup in general, send them through via Spotify, YouTube or contact the show via email at [email protected], or on X/Twitter @SlatteryWill @JBradleyBT @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Fitzgerald, Will Slattery and Jonathan Bradley look back on Ireland's epic win over South Africa on the latest episode of The Left Wing. Although it was billed as the world's best attack vs the world's best defence, Luke and Jonathan were more impressed with Ireland's rearguard action against the reigning champions. However, there was plenty of criticism for some of Rassie Erasmus' selection decisions and tactics as South Africa came up short. Ireland's preparations for Scotland, their bench options and Eddie Jones' Australia debacle are all up for discussion. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @JBradleyBT @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Tours, Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane to look back on Ireland's 13-8 win over South Africa along with the post-match reaction from Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Beirne. Plus Cian and Sinéad discuss the travel chaos in Paris and the benefits of the down week for the players ahead of their final pool game with Scotland in a fortnight. Don’t forget to join us for tomorrow’s show with Luke Fitzgerald, Jonathan Bradley and Will Slattery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a game that lived up to its billing and on the Left Wing podcast recorded hours after Ireland's 13-8 win over South Africa, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to discuss an epic game that went right down to the wire. Ireland's resilience, Bundee Aki's stunning form, lost line-outs, Boks missed place-kicking and how this sets Ireland up for rest of tournament are all discussed on the pod. And don’t forget to join us all week as we go more in-depth on the key learnings from the game, bring you the latest injury updates and start to look ahead to the clash with Scotland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest Left Wing podcast from the Stade de France, Rúaidhrí O'Connor joins Sinéad Kissane on the eve of the big match. They talk about the injury to Antoine Dupont, we hear from Paul O'Connell on the tactical battle and we've an interview with former Ulster and South Africa scrum-half Ruan Pienaar on tomorrow's showdown. Join us again on Sunday morning for a full post-match breakdown from the Stade de France with Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the Ireland team hotel on the outskirts of Paris, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to discuss the team and replacements that Andy Farrell has named to play South Africa on Saturday including the return of Dan Sheehan to the bench. Farrell’s press conference was dominated by questions about the Springboks 7/1 split and they also talked about the traps that the Boks could set for Ireland in defence. Join us again tomorrow for more from the South African camp as the build-up to the big game continues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Tours, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to discuss the Boks 7/1 split on the bench for Saturday's World Cup pool game against Ireland and how it’s not expected to change Ireland's traditional 5/3 split when the Ireland squad is named tomorrow. Plus, what would an Ireland bomb squad look like? And we hear from former Ireland and Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss on the gambles that South Africa are taking with their bench formation. Don’t forget to join Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian on tomorrow’s show when they will discuss the Ireland team and bench that will be named.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Fitzgerald, Will Slattery and Jonathan Bradley preview Ireland's World Cup showdown with South Africa on the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast. Ireland made it two World Cup wins from two against Tonga on Saturday night and the lads agree that Andy Farrell couldn't have scripted a better opening to the tournament. Jonathan and Luke look at the areas that would be key to an Ireland victory on Saturday - and where the Springboks could come out on top. Fiji's win over Australia is up for discussion too before the lads end the show with their predictions for Ireland vs South Africa. Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian are back tomorrow with another episode from France continuing the build-up to the crunch game. Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 @SlatteryWill @JBradleyBT and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Tours, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to start the build-up to the huge World Cup showdown between Ireland and South Africa on Saturday. Rúaidhrí was in Bordeaux yesterday to watch the Springboks thrashing of Romania. They discuss Ireland's performance against Tonga, possible team selection against Boks and how Tier 1 nations and World Rugby need to do more to help other countries looking to close the gap. Luke Fitzgerald will be back tomorrow for his weekly in-depth analysis of Irish rugby and he’ll be giving his verdict on Ireland’s chances against South Africa. Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 @SlatteryWill @JBradleyBT and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the Stade de la Beaujoire, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to discuss Ireland's bonus point 59-16 win over Tonga on a record-breaking night for Johnny Sexton who surpassed Ronan O'Gara to become Ireland's all-time leading points-scorer. They also talk about the momentum going into the biggest showdown of the World Cup so far when the number one ranked team in the world play the defending World Cup champions next weekend. Don’t forget to join us all next week with daily episodes in the build-up to the massive game. Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 @SlatteryWill @JBradleyBT and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's Left Wing podcast from the Stade de la Beaujoire, Rúaidhrí O'Connor, joins Sinéad Kissane on the eve of Ireland's second pool game to digest the risk and reward behind the strong team that Andy Farrell has selected to play Tonga on Saturday. Sinéad also talks to sports journalist George Pahulu who is in France to follow Tonga during this tournament and he spoke about Tongan culture and what playing in this World Cup means to them. Don’t forget to join us again over the weekend for a special post-match show discussing the Tonga game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Ireland's team hotel in Nantes, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to discuss the strong team Andy Farrell has selected to play Tonga on Saturday. They also discuss Andy Farrell's response when he was asked about Mack Hansen's inclusion in the team after he was left out of the original squad last week. Farrell dismissed that it was for disciplinary reasons. We’re back for another show tomorrow looking ahead to all the weekend of Rugby World Cup action.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's Left Wing podcast from Tours, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to discuss what team Andy Farrell will name tomorrow to play Tonga in the World Cup on Saturday. We have an interview with Tonga and Toulouse centre Pita Ahki - who also spent a season with Connacht six years ago – and who spoke about playing in his first World Cup this weekend. Plus he explained how Bundee Aki has gone quiet recently in a group WhatsApp and how former Munster outhalf and current Tonga assistant coach, Tyler Bleyendaal, has a few tricks up his sleeve for Ireland. Don't forget to join us again tomorrow when we’ll discuss the Ireland XV that will be named for their second World Cup game against Tonga.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Fitzgerald, Will Slattery and Jonathan Bradley look back on a dramatic opening weekend of World Cup action on the latest episode of The Left Wing. From the blockbuster curtain raiser between France and New Zealand to Wales' win over Fiji on Sunday night, the first round of matches delivered plenty of talking points. The lads discuss Ireland's opening win over Romania as well as what team Andy Farrell should select for Saturday's game against Tonga. Should Johnny Sexton start for the second weekend in a row? Thoughts also turn to whether Ireland should go with their own 'bomb squad' bench against South Africa. England's win over Argentina and the weekend's refereeing mistakes were up for discussion too. Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 @SlatteryWill @JBradleyBT and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rúaidhrí O'Connor, Cian Tracey and Sinéad Kissane are back in Tours to review the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup. They talk about what Ireland will learn from South Africa's win over Scotland on Sunday night, should Johnny Sexton play against Tonga on Saturday and Fiji's nearly epic finish against Wales. Luke and Will are back tomorrow for their in-depth discussion and analysis and you can email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 @SlatteryWill @JBradleyBT and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland are up and running in the Rugby World Cup after a 82-8 win over Romania at the Stade de Bordeaux. Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane after the match to discuss the record win and the stand-out performances including double try scorer Johnny Sexton and Bundee Aki. Join the Left Wing every day from the Rugby World Cup as we keep you up-to-date on the latest news and team announcements and bring you the best in-depth analysis with our team in France and Ireland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sinéad Kissane and Cian Tracey were at the Stade de Bordeaux for Ireland's captain’s run training and press conference where they talk about Ireland attack coach Mike Catt's denial that Mack Hansen wasn't included in the Ireland team to play Romania for disciplinary reasons. It had been expected that Hansen would play but he's not part of the 23. Cian Tracey also asked Catt about claims the former England player Danny Cipriani made in his autobiography about an alleged explosive row eight years ago. All that and more on today's Left Wing podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey joined Sinéad Kissane at the Ireland team hotel in Bordeaux to discuss the starting team that head coach Andy Farrell has named for their World Cup opener against Romania on Saturday. The inclusion of Joe McCarthy in the second row and of course the return of captain Johnny Sexton were among the selections discussed. Rúaidhrí and Cian also talked about what it was like seeing the squad move from Tours to Bordeaux and the big security operation around them. On tomorrow’s show we’re previewing the opening game of the Rugby World Cup between France and New Zealand and going into more detail on Ireland v Romania. Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 @SlatteryWill @JBradleyBT and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of the Left Wing podcast from Tours in France, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to discuss how the Ireland team could shape up when Andy Farrell names it tomorrow for their World Cup opener on Saturday against Romania in Bordeaux. They also discuss spying in rugby and all the other big pool matches on opening weekend including the curtain raiser of France v New Zealand in Paris on Friday night. On tomorrow’s show we’ll be analysing and discussing the Ireland team and you can email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 @SlatteryWill @JBradleyBT and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald and Jonathan Bradley preview the 2023 Rugby World Cup and after all the waiting, the countdown is almost over and the lads kick things off by looking ahead to France vs New Zealand on Friday night. They then break down each pool, discussing all the major talking points and give their predictions for who they think will qualify for the knockout stage. Finally, it is time to pick their winner - and Luke thinks that Ireland will go all the way. Join us tomorrow for our next episode from France where the Left Wing team of Sinead, Rúaidhrí and Cian have all the latest news from the Ireland camp. Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 @SlatteryWill @JBradleyBT and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Left Wing team of Sinéad Kissane, Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey are up and running from the Irish base in Tours and for their first Monday update, they discuss Ireland’s purpose-built training ground, what team should face Romania and how the build-up is actually the most exciting part of a World Cup. During the Rugby World Cup, the Left Wing podcast will be bringing you daily episodes with updates on team news and injuries as well as the best interviews and analysis. Luke Fitzgerald will be joining Will Slattery and Jonathan Bradley on Tuesday’s show and you can email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 @SlatteryWill @JBradleyBT and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The squad has been named, the warm-up games have wrapped, and the squad will fly to their base in Tours on Thursday. The World Cup is just around the corner. Luke Fitzgerald and Jonathan Bradley join Sinéad Kissane to discuss the closing of the long build-up and look into our World Cup future – just what are our chances going into this 10th edition of the World Cup? And how will Ireland deal with the South African bomb squad threat? During the Rugby World Cup, the Left Wing podcast will be bringing you daily episodes from France with updates on team news and injuries as well as the best interviews and analysis. Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SlatteryWill @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland have named their squad for the Rugby World Cup and Cian Healy misses out through injury. At the team hotel, Cian Tracey joins Rúaidhrí O'Connor on the Left Wing podcast to run through Andy Farrell's big decision, assess the fallout of Saturday night's performance against Samoa and look back on the final round of warm-up games before the main event gets going in less than two weeks' time. Join us for the next Left Wing show on Tuesday when Luke Fitzgerald will give his thoughts on the World Cup squad and Cian Healy’s absence. Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SlatteryWill @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Rochelle star, Dillyn Leyds, joins Will to discuss South Africa and Ireland's chances at the World Cup and whether the Champions Cup final defeat will have a major impact on the Irish campaign. Dillyn also chats about La Rochelle’s sensational journey to the top of European rugby, their epic Champions Cup final comeback against Leinster in Dublin and reveals what it's like having Ronan O'Gara as a head coach. Plus he talks about the famous viral video of ROG's team talk in French and why Donnacha Ryan is actually the hardest one to understand…. Join us again for Sunday’s post-match analysis show as Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey discuss Ireland’s final World Cup warm-up game against Samoa. Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SlatteryWill @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery is joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to discuss the Ireland team to face Samoa. Andy Farrell's selection gives some indication as to his thinking ahead of Monday's squad announcement, and Rúaidhrí reads the tea leaves as to who he thinks will be on the plane. Ireland's out-half situation, centre partnerships and final World Cup preparations are all up for discussion too. Join us for Sunday’s post-match analysis show as Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey discuss Ireland’s performance against Samoa, plus on Friday’s Left Wing, we have an interview with La Rochelle star, Dillyn Leyds. Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter/X @SlatteryWill @SineadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Rúaidhrí O'Connor discuss Ireland's ongoing World Cup build up. Will is joined by Rúaidhrí to start the show, who is currently in Biarritz with the Ireland team ahead of Saturday's Samoa clash. He gives a lay of the land as Andy Farrell prepares to select his squad on Monday. Luke and Cian then join Will and they discuss whether Ireland should bring Dan Sheehan to the World Cup even if he is carrying an injury until late in the pool stage. The Ross Byrne vs Jack Crowley debate and the continuing Owen Farrell controversy are up for discussion too. The Left Wing is back with another episode on Thursday with the team news ahead of Ireland’s final World Cup warm-up game against Samoa on Saturday so join us then. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @LukeFitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There were five tries, including a most memorable one from centurion Keith Earls, as Ireland beat England 29 points to 10 at the Aviva stadium yesterday but there is an injury concern over Dan Sheehan who picked up a foot injury and plenty of work still to do for the Ireland team. Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing podcast to discuss where Ireland now stand as they continue their World Cup preparations and with Samoa still to come in their last warm-up game. Join Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery for their in-depth analysis on Wednesday and you can get in touch with the show with your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact them on Twitter/X @sineadkissane @slatterywill @RuaidhriOC and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ireland team has been named for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up game against England at the Aviva Stadium and as expected Andy Farrell has gone, as expected, with a very strong team for this one and Cian Prendergast is given a big opportunity being named at number 8. Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing podcast to discuss the line-up and they also discuss World Rugby’s announcement that they will appeal the decision to overturn the red card given to Owen Farrell. Don’t forget to join Sinéad, Cian and Rud on Sunday for their post-match analysis of Ireland v England, and you can get in touch with the show with your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact them on Twitter/X @sineadkissane @slatterywill @RuaidhriOC and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald and Rúaidhrí O'Connor discuss all the latest news after a busy weekend of World Cup warm-up games. Will and Rud kick things off with a reaction to the news that Owen Farrell's red card from the weekend was overturned, meaning he won't miss any games. Luke then joins the lads as they reflect on France star Romain Ntamack's injury and look ahead to Ireland's second warm-up clash against England this Saturday. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @RuaidhriOC and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald and Cian Tracey look back on Ireland's opening World Cup warm-up match against Italy. Andy Farrell's men got the win but the Ireland head coach won't be too happy with a number of aspects of the performance. Caelan Doris gave a Man of the Match display at number 7, as the debate continues about whether he should ever be moved from the number eight jersey. The lads were impressed with young second row Joe McCarthy while Jacob Stockdale's defensive lapse wasn't his best moment. The debate to back up Johnny Sexton was up for discussion too, with Jack Crowley's assured game putting more pressure on Ross Byrne ahead of the England game. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @CianTracey1 and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Left Wing podcast is back for another season as Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald and Rúaidhrí O'Connor look ahead to Ireland's World Cup warm-up matches. First up is Italy this Saturday as the lads discuss what team they expect Andy Farrell to pick and how the coach might approach the three warm-up games. The squad selection dilemmas, Ireland's World Cup schedule and New Zealand's return to form are all up for discussion too. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @RuaidhriOC and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It wasn’t to be for Ireland in the Under 20 World Championship final. They were beaten by a simply sensational French team, 50 points to 14, and on the latest Left Wing, Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane with the post-match analysis from Cape Town.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ireland U20s have a chance to make history tomorrow when the Grand Slam winners play France in the World Rugby U20 Championship final in Cape Town and Rúaidhrí O’Connor speaks to Sinéad Kissane from South Africa to preview the game. He also has the latest on Johnny Sexton’s disciplinary hearing as Irish rugby holds its breath in relation to the complaint of misconduct towards match officials directly after Leinster’s Heineken Cup final nearly two months ago. Don’t forget to join Sinéad and Rúaidhrí after the final whistle on Friday for the post-match reaction to the U20s final and to find out the fate for Johnny Sexton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the final episode of The Left Wing this season, Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald and Cian Tracey look back on Munster's URC triumph. After a tumultuous season, Graham Rowntree's men ended it as champions after a stunning win over the Stormers in South Africa. The lads reflect on the journey Munster took across the year, heap praise on the key players and look ahead to how the squad might fare next season. The discussion then turns to Ireland's World Cup training squad, the players who missed out and the lads finish up by giving some World Cup predictions. Thanks to everyone for listening in over the season and The Left Wing will be back after the summer break for the start of what promises to be one of the biggest seasons in Irish rugby.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After twelve years, Munster have ended their trophy drought in spectacular fashion with a 19-14 win over the Stormers in South Africa. Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane from Cape Town after the final whistle with all the reaction and analysis to a momentous night for the Irish province. Don’t forget, Will and Luke are back next Wednesday for their final show of the season and if you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @RuaidhriOC and @SinéadKissane.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2,000 Munster fans have made the long trip to South Africa for their URC final against the Stormers on Saturday, but what can the Irish fans expect come the final whistle? Rúaidhrí O’Connor is in Cape Town and he joins Sinéad Kissane on the Left Wing podcast with the latest team news and insights from the camp. Calvin Nash, Malakai Fekitoa and Conor Murray have all been recalled to the starting XV with RG Snyman kept on the bench for the clash against the Stormers and despite the tough task ahead, Rúaidhrí reckons Munster have it in them to go all the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald and Cian Tracey look back on Saturday's Champions Cup final. In one of the greatest finals ever, Leinster lost out by a point as La Rochelle made it two in a row at the Aviva Stadium. Leinster blew a 17-point lead and there are plenty of questions about the squad's mental strength after another Champions Cup collapse. La Rochelle's brilliance, the impact the defeat could have on Ireland's World Cup campaign and whether Ross Byrne should have attempted a late drop goal are all up for discussion. The lads then finish up with a look ahead to Munster's URC final against the Stormers. Sinéad Kissane and Rúaidhrí O’Connor will be back on Friday to preview Munster’s URC final against the Stormers plus they’ll have the post-match analysis right after the final whistle on Saturday. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @RuaidhriOC and @SinéadKissane.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 12 minutes of the Champions Cup final surely no one saw this coming. Leinster were 17-0 up and cruising but somehow they snatched defeat from such a strong position. Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane from the Aviva Stadium right after the final whistle to dissect where it all went wrong for Leinster who finish this season empty-handed and with more question marks over their mentality than ever before. Don’t forget to join Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery on Wednesday for their in-depth review and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @RuaidhriOC and @SinéadKissane. Listen and follow on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With twelve changes to the Leinster team that were beaten by Munster in last week’s URC semi-final, Leo Cullen has named as strong a starting XV as expected, but will it be enough to depose their conquerors of the last two seasons, La Rochelle? Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing podcast to go through the Leinster team and bench and although home advantage will be huge, he cautions that this version of La Rochelle is even better than last year and thinks that might be the difference. Don’t forget to join Sinéad and Rúaidhrí O’Connor for the post-match show from the Aviva stadium tomorrow right after the final whistle while Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery will have their weekly in-depth analysis on Wednesday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Leinster and Ireland star Dan Leavy to preview the Champions Cup final. Leinster vs La Rochelle is a rematch a year in the making and the lads discuss the key tactical battles, selection issues and coaching decisions that could dictate the outcome. They also look back on Munster's dramatic URC semi-final win over Leinster, with Luke critical of Leo Cullen's team selection. Dan also talks about his life after rugby following his retirement last year. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @RuaidhriOC and @SinéadKissane.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jonathan Bradley to look back on the URC quarter-finals. They kick things off with a post-mortem on Ulster's season after their disappointing home defeat to Connacht. Where do Ulster go from here and is head coach Dan McFarland the right man to lead them forward? Luke and Jonathan then pay tribute to Connacht's great win and the job Andy Friend has done as the head coach before his departure at the end of the current campaign. The lads finish things with a look ahead to Leinster vs Munster in the URC semi-finals - what team will Leo Cullen pick and can Graham Rowntree's men spring an upset? If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor with an in-depth review of Leinster's big win over Toulouse and the areas where the French giants fell short. The chat then turns to how Leo Cullen should select his team for the challenges to come ahead of the final in three weeks' time - should he rotate his squad or go with his strongest team? Luke lauds Ronan O'Gara's coaching ability after La Rochelle booked their place in a third consecutive Champions Cup final. Munster's URC quarter-final clash with Glasgow, Ulster and Connacht's showdown and Greg McWilliams' Ireland exit are all up for discussion too. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

0 points, 5 heavy defeats, and the worst points difference in their history in the Six Nations, what does the future hold for the Irish women’s rugby team? After the team’s fifth and final defeat to Scotland over the weekend, Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly join Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing podcast to discuss the result and the wider issue for Irish women’s rugby. Never mind England or France, it is Wales, Scotland and Italy who must be caught up with and the 2023 Six Nations must prove to be the tipping point going forwards. On the next episode of the Left Wing on Wednesday, Will and Luke will have their in-depth discussion of the rugby week and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Leinster team to face Toulouse in their Champions Cup semi-final on Saturday has been named and a late injury sees Robbie Henshaw joining Johnny Sexton and James Lowe on the sidelines. Rúaidhrí O’Connor is with Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing podcast to go through the starting XV, he discusses why All Black Charlie Ngatai has come in for Henshaw and why he thinks the advantage now rests with Toulouse. Don’t forget to join Luke Fitzgerald for his in-depth review of the game on next Wednesday’s show, while Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly will be with Sinéad on Monday to look back on the Irish Women’s final Six Nations game against Scotland. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look ahead to Leinster vs Toulouse. The Aviva Stadium hosts a battle between the two most successful teams in Champions Cup history on Saturday and the lads discuss what Leinster need to do to come out on the right side of the result. Leo Cullen's selection dilemmas, Leinster's heavy defeat to the Bulls and Munster's heroics in South Africa are all up for discussion too. On the next episode of the Left Wing on Monday, Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly will be looking back on the Ireland Women’s 2023 Six Nations campaign. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re down to the final week of the Women’s Six Nations and it has been a tournament loaded with reality checks and harsh lessons for Ireland. After their 48-0 defeat to England at Musgrave Park, Ireland play Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday evening bottom of the table on zero points. Former Ireland player Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly of Scrumqueens.com join Sinéad Kissane to discuss another chastening weekend for the Irish women’s rugby team, plus they also discuss the protest at Musgrave Park and the confiscation of fliers by security staff with the image of ‘I Give an F’ on them. On the next episode of the Left Wing on Wednesday, Will and Luke will have their in-depth discussion of the rugby week and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to pick through all the talking points from the latest round of URC action. There is the big news that Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber will replace Stuart Lancaster in the Leinster set-up next season - it's certainly a big statement but is it a good fit style wise? Munster also got their season back on track with an impressive win in South Africa - is it too late in the campaign for them to really go for silverware? The possibility of an orange card being introduced for the Rugby World Cup is also up for debate, and the lads have strong views on whether it would be a good thing. On the next episode of the Left Wing, Sinéad will be back on Monday, joined by Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly, to look back on Ireland Women’s Six Nations clash against England and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s no end to the run of deflating defeats for Ireland in this Women’s Six Nations. They were beaten by Italy 24 points to 7 in Parma on Saturday which was just the second time that Ireland have lost to Italy in the Women’s Six Nations. It’s three games, three defeats, no points on the board and they have England up next at Musgrave Park this weekend. Former Ireland player, Anna Caplice, and Ali Donnelly of Scrumqueens.com join Sinéad Kissane to discuss how Ireland can pick themselves up and prepare for England. On the next episode of the Left Wing on Wednesday, Will and Luke will have their in-depth discussion of rugby week and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jonathan Bradley from the Belfast Telegraph to discuss all the latest Champions Cup action. Leinster advanced to the Champions Cup semi-final in style after thrashing Leicester on Good Friday, with Leicester coach Richard Wigglesworth making waves with his comments about the Irish side's budget. Luke and Jonathan give their view on the comments, which came a week after Ulster coach Dan McFarland made reference to Leinster's 'demographic' advantage in Ireland. Elsewhere, the South African teams' impact on the Champions Cup and Ulster's end of season chances are up for discussion too. On the next episode of the Left Wing, Sinead will be back on Monday and joined by Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly to look back on Ireland Women’s Six Nations clash against Italy and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Rúaidhrí O'Connor look ahead to the Champions Cup quarter-finals. Leinster have named their team to face Leicester and the big talking point is Caelan Doris getting the seven jersey for the first time. That means that despite his strong form, Scott Penny has to settle for a place on the bench - what does he have to do to get a start? The pressure on Dan Sheehan to stay fit and the impressive showing by the Stormers and Sharks are topics of discussion too. On the next episode of the Left Wing, Will and Luke Fitzgerald will be back with their in-depth analysis on Wednesday and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look back on the Champions Cup action. Leinster marched on to the quarter-finals after sweeping Ulster aside and the gap between Leo Cullen's men and the rest of the Irish provinces has never looked bigger. What can the other Irish teams do to close the gap? While Ulster didn't fire a shot against Leinster, Munster had a similarly disappointing day in South Africa after conceding 50 points to the Sharks. Can Munster turn things around between now and the end of the season? The Left Wing will be back on Thursday with the Champions Cup quarter-final team news ahead of Leinster’s Good Friday clash against Leicester, and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the opening two-week block of the Women’s Six Nations finished with, it doesn’t make for pretty reading for Ireland. After a record margin defeat to France at Musgrave Park, 53 points to 3, Ireland are bottom of the table on points difference with zero points. They’ve a week off and then are away to Italy, home to England and finish away to Scotland. So how can Ireland pick themselves up and where do they go from here? Former international, Anna Caplice, and Ali Donnelly of Scrumqueens.com join Sinéad Kissane to discuss. Don’t forget to join Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald for their weekly in-depth rugby discussion on Wednesday, while there will also be a Champions Cup preview show on Thursday. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s back to Europe for the Irish players and the provinces this weekend with the round of 16 in the Champions Cup and Sinéad Kissane is joined by Rúaidhrí O’Connor on the latest Left Wing podcast to go through the team news and preview the Sharks v Munster, Leinster v Ulster, and Benetton v Connacht in the Challenge Cup. Sinéad will be back on Monday to review the Ireland Women’s Six Nations clash against France with Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly while Will and Luke Fitzgerald will have their in-depth analysis on Wednesday. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look ahead to the Champions Cup last 16. They kick things off by discussing the injury to Johnny Sexton and whether Leinster can still win the Champions Cup without the star out-half. Talk then turns towards this weekend, with Leinster taking on Ulster at the Aviva Stadium and Munster making a daunting trip to Durban to face the Sharks in South Africa. Finally, Cian and Luke give their views on the state of the Ireland women's team after their heavy defeat to Wales in the Six Nations. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC. The Left Wing will be back at the end of the week with the team news ahead of the Champions Cup weekend, while Sinéad Kissane, Anna Caplice and Ali Donnelly will have another episode on Monday looking back on the Ireland Women’s Six Nations game against France.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a pretty sobering opening Women’s Six Nations defeat for Ireland as they were over-powered by Wales losing 31-5. To discuss where the team goes from here, Sinéad Kissane is joined by former Ireland flanker, Anna Caplice, and Ali Donnelly of Scrumqueens.com. Will and Luke will also be back on Wednesday for their latest in-depth discussion of the week’s biggest talking points. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or on Twitter @SinéadKissane.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s two Six Nations down, two Grand Slams won for Ireland and this weekend is the start of the Women’s Six Nations. Ireland play Wales at Cardiff Arms Park in their opening game on Saturday with a 2.15 kick-off and previewing Ireland’s chances in the game and the rest of the tournament, Sinéad Kissane is joined by Anna Caplice, former Ireland flanker, and Ali Donnelly of Scrumqueens.com. There have been changes since Ireland finished fourth in the table in the 2022 edition after that dramatic and late win over Scotland in Belfast in round 5. There’s been the introduction of contracts for 15s players, some high-profile players turned down those contracts, there’s been a first ever summer tour with the trip to Japan, new additions to the coaching team and changes in player personnel. So, what can we expect from Ireland in this tournament? Join Sinéad, Anna and Ali on Monday as they discuss all the weekend results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look back on Ireland's Grand Slam triumph. Luke and Cian break down why Ireland won on Saturday - and why there were some nervy moments at the Aviva Stadium. The lads look back on the entire campaign, discuss the World Cup threat posed by France and ask whether there are enough opportunities for Ireland's U-20 stars at club level. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They’ve done it. After all the hype, pressure and adversity, this Ireland team overcame the last hurdle in front of them and beat England 29-16 to win the Grand Slam for the first time ever in Dublin. For this special post-match episode, Sinéad Kissane is joined by Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey at the Aviva to get their reaction and analysis in the aftermath of an emotional evening. You’ll also hear from Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier and Ross Byrne who, after the final whistle, tried to put into words what it all meant to them. Don’t forget to join Will and Luke for their in-depth review of the Six Nations Grand Slam on Wednesday and if you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former England international Alex Corbisiero to look ahead to Saturday's Grand Slam decider. England enter into the game as massive underdogs off the back of a record home defeat to France and the pressure is mounting on new coach Steve Borthwick. Alex gives his assessment on where England are at after a poor Six Nations campaign and outlines the areas they must improve for the game against Ireland. When it comes to predictions, both Luke and Alex think Ireland will complete just their fourth-ever Grand Slam at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Don’t forget to join Sinéad, Cian and Rud who will have a show after the final whistle from the Aviva where we’re all hoping it’s a historic Grand Slam being celebrated. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s three changes to the Ireland team for their final push towards a fourth Grand Slam with Caelan Doris and Dan Sheehan declared fit and Jamison Gibson-Park partnering Johnny Sexton, with Conor Murray dropping to the bench. Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane to analyse the Irish starting XV and what we can expect on Saturday. On Friday, Will and Luke talk to the former England international, Alex Corbisiero while Sinead, Cian and Rud will have a show after the final whistle from the Aviva where we’re all hoping it’s an historic Grand Slam being celebrated. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald look back on Ireland's win over Scotland and discuss the mental preparation for Saturday's Grand Slam decider with former Ireland performance coach Enda McNulty. Luke kicks things off with his assessment of Ireland's impressive win over Scotland before Enda joins the lads to give his insights into working with Ireland under Joe Schmidt. The pressure of performing at the highest level, the difference between Schmidt and Andy Farrell's setup and the fallout to the 2019 World Cup are all topics of discussion during an interesting chat with Enda. Don’t forget to join us on Thursday for the team news announcement while the post-match show from the Aviva on Saturday will see Sinéad, Cian and Rúaidhrí analyse what one hopes will be a historic day in Dublin. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Andy Farrell’s team look to complete a Grand Slam when they play England at the Aviva stadium on Saturday, the Left Wing wants to celebrate another Grand Slam. It’s 10 years ago this week since the Ireland women’s team won their first ever Slam. A 6-3 win over Italy in Milan on Paddy’s Day in 2013 saw this group of players do something no Irish women’s team has done before. So this is a special podcast to celebrate that achievement. Captain of that team Fiona Coghlan, centre Lynne Cantwell and head coach Philip ‘Goose’ Doyle joined Sinéad Kissane to look back on that historic campaign. On Wednesday, Will and Luke will be joined by Alex Corbisiero and former Irish rugby team sports psychologist, Enda McNulty. There will then be a team news episode with the latest on the Ireland XV named to face England on Thursday, while the post-match show from the Aviva on Saturday will see Sinéad, Cian and Rud analyse what one hopes will be a historic day in Dublin. Join us for all the coverage throughout the week on the Left Wing podcast and if you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garry Ringrose and Iain Henderson will be missing from the Ireland squad to face England in their Grand Slam decider this Saturday due to injuries suffered against Scotland. Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane with the latest squad update on the latest Left Wing podcast and explains that Caelan Doris (hip) and hookers Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher (both shoulder) have remained in camp and have not been ruled out of contention for the game. Andy Farrell has called up Leinster lock Ross Molony and Ulster hooker Tom Stewart as cover ahead of the England game. Don’t forget, there’s a special 10 year anniversary episode on Tuesday looking back on the Irish Women’s Grand Slam in 2013, while on Wednesday, Will and Luke will be joined by Alex Corbisiero and former Irish rugby team sports psychologist, Enda McNulty. There will then be a team news episode with the latest on the Ireland XV named to face England on Thursday, while the post-match show from the Aviva on Saturday will either be a party or a wake after Ireland’s final Six Nations game this year. Join us for all the coverage throughout the week on the Left Wing podcast and if you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s just no stopping Ireland in this Six Nations no matter what’s thrown at them. The Grand Slam is just one win away for Ireland, they’ve beaten Scotland 22 points to 7 and Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane from Murrayfield with the post-match analysis. Plus, don’t miss all the build-up to the final game decider against England with Sinéad and Rúaidhrí O'Connor back on Monday with a squad update which will give some insights into all the injuries suffered from the Scottish encounter. There’s a special 10 year anniversary episode on Tuesday looking back on the Irish Women’s Grand Slam in 2013, while on Wednesday, Will and Luke will be joined by Alex Corbisiero and former Irish rugby sports psychologist, Enda McNulty. There will then be a team news episode with the latest on the Ireland XV named to face England on Thursday, while the post-match show from the Aviva on Saturday will either be a party or a wake after Ireland’s final Six Nations game this year. Join us for all the coverage throughout the week on the Left Wing podcast and if you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Farrell has named his team to play Scotland in Murrayfield on Sunday and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing podcast to discuss the line-up. There are six changes overall to the team that started against Italy. Johnny Sexton and Garry Ringrose return. Tadhg Furlong will make his first appearances of this Six Nations. Conor Murray starts at scrumhalf, Jamison Gibson Park is on the bench as is Robbie Henshaw who’re both set to feature for the first time in this 6 Nations. Don’t forget to join Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian Tracey for the post-match analysis show from Murrayfield right after the final whistle. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery is joined by BBC Scotland journalist Andy Burke to look ahead to Sunday's Six Nations clash at Murrayfield. Despite overseeing a number of big scalps against England and France during his tenure, Gregor Townsend has never beaten Ireland as Scotland head coach. Andy thinks Ireland's physicality has been a major problem for Scotland and they must match up on Sunday in that area to have a chance of winning. One player who will be key for Scotland is Finn Russell; Andy breaks down his interesting relationship with Townsend, which has seen the two fall out on a number of occasions. Scotland's 'arrogance', their strong centre partnership and their use of project players is all up for discussion too. Join Sinéad Kissane and Cian Tracey with the next Left Wing on Friday when they will have the latest team news and don’t forget there’s our post-match analysis show from Murrayfield right after the final whistle. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continuing the Left Wing’s countdown to Sunday’s Six Nations game between Scotland and Ireland, Sinéad Kissane spoke to a man who played outhalf for Scotland, and also for Connacht. Dan Parks won 67 caps with Scotland and as well as playing with Glasgow and Cardiff Blues, he made 51 appearances for Connacht after which he retired from professional rugby nearly nine years ago. Dan is living in Sydney where he’s still involved in rugby and Sinéad spoke to him about his playing days, his role in Scotland’s last win over Ireland in Dublin in 2010 and why he believes the flair moments from Finn Russell could be the key to unlocking and overcoming Ireland. All week the Left Wing is bringing you more episodes as part of the build-up to the big game. Will is getting the view from Scotland on Thursday from the BBC’s Andy Burke, Sinéad and Cian will have the latest team news on Friday, and there’s also post-match analysis from Murrayfield right after the final whistle. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ulster out-half Ian Madigan to look ahead to Scotland vs Ireland and discuss Ulster's season to date. Ian and Luke break down exactly what they like about how Ireland are playing at the moment, and Ian gives his out-half assessment of Scotland star Finn Russell ahead of Sunday's clash. Ulster have had a tumultuous season and Ian gives his an insight into the ups and downs as he targets a place in the match-day squad for their Champions Cup showdown with Leinster. The lads finish the show by giving their verdict on the big game - and all three are predicting an Ireland win. Join us all week for the build-up to Ireland’s clash against Scotland as we bring you additional Left Wing episodes with views from the Scotland camp, the latest team news and post-match analysis from Murrayfield right after the final whistle. And if you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald and Cian Tracey look back on Ireland's dramatic win in Italy. It was far from easy in Rome, with Italy putting Ireland under a lot of pressure. The lads discuss the issues with Ireland's defence and ask whether the return of Garry Ringrose would shore things up ahead of Scotland. The bench impact, the enigma of Finn Russell and Leo Cullen's future at Leinster are up for discussion too. Listen out next week when the Left Wing brings you more shows right throughout the week in the build-up to Ireland’s game against Scotland. There will be a squad update episode on Monday, a special feature interview on Tuesday, Will and Luke’s in-depth analysis on Wednesday, plus the team news announcement on Thursday and immediate post-match analysis from Murrayfield right after the final whistle on the Saturday. And if you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland have picked up their third successive bonus point win in this Six Nations, scoring five tries including two from Mack Hansen to beat an impressive Italy 34 points to 20 but the Italians asked plenty of questions of the Irish who did well to come through as they did. Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane from the Stadio Olimpico on the latest episode of the Left Wing podcast with their post-match analysis and reaction to the game. Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald will be back on Wednesday for the next episode of the Left Wing with their in-depth chat and discussion and if you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Cian Tracey discuss the Ireland team to face Italy. Ross Byrne and Craig Casey will make their first Six Nations starts at half-back - are they ready to lead the team in the absence of Johnny Sexton? Jack Conan gets the nod at number eight, and the lads are in agreement that he needs a big game to hold off Gavin Coombes in the matchday squad. Bundee Aki also returns to the starting team after two big cameos off the bench but Cian thinks that Stuart McCloskey is still the main man at number 12. Join the Left Wing on Saturday when Sinéad Kissane, Cian Tracey and Rúaidhrí O’Connor give their reaction and thoughts right after the final whistle from Rome. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Italy international Ian McKinley to look ahead to Ireland vs Italy. The Azzurri have made big strides in the last 12 months after beating Wales and Australia, and Ian breaks down why Italy have seen an upsurge in form over the last year. Ross Byrne is in line to feature against Italy and both Luke and Ian think he has a newfound confidence that bodes well for him going forward. Wales' potential Six Nations strike, the return of Joey Carbery and Tadhg Beirne's injury are all up for discussion too. Join us again on Thursday when Will and Cian Tracey will be discussing the announcement of the Ireland team on the next episode of the Left Wing. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of the Left Wing’s countdown to Saturday’s Six Nations game between Italy and Ireland in Rome, Sinéad Kissane spoke to an Irishman with the inside track on the development of Italian Rugby. Stephen Aboud worked for 26 years with the IRFU in various roles including developing player pathways. In August 2016, he started working for the Italian Rugby Federation as the head of technical direction for the development of players and coaches. His contract with them finished in June last year but he gives some fascinating insights into the development of the game in Italy and why, despite the strong performances of their senior team, he thinks they are taking the wrong direction with the underage set-up which won’t bode well for the future. For more in-depth coverage of Ireland’s game against Italy, join Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald on Wednesday’s show when they’re joined by former Leinster and Italian international, Ian McKinley. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doubts over Johnny Sexton's fitness for Saturday's clash with Italy in Rome have resulted in Joey Carbery earning a recall to the Ireland squad and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane on today’s Left Wing podcast with the latest. The Munster out-half, who started in their win over the Ospreys on Friday, returns to the squad for the first time since being sensationally dropped for the Six Nations. Kieran Treadwell and Scott Penny are also back on board as the growing injury toll hits Andy Farrell’s side. Ireland play Italy in Rome on Saturday in what will be Andy Farrell’s 35th game in charge of Ireland, that’s including the two Maori games last summer. Also, don’t miss tomorrow’s show when Sinéad interviews Stephen Aboud, the IRFU’s former technical director and Italian rugby’s former head of player and coaching development, for his insights into the clash with Italy. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look back on Ireland's dramatic win over France. The Grand Slam dream remains very much alive for Andy Farrell's men and both Luke and Cian are very impressed with where the team is at after their second consecutive Six Nations win. James Ryan's return to form, Wayne Barnes' controversial decision to only give France prop Uini Atonio a yellow card and Malakai Fekitoa's Munster departure are all up for discussion too. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @CianTracey1 @SinéadKissane and @RuaidhriOCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, what a classic we’ve just watched here at the Aviva Stadium. Ireland have beaten France 32 points to 19 in a sensational Six Nations game. It’s a bonus point win – four tries in total from Ireland - Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Andrew Porter in the first half and Garry Ringrose in the second half. The Grand Slam is still on for Ireland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery is joined by French rugby expert Paul Eddison to discuss the rise of France under Fabien Galthié and tomorrow's clash with Ireland. The French team was a mess when Galthié took over in 2020 but after 14 wins in a row and a Grand Slam last year, they are the team to beat ahead of their home World Cup in the autumn. Paul explains how France transformed over the last three years and why the team won't be too worried about peaking too early ahead of the World Cup. However, a huge test awaits them in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday - can Ireland come out on top? Don’t forget to join Sinéad Kissane, Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey on Saturday right after the final whistle from the Aviva Stadium when they will be giving their immediate post-match reactions to the game. If you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the rugby team on Twitter @SinéadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 @SlatteryWill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Farrell has named his team to play France at the Aviva stadium on Saturday and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing podcast to discuss. There's one change to the team that started the win over Wales last weekend - the injured Dan Sheehan is out, Rob Herring starts at hooker and Ronan Kelleher is back fit again and he's been named on the bench. Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian Tracey will be back with another show right after the final whistle and if you want to get in touch, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the rugby team on Twitter @SinéadKissane @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 @SlatteryWill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jonathan Bradley to look back on the opening weekend of the Six Nations. Ireland kicked things off with a very impressive win in Wales and Luke says that Ireland were able to bully Warren Gatland's side. Conor Murray and Finlay Bealham were both drafted into the side late in the week and both produced big games, but bigger tests loom large as France travel to Dublin this weekend. Scotland's upset win over England is up for discussion too, as well as Steve Borthwick's harsh assessment of the end of the Eddie Jones reign. Sinéad will be back with another episode on Thursday with the Ireland team news to face France and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the rugby team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @SinéadKissane.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a triple blow for Ireland on the injury front as they prepare for their Grand Slam decider against France this Saturday. Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing podcast with the injury news and to look ahead to Ireland’s chances. Tadhg Furlong, Jamison Gibson-Park and Cian Healy have all been ruled out and Cian expects the same XV to start with Johnny Sexton set to complete the HIA process and be available for the crunch clash. Don’t forget to join Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald and guests on Wednesday’s Left Wing for more in-depth analysis and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the rugby team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @SinéadKissane.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right after the final whistle in Cardiff, Sinéad Kissane is joined by Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey to get the post-match reaction to Ireland’s 34-10 win over Wales. What started off as a blitz with twenty-seven points scored in twenty-seven minutes, Ireland then lost their way and allowed Wales back into this contest before being able to steady the ship and withstand the Welsh onslaught. But it’s mission accomplished says Rud while Cian questions what would have happened if this had been France. The Left Wing will be back on Monday with the latest Ireland squad update and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or contact the rugby team on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @SinéadKissane.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sinéad Kissane has this latest report for the Left Wing podcast from Wales ahead of Ireland’s Six Nations opening clash in Cardiff. Hear from Ireland’s forwards coach, Paul O’Connell and Wales captain, Ken Owens, with their respective views from the team camps, while Welsh rugby writer, Steffan Thomas, gives his insights into the return of Warren Gatland and their chances against the Irish. Plus, don’t forget to join Sinéad, Cian and Rúaidhrí on Saturday, just after the final whistle for their post-match analysis. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @SinéadKissane.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland have been dealt a major setback ahead of their Six Nations opener against Wales with the news that Tadhg Furlong is out with a calf issue. On the latest Left Wing podcast, Sinéad Kissane is joined by the Irish Independent’s Rúaidhrí O’Connor who is with the Ireland team training base in Portugal. Rúaidhrí says there was no indication that Furlong would be missing out but says Andy Farrell and the Irish squad are still bullish about their chances with Connacht’s Finlay Bealham coming in. The Ireland team vs Wales is: H Keenan, M Hansen, G Ringrose, S McCloskey, J Lowe, J Sexton (C), J Gibson-Park, A Porter, D Sheehan, F Bealham, T Beirne, J Ryan, P O'Mahony, J van der Flier, C Doris. Replacements: R Herring, C Healy, T O'Toole, I Henderson, J Conan, C Murray, R Byrne, B Aki. Join us again on Friday for the view from Wales on their chances against Ireland, whilst on Saturday, just after the final whistle, catch up with Sinéad, Cian and Rúaidhrí for their post-match analysis. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @SinéadKissane.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jonathan Bradley and Welsh broadcaster Ross Harries to preview the Six Nations. Jonathan starts by asking whether anything other than a title would be a disappointment, with Ireland riding high at world number one. How many games should Johnny Sexton play and who should start at number 12 is up for discussion too. Ross then joins the show to give the view from Wales, where confidence is trending upwards after the return of Warren Gatland. Join Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Sinéad Kissane on Thursday with the latest from the Algarve on Andy Farrell’s team announcement, while Sinéad will be at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel in Wales. On Friday you’ll hear the view from Wales on their chances against Ireland, whilst on Saturday, just after the final whistle, catch up with Sinéad, Cian and Rúaidhrí for their post-match analysis. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or on Twitter @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @RuaidhriOC @CianTracey1 and @SinéadKissane.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continuing the Left Wing’s countdown to the opening weekend of the Six Nations, Sinéad Kissane caught up with referee Andrew Brace. Andrew has been referring for the last decade, he grew up in Cardiff and has been living in Limerick for the past 13 years. And for this Six Nations, he’ll referee Scotland against Wales in Murrayfield in round 2 which will actually have an all-IRFU match official line-up for the first time in 20 years. It’s also a good time to talk to a referee because there’s been a bit of debate around issues like the officiating of the high tackle recently and Sinéad gets into that with Andrew and he also talks about the other hot issues that referees will be looking out for in this championship. He also goes into the horrific social media abuse that he and his family were subjected to in the past and the impact that had on him. This Six Nations is also a big one for referees because they too want to make the cut for the World Cup later this year. Don’t forget to join Will and Luke for their weekly analysis on Wednesday, Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Sinéad will be back on Thursday with the latest from the Algarve on Andy Farrell’s team announcement, while Sinéad will be at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel in Wales. On Friday you’ll hear the view from Wales on their chances against Ireland, whilst on Saturday, just after the final whistle, catch up with Sinéad, Cian and Rúaidhrí for their post-match analysis. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or on Twitter @SinéadKissane @SlatteryWill @lukefitz11 @RuaidhriOC and @CianTracey1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s opening week of the 2023 Six Nations and the Left Wing podcast is bringing you extra shows throughout the weeks of the championship. Every Monday we’ll bring you the latest squad updates and team-related news and this week Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane with all the latest on the Ireland squad who are currently training in the Algarve. Cian and Sinéad go through the selection calls that Andy Farrell faces for Saturday’s opener with Wales. Warren Gatland was able to get under Joe Schmidt’s skin, can he do the same with Andy Farrell? And there’s also the shocking backdrop to this game with the CEO of Welsh rugby resigning at the weekend amid allegations of a toxic culture at the organisation. Listen out for tomorrow’s exclusive interview with the IRFU international referee, Andrew Brace, who details the shocking abuse and death threats he and his family have received, and he also discusses the increased pressure on refs and the laws he would like to see changed. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or on Twitter @SinéadKissane and @CianTracey1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look back on the final round of Champions Cup pool games and to look ahead to the Six Nations. The Six Nations launch took place earlier this week, and Cian shares the insights he got from Ireland head coach Andy Farrell and captain Johnny Sexton. Farrell made a big call in dropping Joey Carbery from his Ireland squad - but was it the right one? The lads debate it. Munster's impressive performance in Toulouse, Leinster's warning signs and the RFU's controversial new tackle law are all up for discussion too. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the final round of pool games in the Champions Cup this weekend and Sinéad Kissane is joined by Cian Tracey on the latest Left Wing podcast to discuss the team news and possible permutations for the Irish provinces. On Saturday Leinster are at home to Racing looking to book a home tie in the next round and Ulster face Sale desperately trying to turn around their season. A win for Ulster will see them qualify. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Munster travel to Toulouse in what will be a daunting challenge, though a losing bonus point should be enough to get through and in the Challenge Cup, Connacht are away to Newcastle at 5.30pm on Saturday hoping to win and stay in the top four of their group. Will and Luke will be back on Wednesday for their in-depth review of the weekend action and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or on Twitter @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Munster’s Joey Carbery has been axed from Ireland’s Six Nations squad which was announced by Andy Farrell today. Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane on the Left Wing podcast to discuss the massive call by Farrell as well as the make-up of the rest of the squad. Leinster youngster Jamie Osborne is the only uncapped player included while Robbie Hanshaw misses out with his ongoing wrist issue. Overall, there are 20 Leinster players included, eight from Munster, five from Ulster and four from Connacht. Ireland begin their Six Nations campaign against Wales in Cardiff on February 4. Join Sinéad and Cian again on Friday as they discuss the team news and permutations ahead of the weekend’s Champions Cup action. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or on Twitter @sineadkissane and @CianTracey1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to look ahead to the Ireland Six Nations squad announcement and the final round of Champions Cup pool games. Andy Farrell has question marks over key veterans such as Conor Murray and Bundee Aki after the duo were left out in the cold last weekend - will the Ireland coach keep faith in the pair? The chat then turns to the IRFU's use of central contracts and whether it's the best route forward for Irish rugby. The lads also discuss Eddie Jones' return to Australia, Munster's tough test in Toulouse and Ulster's latest collapse in La Rochelle. Join us again later in the week when there will be further episodes discussing Ireland’s Six Nations squad and looking ahead to the Champions Cup weekend games. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sinéad Kissane looks ahead to Round 3 of this weekend’s Champions Cup action with the Irish Independent’s Rúaidhrí O’Connor and the big news is that Conor Murray has been dropped from the Munster squad to face Northampton in Thomond Park. It’s a big call from coach Graham Rowntree who has picked Craig Casey to start and Paddy Patterson as back-up on the bench. Overall, there are nine changes to the team that beat the Lions last week. For Leinster, who face Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday, Garry Ringrose returns to the centre as captain, while Hugo Keenan will make his 50th Leinster appearance and Cian Healy marks 100 European games after being named on the bench. Ireland internationals Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris all return. Elsewhere, Ulster face another stiff test away to reigning champions La Rochelle, while in the Challenge Cup, Connacht are at home to Brive. Will and Luke will be back on Wednesday for their in-depth review of the weekend action and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss all the latest rugby news. The show kicks off with a discussion on the amount of minutes Dan Sheehan has played for Leinster and Ireland this year and whether it is better for players to be battle tested or well rested. The chat then turns towards the Champions Cup, and in particular the amount of travel the South African teams have to do in order to compete in the northern hemisphere. Ulster's woeful form, Leinster's cracking clash with the Ospreys and Ben Healy's Munster departure are all on the agenda too. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the first episode of The Left Wing in 2023, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to discuss all the latest rugby news. The lads kick off by discussing the injury to Johnny Sexton that could rule him out of at least the start of the Six Nations. Joey Carbery, Ross Byrne and Jack Crowley would all be in contention to start against Wales if Sexton misses out, and Luke thinks Byrne could be a good option. The chat then turns to how the provinces fared over the Christmas period. Leinster will be happy after keeping their 100% record intact, while Ulster suffered another damaging defeat against Munster. The lads finish up by discussing potential Ireland Six Nations bolters, with Andy Farrell set to name his squad later this month. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald look back on the latest weekend of Champions Cup action. The lads kick things off looking back on Leinster's win over Gloucester and the decision of the English team to send over a massively weakened side to the RDS. Luke hopes the decision comes back to bite Gloucester and says Leinster won't have learned anything from the 57-0 win. The chat then moves on to Ulster's loss to La Rochelle and the decision for the game to be moved from Belfast to Dublin due to a frozen pitch. Luke says the Ulster players need a major refresh to kick-start their season. Finally, the lads look back on Munster's impressive win in Northampton and Connacht's 100% start to the Challenge Cup. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s round two of the Champions Cup this weekend and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane on the latest Left Wing podcast to look ahead to the games involving the Irish provinces with all the latest team news. Leinster are going for two wins out of two when they play Gloucester at the RDS, Ulster are up against the defending champions La Rochelle in Belfast on Saturday evening – that’s ground permitting. And on Sunday lunchtime, Munster are away to Northampton Saints at Franklins Gardens, while in the Challenge Cup, Connacht are in France to play Brive and they’re also going for their second win. Will and Luke will be back on Wednesday for their in-depth review of the weekend action and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jonathan Bradley to discuss the opening round of the Champions Cup. Ulster are the first team on the agenda after their embarrassing 39-0 defeat to Sale - Jonathan says it is the worst Ulster performance he has seen in eight years covering the team. However, Luke thinks that coach Dan McFarland can turn things around after what has been a tough few weeks for the squad. Leinster's emphatic win away to Racing 92, Munster's narrow loss to Toulouse and the Champions Cup format are all up for discussion too. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Irish provinces have named their teams for the opening weekend of European action and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Sinéad Kissane to preview Racing 92 v Leinster, Munster v Toulouse, Sale Sharks v Ulster and Connacht v Newcastle Falcons. Plus they also discuss the IRFU’s Women's Rugby in Ireland report that has been launched with the IRFU requiring an additional €1.4m per annum to implement their women’s rugby strategy. Will and Luke will be back on Wednesday for their in-depth review of the weekend action and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss all the latest rugby news. The show kicks off with the news of Warren Gatland's return to Wales and Eddie Jones' sacking in England - is it too late before the World Cup for the two teams to bounce back or is this the boost they need? The lads then preview the Champions Cup, which kicks off this weekend - is this finally the year Leinster win back the European Cup? If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to assess where the Irish provinces stand heading into a crucial period of the season. After the drama of the November internationals, focus turns to the club game again and we have two big games this coming weekend - Leinster vs Ulster in a derby clash at the RDS, while Munster have a must-win trip to Edinburgh. The lads are in agreement that there is some positivity coming back into the Munster set-up, while Ulster players like Jacob Stockdale and James Hume have something to prove against Leinster. In the second part of the show, Chris Foy in the UK joins Will and Luke to discuss Eddie Jones' future as England coach, with pressure mounting on the RFU to make a change. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O’Connor to review the November internationals. The lads kick things off with a look back on Ireland's win over Australia before moving on to why the attack never really clicked during November. Johnny Sexton's absence often sees Ireland fail to hit their regular heights and Luke says the captain's unique skill-set is the reason why. Gregor Townsend's ongoing battle with Finn Russell, England's comeback against New Zealand and whether Ronan O'Gara might succeed Eddie Jones are all up for discussion too. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Josh van der Flier picking up the World Rugby Men's Player of the Year and Terry Kennedy the Men's Sevens Player of the Year to cap off an incredible 2022 for Irish rugby, Sinéad Kissane was in Monaco to hear from the winners and the other Irish nominees. On this episode of the Left Wing podcast, she speaks to van der Flier and Kennedy about their awards, as well as Johnny Sexton, Andy Farrell, Mack Hansen and Dan Sheehan on victory over South Africa. Plus you'll hear from Ruby Tui, World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, and Ireland's Linda Djougang and Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe. Will and Luke will have their in-depth review of Ireland’s Autumn Series on Wednesday and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane from the Aviva Stadium minutes after the final whistle with his post-match reaction to Ireland’s 13-10 victory over Australia. Ross Byrne was the hero with his match-winning penalty four minutes from time but without Johnny Sexton, it was a scrappy performance from Ireland, albeit a record-equalling 12th consecutive home victory. Sinéad will also have a special episode of the Left Wing on Monday from the World Rugby Awards where Johnny Sexton and Josh van der Flier are on the shortlist while Will and Luke will have their in-depth review of Ireland’s Autumn Series on Wednesday. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Indo World Cup will preview every gameday of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The Irish Independent football team come together to discuss the potential winners, those who might struggle and the dark horses of the tournament.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Farrell has named the Ireland team to face Australia in the last of their Autumn internationals and Rúaidhrí O’Connor joins Will Slattery to analyse the starting XV and replacements and he doesn’t agree with the bookies giving Ireland a 13 point spread over the Wallabies. Sinéad Kissane and Cian Tracey will have another Left Wing podcast from the Aviva Stadium on Saturday after the final whistle, plus Will and Luke will have their usual in-depth analysis on the Left Wing on Wednesday. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look back on Ireland's win over Fiji and look ahead to the clash against Australia. Andy Farrell didn't spare his players after the sloppy performance against Fiji and Cian says that the second-string could be waiting a while for another opportunity. The lads discuss the out-half picture after the injury to Joey Carbery and the promising display from Jack Crowley, while they also pay tribute to Josh van der Flier and Johnny Sexton after their World Player of the Year nominations. The challenge of Wallaby Will Skelton, Rassie Erasmus' latest rant and France's thrilling win over South Africa are all on the agenda too. Will is back with another show on Thursday to go through the Ireland XV that will be named to face Australia on Saturday while Sinéad Kissane will have the immediate post-match reaction from the Aviva Stadium right after the final whistle. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minutes after the final whistle, Rúaidhrí O’Connor gives his post-match reaction and analysis to Ireland’s 35-17 win over Fiji. Speaking to Sinéad Kissane for this episode of The Left Wing podcast, Rud says that despite the winning run continuing, there is still plenty of room for improvement for this Irish team, especially with the high standards they have set for themselves. The truth is though, without Johnny Sexton there to drive them on, they look far short of being a world number one team. Don’t forget to join Will and Luke on Wednesday for their in-depth review of the game as well as their preview of Ireland v Australia, while Thursday sees The Left Wing discuss the starting XV to face the Wallabies soon after it’s named. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a debut for Athy’s Jeremy Loughman as he’s named in the Ireland XV to face Fiji on Saturday and Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane to go through the line-up named by Andy Farrell which has eight changes. Sinéad and Rúaidhrí O’Connor will be back on Saturday after the final whistle with a post-match Left Wing podcast from the Aviva Stadium analysing Ireland v Fiji and Will and Luke will have their usual in-depth analysis on the Left Wing on Wednesday. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to look back on Ireland's big win over South Africa. The Irish forwards stood up to the Springbok barrage and Rud and Luke are in agreement that while Andy Farrell's men did a lot of things right, there is also plenty of room for improvement going forward. Thoughts now turn towards Fiji this weekend, although a lot of players played their way out of contention with a poor showing against All Blacks 'A' last week. England's shock defeat to Argentina and France's thrilling win over Australia are up for discussion too. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was raucous and physical but Ireland are on top of the rugby world after a pulsating 19-16 victory over the world champions, South Africa. For this special episode of the Left Wing podcast, right after the full-time whistle from the Aviva Stadium, Sinéad Kissane is joined by Irish Independent rugby writers, Rúaidhrí O’Connor and Cian Tracey to look back on an incredible game. Plus, Will and Luke will have their in-depth analysis on Wednesday and if you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ireland team to face South Africa has been named with Conor Murray set to win his 100th cap and Sinéad Kissane is joined by the Irish Independent’s Rúaidhrí O’Connor to dissect the starting XV and discuss Ireland’s chances. Murray reaches the historic milestone with Jamison Gibson-Park on the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Ulster’s Robert Baloucoune has been given an opportunity to stake his claim for a World Cup place starting along with nine others in facing South Africa for the first time. The Ireland team and bench is: H Keenan; R Baloucoune, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, M Hansen; J Sexton (capt), J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong; T Beirne, J Ryan; P O’Mahony, J van der Flier, C Doris. Reps: R Herring, C Healy, F Bealham, K Treadwell, J Conan, J Gibson-Park, J Carbery, S McCloskey. Sinéad, Rúaidhrí and Cian Tracey will be back on Saturday after the final whistle with a post-match Left Wing show from the Aviva Stadium analysing Ireland v South Africa so make sure to listen in then. Meanwhile, Will and Luke will have their usual in-depth analysis on the Left Wing on Wednesday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Springbok legend Bryan Habana joins Will Slattery, Luke Fitzgerald and Cian Tracey on the latest Left Wing podcast to look ahead to Ireland vs South Africa. Bryan joins Will and Luke first to discuss the Springbok team announcement and their formidable bench 'bomb squad'. Bryan thinks South Africa have an edge at second row and that could be the deciding factor in a Springbok win. Cian then joins the lads to give the view from the Ireland camp, after Johnny Sexton addressed the media today. Cian thinks Ireland could prevail narrowly while Luke thinks South Africa's power could be the difference. If you want to get in touch with the show, email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to look ahead to the Autumn internationals and discuss Leinster's win over Munster. Will kicks things off by asking Rud and Luke what a successful November would look like for Andy Farrell - are results the most important thing or should the Ireland head coach look to blood new players? The age-old question of how many games Johnny Sexton should play is up for discussion too, as is the pecking order at scrum-half. The chat then moves on to Leinster's win over Munster, with Luke bemused by the view that there were many positives for Graham Rowntree to take from the game. Would Munster benefit from a rebuilding season in the Challenge Cup? Rud thinks it wouldn't be the worst option. If you want to get in touch with the show, you can email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will or Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald look ahead to Ireland's November series with Cian Tracey. Andy Farrell has some injury headaches as he prepares to name his squad for the autumn, especially at second row and the back three where a number of star players are unavailable. The lads discuss which players are primed for a big month with Ireland and also assess where Munster are at after a much-improved performance against the Bulls. Chris Foy in the UK then joins Luke and Will to discuss the financial chaos in the English Premiership, with both Worcester and Wasps falling into administration. If you want to get in touch with the show, you can email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to discuss all the latest rugby news. With the South African sides hitting the ground running and plenty of storylines involving the Irish teams, the lads are in agreement that the URC is a far stronger product than the previous PRO14. Leinster were given a mighty test by the Sharks in the RDS and Luke thinks Leo Cullen's side will greatly benefit from such a tough challenge. For Munster, it was yet another defeat and Rud thinks they will struggle to qualify for the Champions Cup with the increased competition in the URC. Jack Carty's season debut and the fallout from the Emerging Ireland tour are up for discussion too. If you want to get in touch with the show, you can email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will and Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss all the latest rugby news. The chat kicks off with Leinster's win over Ulster, with Luke and Cian in agreement that the difference in forward power was key. Connacht host Munster on Friday night in a must-win game for both teams - Luke thinks the new Munster coaching staff need time to implement their framework but they also need to pick up points fast. The Emerging Ireland tour kicked off with a very one-sided win over the Griquas - is it pointless for the Irish youngsters to be playing such weak opposition? If you want to get in touch with the show, you can email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will or Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to discuss all the latest rugby news. They kick things off by discussing Stuart Lancaster's end-of-season departure from Leinster to Racing 92. Luke says it is important that Leinster hire the right personality who meshes with the club's values, while Rud thinks Johnny Sexton could possibly join the coaching staff after he retires. The chat then moves on to Munster's disappointing defeat to the Dragons last weekend, with the senior players turning in a very poor performance Bundee Aki's red card and Ulster's blockbuster clash with Leinster on Friday are up for discussion too. If you want to get in touch with the show, you can email your questions and comments to [email protected], or tweet Will or Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss the first round of the URC and the Emerging Ireland squad. Will kicks things off by asking Cian and Luke whether Stuart McCloskey deserves to have more than six Ireland caps after the Ulster centre continued his stellar club form into this season. The chat then turns to the Emerging Ireland tour once again now that the squad has been named - while Cian is still in favour of it, Will and Luke are sceptical about its merits. Munster's continued evolution under their new coaching staff, Leinster's sloppy start to the season and Mathieu Raynal's very controversial time-wasting call against Australia are all up for discussion too. If you want to get in touch with the show, you can email a question to [email protected], or tweet Will or Luke at @slatterywill and @lukefitz11.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Left Wing is back for another season and Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to look ahead to what promises to be a massive year for Irish rugby. The lads kick off with a discussion on the URC launch, where the topic of possibly playing games in Qatar was raised - and Luke and Rud have different views on the subject. The chat then turns to the upcoming 'Emerging Ireland' tour, which the provinces aren't happy about. Should players be taken out of their province during the season for this exercise? Munster's new beginning under Graham Rowntree, Leinster's out-half conundrum and Jacob Stockdale's comeback are all up for discussion too. Luke, Will and the show want to hear from you as well so put your rugby questions to them on social media using #theleftwing or on Twitter @lukefitz11 @slatterywill and each week Will will answer the best ones on-air. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the final Left Wing podcast of the season, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to reflect on Ireland's historic series win in New Zealand. Ireland's composure and style of play impressed the lads the most and Josh van der Flier stood out as the key man amid a huge number of heroic performers. With Andy Farrell's contract set to run until the 2023 World Cup, should the IRFU move now to offer him a new contract? Luke and Rud go over areas where Ireland can improve to ensure next season is one to remember, while they agree that a few players need regular game time to maximise their talent. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not content with making history last week, this Ireland team cemented themselves in further glory with a series win over New Zealand, beating the All Blacks 32-22 in the third test. For this Left Wing Live podcast, Cian Tracey joins Sinéad Kissane and Rúaidhrí O’Connor live from Wellington with post-match reaction on a famous, famous victory. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by the Irish Independent’s Cian Tracey and Sky New Zealand’s Ross Karl to discuss all the latest news from New Zealand. Will and Luke kick things off with Cian by discussing the performance against the New Zealand Maori, with Kieran Treadwell, Gavin Coombes and Ciaran Frawley standing out. The lads discuss Frawley's future at club level, and whether Leinster will play him more at out-half following his strong display for Ireland. Jaco Peyper's performance is up for discussion too, with everyone in agreement that New Zealand were fortunate to not receive more than one red card. Ross Karl then joins the show, and says that he thinks Ireland will win in Wellington on Saturday and complete a famous series win. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History has been made. Ireland have finally beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand after a wild second test that saw them win 23-12 in Dunedin. Sinéad Kissane is joined by the Irish Independent’s Rúaidhrí O’Connor and live from Dunedin by Cian Tracey who describes the jubilant scenes at the stadium. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey and Liam Napier of the New Zealand Herald to discuss all the latest news from the Ireland tour. The lads kick off by discussing whether Johnny Sexton should start against the All Blacks in the second test or should Joey Carbery get the nod with a view to the 2023 World Cup? The chat moves onto reasons to be positive ahead of the game in Dunedin, and areas where Ireland could improve and trouble the All Blacks. Liam Napier then joins Luke and Will to give the view from New Zealand, and says that although the All Blacks played well in the first test, they won't be complacent ahead of this weekend. Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland have lost their first test of the tour of New Zealand. Andy Farrell's team were beaten 42-19 by the All Blacks at Eden Park, Auckland. The home team scored six tries with Keith Earls and Bundee Aki scoring tries for Ireland while Johnny Sexton could be ruled out of the second test after failing a HIA. Irish Independent rugby correspondent Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey - who's in Auckland - joined Sinéad Kissane on the Left Wing Live to discuss the game. Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey and Ross Karl from Sky New Zealand to discuss an eventful week for the Ireland team. Cian joins the show from Auckland after returning from Ireland's heavy defeat to the New Zealand Maori. Both Cian and Luke are disappointed that more youngsters didn't raise their hand for test-match selection, while they are in agreement that the circumstances around Jeremy Loughman's HIA didn't look good for the sport. The lads discuss Ireland's injury issues ahead of the first test before Ross joined the show to give the view from New Zealand, where he says pressure is coming on the All Blacks to deliver a vintage performance. Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald look ahead to Ireland's tour of New Zealand with the Irish Independent’s Cian Tracey on this week’s Left Wing podcast. Three tests against the All Blacks and two games against the New Zealand Maori are on the schedule in what promises to be a riveting few weeks. Can Ireland win a game on New Zealand soil for the first time ever? The lads are in agreement that it is far from a vintage All Blacks team but there are still areas of concern for Ireland. Cian and Luke think a test win is possible, but that the home team should be too strong overall. Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss Andy Farrell's Ireland squad and the URC semi-finals. The Ireland head coach has selected 40 players to travel to New Zealand for what is set to be an exciting and challenging five-match tour - the lads discuss the players who were unlucky to miss out, lucky to be picked and all the other squad talking points. The chat then moves on to the URC semi-finals, with both Leinster and Ulster beaten by South Africans sides. Were Leinster overconfident? Do Ulster need more tight five reinforcements? There is plenty of food for thought as the Irish provinces end the season empty handed. Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald look back at Ulster's win over Munster and are joined by AP Cronje to look ahead to the URC semi-finals. It is the end of the Johann van Graan era at Thomond Park - but how should we judge the South African's time at Munster? Luke isn't convinced that he achieved a whole lot during his five seasons in charge and thinks that Graham Rowntree is well placed to shake things up in Limerick. Luke was also very impressed with Ulster's win over Munster and thinks they can upset the Stormers in South Africa in the semi-final. AP joins the lads to give the low down on how the Bulls and Stormers are shaping up for the final four, while he also gives an insight into the challenges in travelling down to South Africa on short notice to play. Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look back on the Champions Cup final. Why did Leinster lose to La Rochelle? Poor execution, a top-class performance from the French side and a weak bench impact are some of the reasons put forward by the lads. While Leinster will have to wait another 12 months to end their Champions Cup drought, it was a coaching masterclass from Ronan O'Gara as he won a third Champions Cup medal after claiming two as a player. The lads also discuss O'Gara's achievement, Leinster's decision to kick multiple penalties and whether the latest defeat will leave lasting scars. Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald look ahead to the Champions Cup final. It is Leinster vs La Rochelle and Johnny Sexton vs Ronan O'Gara as Marseille hosts the European decider this weekend. Will asks Luke what it's like to prepare for a Champions Cup final and how it differs from other big games, while Luke also compares how Michael Cheika and Joe Schmidt prepared Leinster for final appearances. The lads discuss the areas where La Rochelle might target Leinster, as well as where the eastern province can hurt the French side. Can Leinster add a fifth star to their jersey? Luke thinks they are strong enough to get the job done. Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look back on the Champions Cup semi-final weekend. Leinster are into the final for the first time since 2019 after a very impressive demolition of Toulouse - and Ronan O'Gara is waiting for them after his La Rochelle side saw off Racing 92. Luke was extremely impressed with the pace that Leinster played at and explains the difficulties that it causes for a defence. Cian urges a note of caution around the scrum, after Leinster conceded nine penalties over the quarter-final and semi-final. Ronan O'Gara's achievements at La Rochelle, James Lowe's run of form and the disappointing all-French semi-final are all up for discussion too. Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look back on the Champions Cup quarter-finals. Leinster booked their place in the semi-final after a dominant win against Leicester in Welford Road, and the lads are in agreement that they are well primed to take on Toulouse in Saturday's semi-final. The French giants outlasted Munster in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Aviva Stadium, and Luke thinks that Munster's defence let them down. Munster's game management, Leinster's semi-final selection and Toulouse's ability to make something out of nothing are all up for discussion too. Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look ahead to the Champions Cup quarter-finals. It is set to be a bumper weekend, with Munster and Leinster playing back to back on Saturday afternoon. Munster host holders Toulouse in what promises to be a cracker at the Aviva Stadium, and while Cian thinks the French side will be too strong, Luke has an inkling that Munster could produce an upset. We then have a clash of the two most in-form teams in Europe. English table-toppers Leicester host Leinster, who have a commanding lead in the URC. While it won't be easy for Leo Cullen's side, the lads are in agreement that they should have enough to advance to the semi-final stage. Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from. For more, visit: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look back on the Champions Cup quarter-finals.Leinster booked their place in the semi-final after a dominant win against Leicester in Welford Road, and the lads are in agreement that they are well primed to take on Toulouse in Saturday's semi-final.The French giants outlasted Munster in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Aviva Stadium, and Luke thinks that Munster's defence let them down.Munster's game management, Leinster's semi-final selection and Toulouse's ability to make something out of nothing are all up for discussion too.Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to look ahead to the Champions Cup quarter-finals.It is set to be a bumper weekend, with Munster and Leinster playing back to back on Saturday afternoon.Munster host holders Toulouse in what promises to be a cracker at the Aviva Stadium, and while Cian thinks the French side will be too strong, Luke has an inkling that Munster could produce an upset.We then have a clash of the two most in-form teams in Europe. English table-toppers Leicester host Leinster, who have a commanding lead in the URC. While it won't be easy for Leo Cullen's side, the lads are in agreement that they should have enough to advance to the semi-final stage.Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the heavy defeat to England, is this now a moment of reckoning for Ireland’s women’s rugby team with professional contracts set to be the next phase in the XV game’s development here?Wasps hooker, Cliodhna Moloney, and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane to discuss the fall-out from last week’s loss as well as looking ahead to Ireland’s final Women’s Six Nations game against Scotland when the team has an opportunity to leave their mark on the tournament.For more rugby discussion and analysis, don’t forget to join Will and Luke on the Left Wing next Wednesday.Listen and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by South African rugby journalist AP Cronje to discuss the resurgence of the South African teams in the URC.The Bulls, Lions, Stormers and Sharks are a combined 18-2 at home against the rest of the competition, which is a complete turnaround to how they started the competition away from home.AP gives the lads the lowdown on the four South African franchises and says that enthusiasm is building for the tournament among the fans down there.The Springboks potentially joining the Six Nations, Leinster's defeat to the Sharks and Munster's win over Ulster are all up for discussion too.Don’t forget to listen to the Left Wing Extra on Thursday when Sinéad Kissane previews Ireland’s final game in the Women’s Six Nations at home to Scotland with Cliodhna Moloney and Cian Tracey.Listen and follow the Left Wing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cliodhna Moloney joins Sinéad Kissane and Cian Tracey on the latest episode of the Left Wing to look ahead to Ireland’s Women's Six Nations game against England in Leicester on Sunday.Cliodhna and Cian talk about the huge task awaiting Ireland against the number one ranked team in the world especially for an Irish team that is without most of its Sevens players who've been pulled from the squad ahead of their World Sevens Series in Canada. Cliodhna believes the players can use this as a motivating factor like the squad has done in the past. Sinéad also talks to Ireland hooker Neve Jones who's been one of the team's leading players in this Six Nations ahead of what's set to be a record attendance at Welford Road.For more rugby discussion and analysis, don’t forget to join Will and Luke on the Left Wing next Wednesday.For more rugby discussion and analysis, don’t forget to join Will and Luke on the Left Wing next Wednesday.Listen and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jonathan Bradley of The Belfast Telegraph to discuss the Champions Cup round of 16.Leinster and Munster march on to the quarter-finals after wins over Connacht and Exeter, with the southern province producing a classic Thomond Park performance to sweep Exeter aside.There was also drama in Belfast, as Ulster were pipped at the death by Toulouse.Jonathan starts off by telling the lads about the mood in Ulster as the province look to bounce back from the devastating defeat.Ulster's progress, Connacht's consistency issues, Leinster's tricky balancing act ahead of the quarter-final and Joey Carbery's resurgence are all up for discussion too.Don’t forget to listen to the Left Wing Extra on Friday when Sinéad Kissane previews England v Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations.Listen and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Sean O'Brien to look back on the Ireland legend's career.O'Brien confirmed last week that he will retire at the end of the season and he says that the 2017 Lions tour in New Zealand was when he was playing at his peak.The Tullow Tank says that the 2015 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina is one game that still gnaws at him, while he also opens up on his love of coaching.Cian Tracey also joins the lads to discuss Graham Rowntree's appointment as the new Munster head coach as well as the proposed trial for a 20-minute red card.Listen and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cliodhna Moloney, the Wasps hooker who was a surprise omission from Ireland’s Six Nations squad, joins Sinéad Kissane and Cian Tracey on the latest episode of the Left Wing to look ahead to Ireland’s must-win game against Italy on Sunday.The big news is that Beibhinn Parsons is back in the first XV, one of six changes to the team. Eimear Considine drops out of the match-day 23 with Lucy Mulhall switching to full-back in a back-three consisting of Parsons and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.Kathryn Dane, Christy Haney and Hannah O’Connor have all been promoted to the starting line-up as well.Also on the show, Cliodhna addresses her disappointment at being left out of the squad, where the team needs to improve as well as the 7s v XV debate.For more rugby discussion and analysis, don’t forget to join Will and Luke on the Left Wing next Wednesday.Listen and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhrí O'Connor to discuss Leinster's big win over Munster and Ireland women's head coach Greg McWilliams to discuss the Six Nations campaign to date.Leinster secured a big win in Thomond Park to head into Champions Cup action in style, but both Luke and Ruaidhrí are worried about Munster's prospects after another damaging defeat to their biggest rival.Joey Carbery's best position, Leinster's Champions Cup chances and Munster's head coach search are all up for discussion too.Greg McWilliams then joins the lads to discuss how he feels Ireland have performed in the Women’s Six Nations so far. Despite two defeats from two, McWilliams thinks there are reasons to be hopeful ahead of Sunday's game against Italy.Don’t forget to listen to the Left Wing Extra with Sinéad Kissane later in the week when she previews Ireland v Italy in the Women’s Six Nations and you can follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest Left Wing podcast Sinéad Kissane previews Ireland women’s Six Nations crunch clash against France with Cian Tracey and former Ireland captain, Claire Molloy.The big talking point has been coach Greg McWilliams’ decision to keep Beibhinn Parsons on the bench and sticking with the starting XV that lost 27-17 to Wales in their opening match.It will be a daunting trip to Toulouse to one of the game’s power houses where Ireland have never won and neither Claire nor Cian expect this record to be broken on Saturday. But an improved performance will be green shoots pointing in the right direction.For more rugby discussion and analysis, don’t forget to join Will and Luke on the Left Wing next Wednesday.Listen and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald discuss all the latest rugby news and are joined by Chris Foy in the UK to chat about Eddie Jones, England and their coaching succession plan.The lads kick off by looking back at Ireland's opening game of the Women's Six Nations. Despite losing to Wales, Luke thinks there are reasons to be positive ahead of a big test against France this weekend.The chat then looks at the resurgence of the South African teams on home soil in the URC, as well as the prospect of Leinster signing ex-All Blacks centre Charlie Ngatai.In the second half of the show, Chris joins the lads to discuss all the options on the table as England decide who should succeed Eddie Jones after the 2023 World Cup.Listen and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest Left Wing podcast Sinéad Kissane was joined by former Ireland prop, Lindsay Peat, and Irish Independent rugby writer, Cian Tracey, to look ahead to the 2022 Women's Six Nations with Ireland kicking off their championship against Wales at the RDS on Saturday. Peat, who played her final game for Ireland last November, spoke about the turbulent months for Irish women's rugby following the failure to qualify for this year's World Cup and Cian also spoke about the challenges ahead for this Irish team who will be the only team in this Six Nations who won't also compete in this year's World Cup.Flanker Edel McMahon who is in the starting XV for Saturday, was also on the show telling Sinéad about the mood in the Irish camp ahead of the Welsh game.For more rugby discussion and analysis, don’t forget to join Will and Luke on the Left Wing next Wednesday.Listen and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery is joined by Cian Tracey to review the 2022 Six Nations.Ireland came up short in their title quest but ended up with a Triple Crown after four bonus-point wins. The lads are in agreement that the continued development of the attack was a big positive although the number of handling errors needs to be addressed ahead of the summer tour to New Zealand.One area of concern for Andy Farrell will be the depth at front row, with injuries to Andrew Porter and Ronan Kelleher putting the scrum under serious pressure.Away from Ireland, the state of England is one of the big talking points. Should they stick with Eddie Jones?Scotland's poor campaign, France's resurgence and the return of crowds are all up for discussion too.Listen and follow The Left Wing on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish Independent rugby writers Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey join Sinéad Kissane from the Aviva Stadium after Ireland’s victory over Scotland earned them a Triple Crown title in Dublin.Luke and Will return for the regular Left Wing show for more rugby discussion and analysis next Wednesday.Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more Left Wing episodes, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to discuss Ireland's team selection for the Six Nations finale against Scotland.Iain Henderson, Jack Conan and Mack Hansen all start as Andy Farrell's side look to win a first Six Nations title since 2018 - provided England can do Ireland a favour against France.Meanwhile, Scotland have dropped out-half Finn Russell and have opted for rookie ten Blair Kinghorn. Will that decision come back to haunt Gregor Townsend?Can Ireland win an unlikely Six Nations title? Luke is tipping England beat France anyway...Don’t forget to listen to Sinéad Kissane and the Left Wing Live for post-match reaction to the game on Saturday while Luke and Will return for the regular Left Wing show for more rugby discussion and analysis next Wednesday.Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more Left Wing episodes, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former England prop Alex Corbisiero to look back on Ireland's record win in Twickenham.Andy Farrell's side are still in contention for the title ahead of Saturday's game against Scotland, but need Eddie Jones' side to do Ireland a favour in Paris against France.The lads kick off the discussion by taking a look at Ireland's scrum woes - with Alex giving his take on why England were so dominant there.Luke felt that Ireland attacked well but forced the final pass on too many occasions, a recurring theme from earlier in the campaign.Eddie Jones' position, Ireland's bench boost and the team's depth are all up for discussion too.Listen and follow The Left Wing on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish Independent rugby writers Rúaidhrí O'Connor and David Kelly join Sinead Kissane from Twickenham to reflect on Ireland's Six Nations win over 14-man England.Luke and Will return for the regular Left Wing show for more rugby discussion and analysis next Wednesday.Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more Left Wing episodes, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest Left Wing Extra, Sinead Kissane is joined by Luke Fitzgerald and Rúaidhrí O’Connor to discuss the Ireland team to face England in Twickenham on Saturday.The big guns have been recalled for the crunch clash with Andrew Conway, Bundee Aki and Peter O'Mahony making the first XV.As expected, Johnny Sexton returns as No.10 replacing Joey Carbery while Hugo Keenan is recalled and Mack Hansen misses out.Up front, Andrew Porter's injury-enforced absence paves the way for Cian Healy to earn a start in a front-row along with Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong.Don’t forget to listen to Sinead Kissane and the Left Wing Live for post-match reaction to the game on Saturday while Luke and Will return for the regular Left Wing show for more rugby discussion and analysis next Wednesday.Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more Left Wing episodes, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to look ahead to Ireland's Six Nations showdown with England on Saturday.The show kicks off with the news that Johnny Sexton has signed a new deal to take him up to the 2023 World Cup, and the lads debate how Andy Farrell should manage his captain between now and the tournament in France.The chat then moves onto Eddie Jones and England - is he building a new team capable of success or has he abandoned the players and style that produced a World Cup final appearance?All three of the lads are nervous ahead of Saturday's game, despite England's poor recent showings, with the loss of Andrew Porter and Ronan Kelleher particularly damaging.Things finish up with a look at the recommendations made from the report into the women's team, before predictions for the England game.Listen and follow on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ian Madigan to discuss Ireland's win over Italy and the campaign to date.Ian and Luke agree that although Andy Farrell's side have had a good tournament, last Sunday was a sloppy day at the office. Luke thinks that the team forced things too much against 13 men, while Ian gives his assessment on how he thinks Joey Carbery played in his two recent starts.Ireland play England next, and both Luke and Ian are unsure if Eddie Jones is going down the right path with his revamped team.The lads finish off the chat with Ian by discussing how his Ulster team are faring, as well as looking ahead to their two-legged tie with Toulouse in April.Listen and follow on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sinéad Kissane hosted the Left Wing Live from the Aviva Stadium with Cian Tracey and Dave Kelly giving their post-match analysis of Ireland's 57-6 thrashing of Italy.Don't forget to listen to Luke and Will's weekly analysis and views on the Left Wing with new shows released every Wednesday.Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts from.For more, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest Left Wing Extra, Sinead Kissane is joined by Cian Tracey and Dave Kelly to discuss the Ireland team to face Italy on Sunday.The main news is Joey Carbery keeps his place on the team with Johnny Sexton on the bench and expected to make a second half appearance.Elsewhere, Ulster’s Michael Lowry will make his international debut and Ryan Baird is handed his first championship start.For more Left Wing episodes, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s Left Wing, Sinead Kissane is joined by Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and former Leinster and Italy international, Ian McKinley, to look ahead to Ireland’s clash against Italy at the weekend.It’s a case of how many points the Irish team can rack up says Luke and Cian, with getting the bonus point and avoiding injury the real focus with the crunch game against England in Twickenham still to come.Ian McKinley discusses recent stories about Italy’s possible replacement by South Africa in the Six Nations and says, while it’s not new, there has been a lack of progress in recent years and the panel discuss how Italy can improve to help make them more competitive.Listen and follow the Left Wing podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from.For more Left Wing episodes, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Fergus McFadden to look back at Ireland's defeat to France in Paris.Andy Farrell's side came up just short at the Stade de France, with the decision to kick for the posts in the closing minutes proving contentious. Fergus thinks it was the right call while Luke says that James Ryan should have opted to stick the ball in the corner.Both of them are in agreement, however, that with a few less errors, Ireland could have secured a famous victory.Scotland's defeat in Cardiff to Wales, Six Nations trends and France's room for improvement are all up for discussion too.For more Left Wing episodes, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland suffered a major Six Nations blow when they were beaten by a powerful France 30-24.Sinead Kissane analyses the action with Irish Independent reporters David Kelly and Cian Tracey who were live from the Stade de France.Don't forget to listen to Luke and Will's weekly analysis and views on the Left Wing with new shows released every Wednesday.For more Left Wing episodes, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing Extra, Will Slattery is joined by Cian Tracey and Rúaidhrí O’Connor to discuss the Ireland team to face France.The big news is Johnny Sexton’s injury, which means that Joey Carbery will make his first Six Nations start in Paris.Is Carbery ready for the step up? The lads debate Ireland’s chances with a new out-half, whether they have the power to match France and Andy Farrell’s decision to name Iain Henderson and Robbie Henshaw on the bench.For more Left Wing episodes, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey and Benjamin Kayser to discuss all the Six Nations action.Will and Luke kick things off by looking back at Scotland's dramatic win over England, before Cian joins to discuss Ireland's bonus-point win over Wales.The lads all agree that Ireland's ball-playing forwards give them a big edge over the opposition, but the step up in Paris this weekend will be a huge test.Mack Hansen's dream debut, Ireland's lack of a bench impact and the selection battle for France are all up for discussion too.Former France hooker Benjamin Kayser then joins the lads to give an insight into the recent French resurgence after some lean years. Benjamin says the improved relationship between the clubs and the national team as well as the all-star coaching staff headed up by Fabien Galthié have played a big part in France's return to the top table.For more Left Wing episodes, visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this bonus episode of the Left Wing, Will Slattery is joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Cian Tracey with their reactions to the Ireland team announcement.Connacht's Mack Hansen will make his debut on the wing against Wales on Saturday in what is a huge call by Ireland head coach Andy Farrell.Elsewhere, Joey Carbery has fended off Jack Carty's claim to the back-up ten slot, while James Hume will get a chance off the bench after strong form for Ulster.The lads finish up with predictions, with all three going for a big Ireland win.For more Left Wing episodes visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Welsh legend Tom Shanklin to look ahead to the Six Nations.Rud joins first and is bullish on Ireland's chances, tipping Andy Farrell's side for title glory off the back of a strong November and the form of key men. The lads discuss how Ireland should handle the out-half situation, the key players who are primed for a big campaign and any concerns ahead of the big kick-off.Tom then joins Luke and Will to give the view from Wales ahead of the opening game. While ordinarily he wouldn't be too worried by the form of the Welsh regions, Tom thinks that Wales' injury list will make life difficult for them this year.The lads finish up with their predictions, with both Luke and Tom going with France for 2022.For more Left Wing episodes visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Connacht back row Eoin McKeon to discuss all the weekend’s Champions Cup action.All four Irish provinces are into the knockout stage after an exciting final round, and the lads kick off with what Connacht need to do to kick on after another dramatic defeat.The chat then turns to how Leinster are faring after getting their season back on track with two big European wins.Ulster’s European form, Dan McFarland’s coaching style and Munster’s improvement are all up for discussion too. For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to go over all the latest rugby news. The lads kick off by discussing the Ireland Six Nations squad announcement, as Andy Farrell makes some interesting decisions.The chat then moves on to the Champions Cup action, starting with Leinster’s record-setting win over Montpellier - is there really anything they can learn from that?Connacht’s collapse against Leicester, Ulster’s exciting backline and Munster’s European form are all up for discussion too. For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Gavin Mairs of The Daily Telegraph to discuss the landscape of English rugby after a tumultuous Covid year.First, Will and Luke discuss Munster vs Ulster and Johann van Graan’s short-term future.Then Gavin joins the lads and they chat about whether the English sides still value Europe and if the Premiership is as good as all the hype suggests.The prospect of a Lions League, the emergence of Harlequins and Eddie Jones’ England are all up for discussion too. For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to go over all the latest rugby news.After a Christmas period light on on-field action, there's only Connacht vs Munster to discuss - and none of the lads were impressed with the standard on show.While Andy Friend's side continue to build, Luke and Rud both have major questions about Munster's prospects of success after another game where their attack struggled.The lads then discuss the fixture chaos in club rugby, in particular with Leinster, who have only played three games in ten weeks, as well as the decision to give Conor Murray a new two-year central contract.Finally, the lads discuss the to-do list for new IRFU CEO Kevin Potts, who is replacing Philip Browne.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the last Left Wing of the year, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Rúaidhrí O'Connor to discuss all the latest rugby news.For the second year in a row, Munster's St Stephen's Day clash at home to Leinster has been shelved due to Covid - Rud gives a state of play in what is a messy situation for Leo Cullen's side.The lads then turn their attention to Munster's win over Castres, while Rud also puts forward Declan Kidney as a possible replacement for Johann van Graan.The chat then turns to the news that Ultan Dillane is leaving Connacht at the end of the season to move to France and Will thinks that more fringe Ireland players would benefit from a move abroad, while Luke isn't so sure.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to pick through all the latest news.The lads start off with a discussion about Munster's future after the announcement that head coach Johann van Graan will leave at the end of the season - is it time for Ronan O'Gara to finally come home?On the pitch, Munster enjoyed a bumper win at Wasps last Sunday, with the young guns making a big step up and Luke thinks it is time for the younger players to be trusted more.The chat then turns to Connacht's big win, as well as the form of Jack Carty and where he sits in the Ireland pecking order.Leinster's Covid situation, Ulster's upset win in Clermont and the state of women's rugby are all up for discussion too.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined for a bumper Champions Cup preview by Cian Tracey.Will starts things off by asking Cian and Luke who the best team in Europe is right now - the consensus seems to be that it is between Toulouse and Leinster.For Leo Cullen's side, it is coming up to four years since they last won the Champions Cup - how much pressure is on Leinster to deliver?Cian thinks they have a power deficit to make up with the top teams while Luke thinks their mindset has to be right to win it again.Meanwhile, Munster are looking to produce another European miracle against Wasps this weekend while there is also uncertainty around their coach Johann van Graan, while there are also question marks around Ulster and Connacht ahead of the tournament kick-off.The lads round things off by discussing the teams outside of Ireland that they are looking forward to seeing, and then give their predictions for the eventual winners.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Rúaidhrí O'Connor and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by The Belfast Telegraph Rugby Correspondent Jonathan Bradley to talk about Munster's Covid-19 nightmare in South Africa, Ulster's big win at the RDS and Connacht's superb performance against Ospreys.With news that a large number of the Irish province's travelling party are expected to return home overnight, Luke and Jonathan assess the impact the episode will have on Munster's campaign and the season on the whole.On Saturday night, Ulster claimed a famous win in Ballsbridge and both guests were full of praise for Dan McFarland's sides approach as they assessed James Hume's contribution and the place in the Leinster and Ireland pecking order of Leinster out-half Harry Byrne.Leo Cullen had some harsh words for his players after the game and Luke reckons some will have a tough time getting back into the team, with Connacht on their way to the RDS this Friday.The Western province was sublime in the rain in Galway last Friday night, sweeping Ospreys aside with Mack Hansen giving a really impressive display that caught the eye.With Europe looming large, it's another big round of games this weekend as the provinces look to launch into their Champions Cup campaign.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ulster out-half Ian Madigan to look back at the autumn internationals.Ireland finished November with three impressive wins from three games, and Ian was very pleased to see how the team's style of play has developed.After discussing Ireland's win over Argentina, the lads move on to the big question after the autumn tests - who is the best team in the world?Luke and Ian are in agreement that despite suffering a defeat to England, South Africa are the team to beat.Will and Luke then talk to Ian about his frustrating season to date, after initially suffering an injury, he is now looking to break back into the Ulster squad.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey and Ruaidhrí O'Connor to look back at Ireland's impressive win over the All Blacks.Will kicks off by asking Rud what his big take-away from the game is – and he was left very impressed by how dominant Andy Farrell's team were.Cian thinks the bravery with the ball-in-hand shown by Ireland was noteworthy while Luke was surprised by how poor New Zealand's handling was under pressure.Ireland's front row power, Jamison Gibson-Park's speedy service and the balance of the back three is all up for the discussion too.Rud and Cian also weigh in on what has been another controversial period for the women's game in Ireland after Director of Women's Rugby Anthony Eddy came under fire for an interview he gave last week.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey and New Zealand rugby journalist Liam Napier to look ahead to Ireland vs the All Blacks.To start off, Will, Luke and Cian look back at the big win over Japan - how much can be read into Ireland's impressive victory?Ireland offloaded far more than in previous matches, but Luke has an interesting view on whether this represents a new departure for the team.Liam then joins the lads to give the view from New Zealand. He says there are a number of question marks over the All Blacks, with the biggest one being the battle between Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga at out-half.The lads then give their predictions - with Luke expecting New Zealand to leave the Aviva Stadium with a 15-point win.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhrí O'Connor to look ahead to the autumn tests.We are at the midway point between World Cups, so how has Andy Farrell fared to date? Luke and Ruaidhri give their assessment of the positives and negatives of Farrell's tenure ahead of a crucial November period.Talk then turns to Ireland's schedule this month, starting with Japan, before the visit of the All Blacks and then Argentina.What would constitute a successful window for Ireland? Luke thinks a win in all three games is achievable.The lads then discuss all the questions surrounding Eddie Jones and England heading into November, following an article about Jones' abrasive style of management.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss all the latest rugby news.The lads kick off by discussing Johnny Sexton's comments about Ireland's fresh approach to the World Cup, with the team now actively speaking about the tournament two years in advance.Is it a good idea or is there a danger that the pressure to finally deliver a World Cup semi-final place will build even more?The chat then moves onto Connacht's big win over Ulster, with Jack Carty once again outplaying an out-half rival - but there's still no place for him in the Ireland squad.Munster's disappointing defeat to the Ospreys, the hooker battle at Leinster and Greg McWilliams' appointment as the head coach of the Ireland women's team are all up for discussion too.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhrí O'Connor to pick through Andy Farrell's Ireland squad for the autumn series.Dan Sheehan and Ciaran Frawley are the two uncapped players named while there is a return for Simon Zebo after 4.5 years in international exile. Although Farrell has named a strong squad, will Ireland be undercooked with no big European games to prime the players for November?The lads also discuss the out-half selection - a position that they agree is a 'problem area' for the team'.Ireland's exciting front row, the back three battle and the standard of officiating in the URC are all up for discussion too.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jonathan Bradley of The Belfast Telegraph to discuss all the latest rugby news.The lads kick off by asking Jonathan about the state of Ulster rugby as the province moves into their fourth year under head coach Dan McFarland.The signing of Duane Vermeulen, John Cooney's uncertain future and the emergence of Nathan Doak are all up for discussion.The chat then moves onto Munster and the rotten injury luck suffered by the team and their Springbok signing RG Snyman, who has suffered an ACL injury for the second straight season.However, there are some positives with the performance of the province's young guns.The lads finish up by taking a look at the out-half landscape in Ireland and debating whether a Club World Cup is worth pursuing at the expense of the Champions Cup.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss all the latest rugby news.The lads kick off with a look at how the South African sides have fared over the opening two weekends of the URC. With seven defeats from eight, it has been a tough opening for the four new franchises and the lads discuss the challenges facing the quartet as they look to make their mark.It was a good weekend for the provinces with four wins from four, but while Connacht and Munster will be particularly happy with two big wins over South African opposition, Leinster won't be pleased with their laboured win over Dragons.Finally, the lads look back at the titanic clash between the All Blacks and the Springboks, and assess which country is the best in the world at the moment.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Left Wing is back for another season and Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined for the first episode by Ruaidhrí O'Connor and former Ireland international Alison Miller.The panel kick things off with a post-mortem of Ireland's failure to qualify for the Women's World Cup after a disastrous defeat to Scotland last weekend. Alison says that change is needed at the top of the sport to ensure women's rugby in Ireland can get back on its feet.The discussion then turns to the United Rugby Championship, which kicked off over the weekend. Will the arrival of four new South African teams provide a much-needed boost for the league?Munster are the team that are most interesting heading into the new campaign, with question marks over the future of their coaching staff as well as the return of Simon Zebo to Thomond Park.For more Left Wing episodes and rugby stories visit the show page at:https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to discuss the Lions test team and look ahead to Saturday's clash with the Springboks.Warren Gatland has once again sprung a number of selection surprises, with Conor Murray forced to settle for a place on the bench after the head coach opted to start Scotland's Ali Price.The lads discuss all the key Irish selection decisions, with Tadhg Furlong, Jack Conan and Robbie Henshaw named to start while Tadhg Beirne joins Murray on the bench.The bench make-up and South Africa's formidable starting team are also discussed while Luke and Ruaidhri also give their predictions for the first test - and they both think the Springboks will come out on top.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss a crazy day on the Lions Tour.Two positive Covid cases - one in the coaching group and one in the playing squad - left the game against the Sharks in doubt, and although it ultimately went ahead, Warren Gatland was forced to rejig his team.With uncertainty surrounding the players who are currently isolating, the lads discuss the viability of the tour. Luke thinks that it should still go ahead while Cian is concerned that the integrity of the test series could be compromised if key men are ruled out for Covid reasons.The chat then moves on to the players who have impressed, with everyone in agreement that Iain Henderson is in with a great chance of starting the test series while Luke thinks that Elliot Daly could make a charge at 13.The lads finish up by looking back at Ireland's win over Japan and discuss whether Andy Farrell should have given his young guns more game time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Scotland international Jim Hamilton to discuss all the latest Lions news.The show kicks off with a discussion on whether the Lions should be travelling to South Africa at all given the Covid situation there, with the lads saying that sport can be an important tool to give people enjoyment during tough times.Then they move onto Warren Gatland's surprise decision to make Conor Murray the Lions captain, with Luke and Jim both surprised that the Ireland scrum-half was given the honour.What does it say about the form of Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje? After a poor season for club and country, Jim says that the Saracens contingent in the Lions squad are under pressure to perform.Luke and Will also look ahead to Ireland's game against Japan this weekend, with the visitors looking sharp in attack in their game against the Lions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald discuss Warren Gatland's first Lions selection and are joined by Sevens stars Billy Dardis and Harry McNulty to discuss Ireland's historic Olympic qualification.The lads kick off the podcast by talking about what a good performance against Japan this weekend could mean for the Lions' Irish contingent, and about how important it is to get off to a strong start on tour.Will and Luke are then joined by Billy and Harry, who over the weekend played a huge part as Ireland booked their place in Tokyo.They tell the lads about the long six-year journey from a third-division tournament in Bosnia to reaching the biggest tournament in the sport.The two lads talk about all the ups and downs, as well as giving an insight into the day-to-day and week-to-week life of a professional Sevens player.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to discuss all the latest rugby news.The PRO14 is no more... now the Irish teams will be playing in the United Rugby Championship. The four big South African sides are joining the original PRO12 outfits to form a new league - and the lads sink their teeth into all the various changes.The lads are concerned about the move away from merit-based qualification for Europe, but agree that it is a good move to allow the South African teams compete in the Champions Cup.Speaking of Europe's premier rugby competition, there are some changes coming to that too, with the lads pleased overall but on the fence about having two-legged last 16 ties.The lads finish things off by picking through Andy Farrell's Ireland squad for the summer tour, including the decision to omit Ross Byrne from the out-halves, as well as taking a look at some of the exciting young players involved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss all the latest rugby news.The lads kick things off with the latest on the fire pit accident that saw Springbok duo Damian De Allende and RG Snyman along with Munster team-mates Mike Haley and CJ Stander suffer burn injuries, before moving on to the news that Benetton will play in the Rainbow Cup final after receiving a walkover against the Ospreys.Cian says that it might be a blessing in disguise for Munster that they won't be able to win the Rainbow Cup while Luke says that it is a fitting end to what has been a once-in-a-lifetime season.The conversation then turns to the performance of IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora. Has he done a good job? And who should replace him if he leaves in 2022?Finally, the lads discuss Andrew Porter's unfortunate injury ahead of the Lions tour as well as the players who might miss out for the Springboks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Leinster and Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier.The lads kick off with a chat about Leinster's recent Champions Cup semi-final defeat to La Rochelle, as Josh explains the learnings the team can take from the loss.The 28-year-old flanker is in top form at the moment after some impressive performances against England and Exeter Chiefs, and Luke asks what Josh's strong displays have been down to.Warren Gatland recently announced his Lions squad to tour South Africa and Josh also discusses his disappointment at missing out.The lads also look back on Josh's Ireland debut - which came in a very tough environment against England at Twickenham in the Six Nations in 2016.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss the Champions Cup final and all the latest rugby news.Toulouse became the first team to win five European Cups by beating Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle. The lads discuss all the major talking points - from Levani Botia's red card, to Ronan O'Gara going away from one of his coaching lessons to whether Toulouse were worthy champions.The discussion then turns towards Bulls head coach Jake White's revelation that he offered CJ Stander a contract, before the show finishes up with a chat of where Bundee Aki's form is at heading into the Lions tour, and his partnership with Robbie Henshaw.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to discuss all the latest rugby news.The lads kick things off by discussing whether people have a bit of fatigue around rugby, with the Rainbow Cup failing to capture the imagination.The recent inter-pros saw Connacht secure a big win over Munster, but one major talking point has been the Captain's Challenge.The lads debate whether or not it is working and if it should be kept going forward, and the discussion then moves onto Robbie Henshaw's tackle on Robert Balacoune - and whether it should have been punished with a card.Ireland's upcoming squad announcement for their summer test matches should be interesting, and Luke and Ruaidhri discuss which young players should make the cut.This weekend sees Toulouse take on La Rochelle in the Champions Cup final, and the lads finish things off by giving their predictions for the big game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Springbok World Cup winner BJ Botha to get the South African view ahead of the Lions tour.Amazingly, the Springboks haven't played a game since beating England in the World Cup final, and BJ outlines the challenges facing South Africa ahead of the visit of Warren Gatland's side. Luke and BJ discuss some of the interesting selection decisions in the Lions squad, and the lads also discuss whether the Springboks may eventually end up playing in the Six Nations.The influence of Rassie Erasmus, Munster's South African contingent, the amount of overseas South Africans and the future of South African club rugby are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey for an emergency podcast to discuss the Lions squad announcement.The lads kick off by discussing James Ryan's omission and the reasons given by Warren Gatland. Luke thinks Ryan was hard done by while Cian thinks it is a bad look for Irish rugby that Ryan and Garry Ringrose, two of Ireland's top young players, have missed the cut. The discussion then moves onto the centre selections, with the lads in agreement that it is a perplexing collection of players, especially considering the quality left out.The chat then moves to out-half, where Johnny Sexton was left out of the squad, with Owen Farrell, Finn Russell and Dan Biggar included. The questions around Sexton's durability looks to have cost him a shot at a third tour.The lads finish off by discussing the back row balance, and Luke is asked whether he is more or less confident now that the squad has been picked.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Neil Francis to look back on Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final defeat and look ahead to the Lions squad announcement.For the third year in a row, Leinster have failed to win back the European Cup - this time losing to Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle side.Luke picks out the areas he thinks cost Leinster the game, while Neil thinks that the influence of La Rochelle second row Will Skelton was crucial in the outcome.The lads debate whether the weakness of the PRO14 has hindered Leinster's chances in Europe and look at how Ross Byrne fared in the absence of Johnny Sexton.On the Lions squad, Neil thinks that Sexton could miss out on selection and explains why he misses Warren Gatland since his departure as Wales head coach.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to discuss the upcoming Lions squad announcement and Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final against La Rochelle.Will and Luke kick things off by discussing how Luke found out about his selection for the 2009 tour, and his initial experience meeting up with the squad.Luke, Will and Ruaidhri then debate the tough selection decisions facing Warren Gatland as he picks his Lions squad to tour South Africa. Will Sexton make the cut despite his injury concerns? How many Irish players will go?The lads also give their possible bolters who could be a surprise inclusion when the squad is named on May 6.The lads finish off by looking ahead to Leinster's mouthwatering Champions Cup semi-final against Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle side. Luke and Ruaidhri both think it will be a cracking game and both also think that Leinster will edge a tight encounter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Leinster out-half Ross Byrne to discuss the recent win over Exeter and much more.Byrne came off the bench to steer Leinster to a famous win at Sandy Park, and he tells the lads how the province managed to overturn a 14-0 deficit and come out on top.The out-half gives an insight into what his mentality was when he came in off the bench, and also reflects on the tough experiences he has had in an Ireland jersey to date.Byrne is in an interesting situation with his brother Harry competing for the same jersey at Leinster, but Ross says that he enjoys having his sibling around in the set-up.The lads also discuss the three new laws being trailed in the upcoming Rainbow Cup, while Ross says he would be excited by a potential British and Irish 'Lions' League in the future if it ever came to pass.Will and Luke also discuss the news that the South African sides won't be competing in the Rainbow Cup, and the future of women's rugby in Ireland amid calls for the game to go professional.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Brendan Fanning of the Sunday Independent to discuss all the latest rugby news.The lads kick things off with a look back at Leinster's epic win over Exeter in the Champions Cup final. Luke breaks down the defensive issues that saw Leo Cullen's men go 14-0 down in the opening stages, while Brendan takes a look at how they battled back to claim victory.It was a big day for Ross Byrne after he came on to replace Johnny Sexton, and the lads discuss whether the out-half has been harshly treated in his international career after another strong display in Europe.Simon Zebo has announced his return to Munster and everyone is in agreement that it is an exciting move - but will the 31-year-old be back in the Ireland squad soon?The lads then debate Leinster's signing of Crusaders prop Michael Alaalatoa, with Luke saying that the province should be backing their young players.Finally, the panel look back on Ireland's impressive win in the Six Nations opener against Wales, which included a stellar performance from superstar wing Beibhinn Parsons.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Ireland international Niamh Briggs to look back on an eventful weekend of European rugby and look ahead to Exeter vs Leinster and the Women's Six Nations.Everyone was impressed with Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle side and the discussion quickly turns to whether the Munster legend is a live option to return to his former province as the head coach.The chat then turns to Exeter vs Leinster, and whether the English side will be able to overpower Leinster like they did to other teams en route to Champions Cup glory last season. Luke, Will and Niamh all think that Leinster's international pack will be able to withstand the Exeter onslaught and that could be key.Niamh also gives her assessment of where the Ireland women's team are at heading into their Six Nations opener against Wales this Saturday, including a look at some of the exciting Sevens talented that have been drafted into the Ireland squad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss the state of Munster rugby after their PRO14 final defeat to Leinster.It is Munster's sixth consecutive defeat to their biggest rivals, including their fourth knockout loss in a row, and the lads begin their discussion by asking why they were so off the pace at the RDS last weekend.Luke was disappointed by the team's defensive intensity while Cian was surprised that the game plan didn't seem to have evolved hugely from the teams' previous meetings.The discussion moves on to the province's signing of South African second row Jason Jenkins, with Luke and Cian in agreement in their worry that it will block the emergence of some exciting young talent in Munster.The lads finish up by looking ahead to a mouthwatering weekend of European rugby, as Leinster host Toulon and Toulouse travel to Thomond Park to take on Munster.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to discuss Ireland's win over England, the crazy finish to France vs Wales and look ahead to Leinster vs Munster in the PRO14 final.Ireland delivered the best performance of the Andy Farrell era to thump England at the Aviva Stadium - but where did the dominant display come from?Will asks Rud why it took so long for the team to produce their best form, while Luke takes a look at the areas that impressed him.A number of Irish players stood up and delivered their best, such as Conor Murray, while star performers such as Tadhg Beirne, Robbie Henshaw and Tadhg Furlong were as good as ever.The lads discuss who stood out for them across the campaign, and then finish up by naming their Player of the Tournament before a quick look ahead to a huge Leinster vs Munster clash.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Neil Francis to react to CJ Stander's shock retirement and discuss all the latest Six Nations news.The lads kick things off with a discussion on the back row's surprise announcement, with Neil saying that he doesn't think Stander will stay retired, and could potentially join up with one of the South African franchises after he returns home.Luke pays tribute to Stander's service to Irish rugby, but has mixed feelings over his decision to step away.In terms of on-pitch action, Luke takes a look at Ireland's defensive issues, while the lads discuss Ireland's propensity to kick away turnover ball.England are coming to town for the Six Nations finale on Saturday, and Luke and Neil both offer areas where Ireland must improve if they want to secure an upset victory.However, ultimately, they think Eddie Jones' men will leave the Aviva Stadium with a five consecutive win over Ireland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Leinster second row Devin Toner to look back on his career.Toner is closing in on the record for most Leinster appearances and although his contract is up at the end of the season, he plans on playing on for at least one more year.From his early days under Michael Cheika to making the breakthrough with Leinster and Ireland under Joe Schmidt, Toner has been involved in professional rugby for 15 years.He tells the lads about the highs and lows of his career, including the disappointment of being dropped by Joe Schmidt from the Ireland squad ahead of the 2019 World Cup.Luke and Will also look ahead to Ireland's Six Nations clash with Scotland this weekend, and whether Andy Farrell should go on the Lions tour as an assistant to Warren Gatland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to go over all the Six Nations news.The lads kick off with a look back on Ireland's win over Italy. More offloads, a better attacking shape and a resolute defence were all on the wish-list ahead of the visit to Rome - so how did Ireland fare on that count?Both Cian and Luke think that Italy's shocking showing means that not much can be gleaned from Ireland's win, and both were surprised with how bullish Andy Farrell and Johnny Sexton were after the game.Craig Casey's place in the scrum-half pecking order, the standard of Six Nations refereeing, Wales' Triple Crown win and why England resemble 2019 Ireland are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of the Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Sale out-half AJ MacGinty to discuss his unique journey from Blackrock to becoming a USA international.MacGinty is enjoying a great run of form in the Premiership currently playing alongside Springbok star Faf de Klerk, and tells the lads all about life in England.They then look back at his memorable performance as Connacht beat Leinster in the 2016 PRO12 final - which turned out to be Luke's final game before retirement.MacGinty has played at two World Cups for the USA, and despite his international allegiance contributing to his Connacht departure, he says that he has no regrets about the road he went down.Luke and Will also look ahead to Ireland's trip to Rome to face Italy this weekend, and Will is joined by Brendan Fanning to look back on the life of former Ireland international Gary Halpin after his tragic death.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Neil Francis to discuss Ireland's Six Nations campaign to date.Neil is disappointed by the lack of progress the team has made under Andy Farrell, while Luke is concerned with the team's defence as well as the attack.The lads look back on the defeat to France last weekend, with Neil left very impressed with how Les Bleus are building following the addition of Shaun Edwards.The out-half succession plan is a talking point, with both Luke and Neil very enthusiastic about the potential of Leinster youngster Ciaran Frawley.Neil says that Andy Farrell will be under a lot of pressure if things don't improve and that the IRFU should make a call to Ronan O'Gara at the end of the Six Nations.Scotland's collapse against Wales and England's stuttering form is up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to look back at an eventful opening weekend of the Six Nations.The show kicks off with an apology as Will eats humble pie following his slating of Scotland's chances of beating England last week, before the lads discuss the controversy surrounding the comments made by two French doctors about Johnny Sexton's concussion issues.The chat then moves on to Ireland's defeat in Wales, with Luke sounding a positive note due to a number of strong individual performances, while Ruaidhri thinks that Ireland's leaders let Andy Farrell down in Cardiff.However, both were enthusiastic about the performance of Ireland's bench and what it could mean for the visit of France this Sunday.The lads then moved on to Scotland's upset win over England - did Eddie Jones make an error in picking so many under-cooked Saracens stars?Finally, Luke and Ruaidhri give their predictions ahead of what is a must-win game for Ireland against France at the Aviva Stadium this Sunday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of the Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to look ahead to the Six Nations championship.The lads kick things off by talking about Ruaidhri's list of the top 50 Irish players of the Six Nations era, with Luke coming in at number 31.The discussion then moves onto the championship, which kicks off this weekend. After a patchy autumn, how is the Irish team fixed?Luke is very positive on Ireland's chances and is tipping Andy Farrell's side to win the Six Nations, while Ruaidhri strikes a more cautious note.The back row selection dilemma and Tadhg Beirne's place in the team are up for debate, while the lads take a look at how favourites France and England are shaping up.Both Luke and Ruaidhri are backing Ireland to get off to a winning start this weekend against Wales as an exciting period of rugby gets under way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss all the latest rugby news.The lads kick things off by reflecting on Leinster's win over Munster and discuss whether the southern province have closed the gap on their biggest rival.Talk then turns to the Six Nations, as the lads look at Andy Farrell's selection decisions at scrum-half and out-half.The Six Nations bubble, Ulster's signing of Leone Nakarawa and Paul O'Connell's Ireland role are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Leinster and Ireland flanker Will Connors to discuss his eventful few months in blue and green.Connors enjoyed a brilliant spell after rugby returned last year, making his European debut against Saracens before getting his first international cap against Italy.Connors talks about his experience going up against Billy Vunipola in that Saracens game, and how if he had the chance again he wouldn't have focused so much on the big number eight.The Kildare man then discusses his spell in the Ireland Sevens set-up and his impressive Ireland U-20 team back in 2016, which included James Ryan, Jacob Stockdale and Andrew Porter.Connors also explains why he enjoys beetroot juice before games and the origins of his nickname, 'porridge'!Luke and Will also look ahead to Munster vs Leinster this weekend, and talk about the players who will be looking to impress Andy Farrell.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to go over all the latest rugby news and look ahead to Andy Farrell's Six Nations squad announcement.The lads kick things off by going over the state of affairs in the Champions Cup, PRO14 and Six Nations after a week that saw postponements and rescheduling.The discussion then moves on to the news that the CVC deal to buy a portion of the Six Nations is close to being announced. Would the Six Nations moving behind a paywall be catastrophic for participation and interest?The lads then assess a number of players in terms of where they stand in the Ireland pecking order, with Tadhg Beirne, Rhys Ruddock, Dave Kearney, Jack Carty and Stuart McCloskey all up for discussion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss all the latest rugby news as we start a new year.The lads start off by discussing the situation surrounding the Lions tour, and whether it will go ahead in South Africa, in Ireland and the UK or be postponed to 2022.The discussion then moves on to the provincial derbies taking place this weekend, as Leinster host Ulster on Friday night before Munster visit Connacht on Saturday.After Connacht produced a big shock win over Leinster last weekend, the lads discuss Jack Carty's Ireland prospects and whether Andy Friend's side will be able to back it up when they face Munster.On the Ulster front, Springbok back row Marcell Coetzee is set to leave the province in the summer. The lads discuss who could replace him, with Will suggesting one of Leinster duo Max Deegan or Jack Conan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the last Left Wing of 2020, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to reflect on all the Champions cup action.The lads start with the news of the South African teams joining the PRO14 to play in the Rainbow Cup at the end of the current season. While Luke and Ruaidhri think it is exciting from a rugby perspective, they are waiting to see how the Covid situation is in terms of whether the new tournament will be a success.The lads then break down Munster's sensational comeback in Clermont, as Johann van Graan's side came from 28-9 down to win. Could this be a springboard to finally ending Munster's trophy drought?The first thing to do will be to end their losing run against Leinster, and with Leo Cullen's men visiting Thomond Park this Saturday, they will have an early chance to do so. Munster have lost eight of the last nine matches against their biggest rivals so they will be keen to change that statistic, but Luke doesn't think the game will make or break Munster's season.Tom Wood's tackle on Josh van der Flier, Ulster's latest loss and how Irish rugby managed its return during a pandemic are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Brendan Fanning of the Sunday Independent to discuss the opening weekend of the Champions Cup and Ireland's World Cup pool draw.Although the tournament in France is just under three years away, the lads kick things off by discussing Ireland's difficult draw, and how the arrival of the South African teams in an expanded PRO16 could be crucial for Irish rugby.The lads then move on to the European action, starting with how the young players fared after being given a show of faith from the provincial coaches.Leinster and Munster opened their campaigns with wins while Connacht and Ulster came up just short, and there are a few cracking games up for decision this coming weekend.Pat Lam's return to Galway with Bristol and Ben Healy's possible move to Glasgow are discussed too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to discuss all the week's news.The lads kick things off by discussing the legal proceedings taken by a number of former players against World Rugby over what they allege as a failure to protect them from concussion.The lads discuss the harrowing tales told by former professional players and what steps the sport needs to take to become safer.Luke gives his personal insight, having played for ten years, and says that it is a very difficult topic to tackle given the dangerous nature of the game.The lads also look ahead to the Champions Cup this weekend - and start off by looking at what is a complicated format for the 2020/21 season!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss Ireland's recent struggles.After a poor performance against Georgia off the back of yet another loss to England, Andy Farrell's first year as Ireland head coach looks set to be a disappointing one with just one game to go.The lads delve into the various problems - a muddled attack, a leaky defence and a malfunctioning set-piece to name three.They also discuss Andy Farrell's head-coaching credentials and whether he has the right skill-set given most of his career was spent in rugby league background.IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora also spoke to the media this week and Cian breaks down his press conference performance as they discuss whether he has done a good job since coming on board in 2014.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of the Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by London Irish flanker Sean O'Brien to recap Ireland's loss to England and to discuss his eventful career.It was another tough day for Ireland against England and the lads discuss whether Andy Farrell's men are any closer to beating their biggest rivals after suffering their fourth straight defeat.Sean O'Brien reckons that Ireland's sloppy work at the breakdown is the main cause of the team's downfall, while Luke is concerned that the same plan is being used against Eddie Jones' side that has failed before.Ross Byrne's display, Chris Ashton's comments on James Lowe and England's suffocating defence are all up for discussion too.The lads also discuss Sean O'Brien's memorable career to date, including how he almost retired due to injury as well as his goal to become a coach when he finishes his playing career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to look ahead to Ireland's clash with England at Twickenham.It is a big opportunity for Ross Byrne as he comes into the team at out-half in the absence of Johnny Sexton, while James Ryan takes on the captaincy. The lads discuss what Byrne needs to do to make his mark and the extra challenge being the captain will pose for Ryan ahead of his battle with Maro Itoje.Ireland's team to face England contains five players who qualified via the residency rule, and the lads discuss whether the law - which has been changed to five years - has been good for international rugby.Dan Leavy's injury comeback has been going very well in recent weeks - how close is he to an international comeback?Ruaidhri O'Connor also discusses the situation of Philly Caldwell, who is recovering from a serious injury suffered in a tag rugby game. To donate to Philly's cause, click this link: https://fta4philly.com/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former England and Lions prop Alex Corbisiero to discuss Eddie Jones' side as well as Corbisiero's battle with cancer.The 32-year-old was initially diagnosed with testicular cancer in late 2019 but recently underwent a bout of chemotherapy after the disease returned during lockdown. Thankfully, Corbisiero is hopeful that he is on the road to recovery and he tells Luke and Will about the tough mental and physical battle he has been on over the last few months.In terms of on-pitch action, Corbisiero is very positive about where England are at following their Six Nations triumph and also gives an insight into Andy Farrell's methodology having worked with him during his time in international rugby.Farrell named his team to face Wales on Tuesday, and Luke weighs in on some of the key selections, including James Lowe, who is in line to become the last player capped for Ireland under the old residency rules.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to dissect Ireland's defeat to France and look ahead to the Autumn Nations Cup.The guys kick things off by assessing Jacob Stockdale's performance and Will asks whether the Ulster fullback should be kept in the team in the short-term after another poor display.Luke thinks that Andy Farrell should stick with Stockdale while Cian says that Hugo Keenan would be a good option in the fifteen jersey.Johnny Sexton's shake of the head as he left the field is also discussed, as is his captaincy and the guys look at whether now is the time to pick a new skipper with a view to the 2023 World Cup.Sexton's successor at out-half, the benefit of a quick-tap penalty and the players to watch this November are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ulster prop Jack McGrath to discuss his move north and his eventful career to date.McGrath made the choice to leave Leinster for Ulster ahead of the 2019/20 season, and he explains to the lads why he decided to make a move away from his hometown team.He also tells Luke and Will what it has been like as a professional rugby player during lockdown, as well as the strange sensation of running out for a PRO14 final in front of an empty stadium.Jack also looks back ten years to his Leinster debut, as well as talking about his rise through the ranks to become an Ireland regular and a Lion.Ireland's win over Italy and the big game against France are up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to look ahead to Ireland's Six Nations clash with Italy.The lads agree that Andy Farrell has put more of his own stamp on the team, with four players in line to make their debut, including Will Connors and Hugo Keenan who are in from the off.Luke talks about what Keenan needs to do to hold onto the journey amid stiff competition, while Ruaidhri weighs in on the back row.The guys then discuss what they want to see from Ireland over the next few weeks in terms of style of play, while they debate whether or not the IRFU should relax the rule on selecting overseas players as Simon Zebo continues to excel in Paris.To finish up, they reflect on the Champions Cup final between Exeter and Racing 92, and also squeeze in some Lions selection talk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Peter Stringer to discuss Ireland's Six Nations squad, Munster's development and the legendary scrum-half's career.Andy Farrell's squad will enter their Covid bubble in Carton House today, and the lads discuss the difficulties posed by the players being away from their friends and family for an extended period. When it comes to Andy Farrell's squad, Peter is eager to assess the nines, as well as talking about John Cooney omission following a run of poor form.Peter gives his opinion on the form of Conor Murray, Jamison Gibson-Park and Kieran Marmion as the Six Nations draw into view.Elsewhere, Munster have started with two wins from two in the PRO14 but Peter isn't convinced about his former province and questions whether they have an identifiable style of play.To round out the chat, the lads ask Peter about how he managed to play professional rugby until he turned 40, with the 98-cap Ireland international giving an honest insight into how it felt to slip to fourth-choice scrum-half at Munster.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald discuss the opening weekend of the PRO14 and chat to former Connacht flanker Eoin McKeon about his decade with the province.It was a clean sweep for the Irish teams in the opening round of league action, and the lads weigh in on Ben Healy's heroics for Munster, Connacht's strong start to the season against Glasgow and Garry Ringrose's impressive conversion against the Dragons.Then the lads welcome Eoin to the show, as he talks about adjusting to the working world having just left professional rugby over the summer.Connacht's PRO12-winning season, the impact Pat Lam made in Galway, the tough season under Kieran Keane and Andy Friend's project are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss all the latest news in the rugby world.Racing 92 succeeded where Leinster failed, beating Saracens to book a place in the Champions Cup final. The lads discuss how the Parisians got one over on the English giants, as well as the role of Donnacha Ryan, who continues to excel away from home despite approaching his 37th birthday. Should Munster and Ireland have done more to keep him?The PRO14 kicks off a new season this weekend, and there has been news that it will be expanded to 16 teams in 2021 as South Africa sends up four new teams to replace the Kings and Cheetahs. The lads debate the pros and cons and what this means for rugby in the northern hemisphere going forward, including whether the Springboks could eventually feature in an expanded Six Nations.And ahead of the new season the lads check in with each of the provinces, including whether Connacht are dark horses to do well, young players to watch and the injury problems surrounding some big names.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to pick through Leinster's defeat to Saracens and the rest of the weekend's action.Demolished at the scrum, cleaned out in the air and ill-discipline around the pitch all contributed to Leinster's surprise defeat to the English giants, and the lads pick out which part of the game they felt ultimately cost Leo Cullen's men.Leinster's depth at prop, the Ireland pecking order at number nine and Jacob Stockdale's performance in Toulouse are all up for discussion too, as is the PRO14 announcement of Monday Night Rugby for the forthcoming season as well as predictions for the Champions Cup semi-finals this weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Stephen Ferris to look ahead to a big weekend of European rugby and discuss Leinster's win over Ulster in the PRO14 final.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jonathan Bradley of the Belfast Telegraph to preview the PRO14 final.Leinster take on Ulster in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night, which is the northern province's first appearance in a final since 2013. Jonathan gives the lads an insight from the north on how Dan McFarland has turned things around, while Luke looks at some reasons why Ulster can be hopeful of causing a shock.The lads also discuss some selection dilemmas McFarland has ahead of this weekend as well as whether Johnny Sexton will start for Leo Cullen's men.Meanwhile, Munster fell to Leinster for the third year in a row in the league semi-final last Friday - the lads look at what they have to do to take the next step as well as take a look at some of Munster's post-match comments.Owen Farrell's five-match ban for a dangerous tackle, as well as the state of rugby's disciplinary process, is up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald discuss the latest PRO14 action and chat to Jerry Sexton about his diverse rugby career.The brother of Ireland star Johnny has played in France, England and until COVID-19, was in Port Elizabeth in South Africa playing for the Southern Kings.However, the South African outfit recently folded and Sexton tells the lads about his time in the southern hemisphere, his relationship with Johnny and what life as a journeyman professional rugby player has been like.As well as chatting to Jerry, the lads discuss Ulster's slow start to the season ahead of their PRO14 semi-final against Edinburgh and also preview yet another big Leinster vs Munster clash.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to reflect on rugby's return at the Aviva Stadium.Leinster dealt Munster another defeat in their rivalry but there were plenty of talking points afterwards. Is the gap closing between Leinster and Munster or is it as big as ever?The lads discuss Conor Murray's performance and whether scrum-half Craig Casey could soon get a chance in a big game. They also reflect on RG Snyman's knee injury and who could step up to replace him for Munster.With the Irish fullback jersey vacant ahead of the international season resuming, Jordan Larmour and Jacob Stockdale looked to impress at 15 at the weekend. Did either player do enough to catch Andy Farrell's eye?Connacht's impressive win over Ulster, the future of the PRO14 and whether midweek rugby could be on the agenda are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby returns this weekend and The Left Wing is back too as Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor and Cian Tracey of the Irish Independent to chat about the upcoming action.Rugby gets back under way at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday with a blockbuster Leinster vs Munster clash, followed by Connacht vs Ulster on Sunday, and there are plenty of talking points ahead of the games.Can Leinster keep their unbeaten run going into a new season where they are fighting on two fronts from the off?Is it Munster's time to end their trophy drought after signing Springbok duo Damian De Allende and RG Snyman?Can Ian Madigan fight his way back into the Ireland squad after signing for Ulster?Did Connacht make the right call in releasing a number of veteran players in the summer?The lads also discuss Joey Carbery's injury woes, the dilemma facing the IRFU over Johnny Sexton's next contract and what they are expecting from the opening weekend of matches.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jamie Heaslip to discuss rugby in lockdown, his career and life in retirement.With players confined to their homes for the most part like the rest of the population, Jamie and Luke discuss how they will go about maintaining their fitness while in lockdown.The lads then discuss life after rugby, with both Luke and Jamie forced into retirement by injuries. They chat about joining the workforce at the bottom rung of the ladder after being at the top of their sport, and how it can be a difficult adjustment. Jamie talks about the preparation he put in to ensure he had options after retiring.The lads then finish up by talking about the highlights of Jamie's career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald observe podcast social distancing as they recap a wild week in rugby.With the PRO14 final cancelled and the Champions Cup on ice, it’s looking increasingly likely that the club rugby season won’t be completed.The lads discuss the latest cancellations, reflect on Leinster’s lost perfect season attempt and chat about Ian Madigan’s move to Ulster.Luke thinks it is a great move for both Madigan and the northern province as the out-half looks to get his career back on track.Luke also answers some questions from the listeners, including what life was like on the 2009 Lions Tour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor of the Irish Independent to discuss all the latest rugby news.There has been further disruption to the rugby schedule as coronavirus continues to spread across the world, with the Six Nations, the PRO14 and possibly the Champions Cup all experiencing problems.The possibility of playing big games such as Leinster vs Saracens behind closed doors is becoming a bigger reality with each passing day, and Luke says that it would have a big impact on the players' ability to deliver their best performance.In terms of on-pitch matters, the lads discuss how the rescheduled Six Nations fixtures will impact Ireland and Andy Farrell in his first year as a head coach. The topic of players responding to media criticism is also up for discussion after Johnny Sexton's recent response to Ronan O'Gara's comments around his captaincy, while the lads also weigh in on Joe Marler's grab of Alun Wyn Jones' testicles.France's capitulation against Scotland and England's win over Wales are also up for discussion.The Left Wing is sponsored by Land RoverSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss the latest news around the Ireland team and former Leinster hooker Bryan Byrne joins the lads to chat about his move to Bristol.With Ireland vs Italy already postponed and the rest of the Six Nations games up in the air, there is a lot of uncertainty around the rugby world. Cian explains how Ireland are going about their business as they wait for news about their final game against France.Also, the lads discuss the fallout to the defeat to England, in particular Johnny Sexton's fiery response to Ronan O'Gara's questions about his captaincy.Bryan Byrne then joins from Ian Madigan's house in Bristol as he explains why he decided to leave Leinster and join Pat Lam's side in the Gallagher Premiership.Byrne, who joined Leinster in 2012 with his twin brother Ed, admits it was tough to leave his sibling behind and start a new challenge in England but he is relishing the prospect of more game-time.The Left Wing is in association with Land Rover.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest Left Wing schools rugby special, Will Slattery is joined by Tony Ward and Des Berry to look ahead to the cup semi-finals.The lads start in Leinster, where St Michael's take on Newbridge and Clongowes go up against Castleknock. St Michael's recorded an impressive quarter-final victory over Gonzaga, giant-killers of Blackrock, and the panel think that they will be too strong for the Kildare school in the final four. However, even though St Michael's remain the team to beat, everyone is very impressed with Clongowes after their opening two wins over Terenure and St Gerard's. It is also a great year for Castleknock, after they beat Belvedere to qualify for their first semi-final since 2002.In Munster, an all-Cork final between rivals PBC and CBC looks likely while there are a number of top prospects in Ulster, including Nathan Doak, son of former Ireland international Neil. The Connacht semi-finals are also up for discussion, as is the behaviour of past pupils at schools games in Donnybrook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Neil Francis to discuss Ireland's Six Nations defeat to England.Luke is disappointed that the pattern of the loss followed along similar lines to Ireland's recent defeats to England, while Neil says that Ireland were outfought by Eddie Jones' side.The form of the Ireland half-backs, Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton is discussed, with Luke saying that he thinks Sexton might be carrying an injury.In terms of changes to the team, Neil says that Leinster back row Rhys Ruddock - who was omitted from the Six Nations squad - is someone who could make a difference for Andy Farrell's men.The French revival, Joey Carbery's latest injury and Eddie Jones' selection decisions are all up for discussion too.the Left Wing is sponsored by Land RoverSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey of the Irish Independent and former England fullback Ben Foden ahead of a huge Six Nations weekend.Ireland take on England at Twickenham this weekend with the Triple Crown at stake, and Cian is cautiously optimistic that Ireland can produce a big performance. Andy Farrell is set to name an unchanged team and although the veteran players have been going well, Luke still thinks that starting some of the fresh blood would have been a good option.The lads also look ahead to Wales vs France, a game with big championship implications, and Italy vs Scotland, where the home side are looking to win their first game in the Six Nations since 2015. Ben Foden also joins the lads to talk about his adventure playing with Rugby United New York in Major League Rugby. Foden talks about the growth of rugby in the USA, why he decided to leave the English Premiership and also looks back on the famous Leinster vs Northampton Heineken Cup final in 2011.The Left Wing is sponsored by Land RoverSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Improved Ireland, South Africa look north and Rhys Ruddock on his Six Nations omissionOn this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor and Rhys Ruddock after another Six Nations weekend.Ireland made it two wins from two under Andy Farrell, and the lads talk through the different improvements made in the victory over Wales.Ruaidhri discusses Ireland's more expansive attack while Luke was interested to see the team kick from the outside channels more often.One big selection debate heading towards England at Twickenham is whether Farrell will bring Doris back into the back row after his concussion. Ruaidhri and Luke both think he should start but aren't sure if the Ireland head coach will drop Peter O'Mahony or CJ Stander.Reports have emerged that South Africa might be in line to join the Six Nations after the 2023 World Cup. Is that a good idea?Rhys Ruddock also joins the lads to discuss missing out on Six Nations selection, his World Cup experience and his season to date.The Left Wing is sponsored by Land RoverSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery is joined by Tony Ward and Des Berry for another schools rugby special.Gonzaga’s sensational win over Blackrock is a big discussion point as the panel review the opening round in Leinster and look ahead to the quarter-finals.The lads also check in on the progress in Munster, Connacht and Ulster and pick out a number of players to watch. The Left Wing is sponsored by Land RoverSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald look back on the opening weekend of the Six Nations.Ireland got the win over Scotland but there wasn't a whole lot different about the approach as Andy Farrell's men eked out a win at the Aviva Stadium.It is only one game into Farrell's tenure as head coach but already Luke is concerned that we haven't seen a departure from the style of play under Joe Schmidt in 2019.The continuing selection battle between John Cooney and Conor Murray is discussed, with Murray's form a concern ahead of the visit of Wales this weekend.France's exciting victory over England is also analysed - and why it is too soon to be reading too much into the French revival as yet.And where are England after the 24-17 defeat? Luke thinks although Eddie Jones is a great coach, that he makes a number of odd selection decisions.The Left Wing is sponsored by Land Rover.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined on the line by Bristol out-half Ian Madigan to preview the Six Nations.The lads discuss Andy Farrell's first team selection, with Luke and Ian weighing in on the decision to start Conor Murray over John Cooney.Caelan Doris has been selected to make his Ireland debut, and Ian is very excited to see what the Leinster back row can bring.The panel are in agreement that France could be dark horses for the 2020 championship, with Ian tipping them to win it outright.Luke thinks England are the team to beat, but the Saracens salary cap scandal still hangs over the squad.Ian talks about the impact that has had on the Premiership, and also discusses his own future.Madigan's Bristol contract is up at the end of the season, and he says that he might return home to Ireland to play for one of the provinces.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery is joined by Tony Ward and Des Berry for a schools rugby preview.Tony has complied a bumper schools rugby supplement that is available in Saturday’s Irish Independent, and he previews the Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster competitions.Can anyone stop St Michael’s in Leinster? Tony is calling them the school’s ‘Dream Team’ as they return 13 players from last year’s cup-winning side. Blackrock are set to be their main challengers while the lads think that Gonzaga will give them a good game in round one after reaching their first final last year. As well as the familiar teams, there has also been the emergence of new schools across the country, such as Temple Carraig in Leinster, CBS Roscommon in Connacht and Bantry in the Munster Junior Cup.Tony also discusses catching up with old Ireland rival Ollie Campbell for the supplement, with Campbell looking back on his illustrious schools career with Belvedere.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald discuss the fallout to the Saracens salary cap scandal and look back at the final weekend of European pool action.Saracens are set to be relegated to the RFU Championship after being found guilty of another salary cap breach this season, with the future of their star-studded squad uncertain.However, despite being relegated to English rugby's second tier, Saracens are still competing in the European Cup, and are set to face Leinster in the Champions Cup quarter-final.Luke says it is a disastrous draw for Leinster, who will face the defending champions in the last eight despite winning all six of their pool games and securing a top seeding.The lads also discuss Andy Farrell's first Six Nations, with Luke expressing his surprise and disappointment at Rhys Ruddock's omission.The form of Stuart McCloskey, Luke's first experience in Ireland camp and Munster's European exit are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to review all the Champions Cup action and look ahead to Ireland's Six Nations squad announcement.Leinster are still riding high in Europe after recording their fifth straight pool win, but Luke and Ruaidhri both agree that their defence could be their undoing later in the tournament if they don't tighten it up.A number of Leo Cullen's young guns are in line to be selected for Ireland, and the lads debate whether Caelan Doris or Max Deegan have the upper hand in the number eight battle.Besides that, Rob Kearney, Sean Cronin and Jordi Murphy are all looking to fight their way back into Andy Farrell's squad, while the matter of captaincy could also be settled.Luke and Ruaidhri both think that second row James Ryan would make a good captain at this stage of his career.Elsewhere, Munster suffered a tough defeat to Racing 92 that all but ends their interest in the Champions Cup - Ruaidhri assesses where the southern province is at and gives his reasons for why head coach Johann van Graan deserves more time at the helm.Ulster's near-miss in Clermont, Racing 92's futuristic stadium and Will's Champions Cup power rankings are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Cian Tracey to review all the festive inter-pros as well as look ahead to the upcoming Champions Cup clashes.Munster were rocked by the news that Joey Carbery will be on the sidelines for the foreseeable future with an arm injury, and the lads discuss the implications for Johann van Graan ahead of a must-win European tie against Racing 92.It has been a tough couple of weeks for the southern province with a number of losses, and the panel talk through the issues facing Munster as they look to get their season back on track.Leinster continue to maintain their remarkable winning streak, but how does Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster manage to keep so many players happy? Cian explains how the Leinster coaches make every player feel involved as they build towards another successful season.Ulster are one of the form teams in Europe at the moment and two players - John Cooney and Stuart McCloskey - are primed for Six Nations involvement. But should Andy Farrell make the big call in dropping Conor Murray for Cooney?And it was a tough December for Connacht with a number of injuries but Andy Friend is able to welcome back nine key men for the clash against Toulouse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's Left Wing Christmas special, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald look ahead to the rugby over the festive period.Leinster's trip to Thomond Park to face is Munster is the highlight and Luke looks back on his memories of playing at the Limerick ground.Luke also looks back at the games last weekend, and expresses concerns over Leinster's defence after conceding six tries in the win over Ulster.Will unveils his Team of the Decade, Coach of the Decade and Player of the Decade... and there are plenty of disagreements!And Andy Farrell held his first press conference as Ireland head coach today, and the lads discuss what this priorities might be as he heads into his first Six Nations in charge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald discuss Andy Farrell's first Ireland training squad, the Champions Cup action and Johnny Sexton's future.Farrell named a 45-man squad for a 24-hour mini-camp, with the omission of Rob Kearney, Sean Cronin and Jordi Murphy catching the eye.Despite many saying that this is likely the end of Rob Kearney's international career, Luke thinks that his former team-mate could still make an Ireland comeback for the Six Nations.Likewise, he doesn't think that Sean Cronin or Jordi Murphy have been cast aside just yet.In provincial action, Leinster look well placed to top the overall Champions Cup seedings ahead of the quarter-final after their big win over Northampton - but what does that victory and the weak challenge of many teams say about the overall health of the Champions Cup?Munster and Saracens' fiery encounter, John Cooney's scintillating form and Connacht's last-gasp victory are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ulster scrum-half John Cooney to discuss his stellar season to date.The number nine has been the star man for the northern province as they have started their European campaign with three wins against Bath, Clermont and Harlequins. After slotting a pressure kick to beat Quins, Cooney opens up on how he keeps a cool head when standing over a match-winning penalty.The 29-year-old missed out on World Cup selection in the summer but used the omission to hit the ground running for Ulster; he says that he has used the disappointment to spur him on this season.Cooney also discusses the parts of his game he is looking to improve as he looks to break into Andy Farrell's Ireland squad.Leinster's impressive win over Northampton, Munster tight affair with Saracens and the IRFU report into Ireland's World Cup failure are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey and Bernard Jackman to look ahead to a huge weekend of European rugby.All four of the Irish provinces have made a good start to the Champions Cup campaign, but Bernard thinks the tournament have problems coming down the track; chiefly that the English and French clubs put more emphasis on their domestic competitions.However, there is still some big games on the horizon - with Munster's clash with Saracens set to be a belter. Stephen Larkham is getting a lot of praise for his performance thus far as the Munster backs coach, but the Saracens defence will be a stern test for his attack.Leinster's young guns continue to impress - is this weekend the time for Leo Cullen to give some young players a chance in Europe?Ulster's brilliant turnaround, Connacht's progression and the problems at the Ospreys are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald look back on another successful Champions Cup weekend for the Irish sides.Munster played out a thrilling encounter with Racing 92 at Thomond Park and although Johann van Graan's side battled back to earn a valuable draw, that might not be enough when the points are added up at the end of the pool stage.Munster played some great rugby but there are question marks over the form over Conor Murray, especially with John Cooney playing so well for Ulster in the win over Clermont.Leinster, meanwhile, dug out an impressive win in Lyon to make it two from two - but more interesting was the insight that Stuart Lancaster gave into how he coaches the team.Elsewhere, Connacht battled well against Toulouse before falling away while Ronan O'Gara had a tough outing with La Rochelle in Sale.Will also unveils his first European power rankings of the season, while the lads also look ahead to Andy Farrell's first Six Nations squad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s back to the bosom of European rugby where all is warm and comforting for Irish teams who get to win their games again and on this week’s Left Wing, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery look back on a great opening round of matches for the Irish provinces. They also look ahead to the weekend games including Ulster at home to Clermont, Connacht away to Toulouse, Leinster’s visit to Lyon and the much anticipated Simon Zebo return to Munster with Racing.It’s sure to be a hero’s welcome for Zebo in Thomond but Luke can’t see Munster losing whilst he also tips Leinster’s pack to win it in Lyon. Jacob Stockdale’s heroics against Bath showed he can produce the goods defensively and if he can work as hard defensively every week he can be ‘one of the all-time greats’ according to Luke.Plus, Will speaks to the Sunday Independent’s rugby correspondent, Brendan Fanning, about his exclusive Joe Schmidt interview in this weekend’s paper. Schmidt has a new book out and Fanning reveals how the former Ireland coach has been coping post-World Cup. The question is though, does Luke get a mention in Joe’s book?For more from the Left Wing you can visit the show page:www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey and Ruaidhri O'Connor to preview the new season of the Champions Cup.Luke and Will welcome Cian and Ruaidhri back into the studio after their time covering the World Cup in Japan, and the panel give their view on the state of Irish rugby after a tough couple of weeks.Thoughts then turn to Europe, with Leinster well primed to have a good tournament after being handed a favourable pool draw. For Munster, they are in the pool of death along with Saracens and Racing 92, and could struggle to get out of it. Ulster look to be in with a good shout to once again make the quarter-finals while Connacht might have to settle for one or two big scalps after being lumped in with some heavyweight contenders.The lads also discuss the form of Ireland's key men heading into a European weekend as well as where Joe Schmidt might end up next.For more from the Left Wing you can visit the show page:www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former England centre, Ben Te’o joined Luke Fitzgerald, Fergus McFadden and Will Slattery on this week’s Left Wing podcast as they looked back on England’s World Cup final defeat.“In camp, every day, for four years, Eddie used to say ‘We’re going to win the World Cup’,” Te’o revealed. “He built a game to beat New Zealand but not necessarily South Africa. I don’t know if England’s minds switched enough to respect South Africa.”Te’o also spoke about his current Toulon adventure and of his time with Leinster and how Joe Schmidt had talks with him about staying in Ireland for another year to qualify for the national team.Plus Luke and Fergus discuss what it’s like for the Irish provinces when the international players return and how they’ll be looking forward to putting the World Cup behind them and concentrating on this week’s interpros.For more from the Left Wing you can visit the show page:www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's all over and South Africa are the world champions after a sensational final performance in Yokohama.Ruaidhri O'Connor and Jonathan Bradley were there to witness a forward masterclass from Rassie Erasmus' men.What went wrong for England? What went right for the Springboks? And what will it mean for the Rainbow Nation? The lads assess it all and give their final thoughts on an incredible seven weeks in Japan before saying sayanora!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's finally here. No, not the third/fourth place play-off, but tomorrow's Rugby World Cup final in Yokohama.In their penultimate podcast from Japan, Ruaidhri O'Connor and Jonathan Bradley assess England and South Africa's strengths and weaknesses, assess whether Eddie Jones' men can get back to the level they reached against New Zealand and wonder why Maro Itoje isn't on the shortlist for World Rugby player of the year.Jonathan picks his team of the tournament and the lads wonder whether this World Cup has been any good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Much as you might hate to admit it, England are on course to win the Rugby World Cup and you have to admire the way they're going about it. On this week's Left Wing, Fergus McFadden joins Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery to preview the 2019 final and everyone is tipping England to win it.Is this the culmination of the Eddie Jones grand plan and will it be Sir Eddie if he leads them to greatness? Plus, the panel look back on Warren Gatland's legacy, New Zealand's concerns for their future and ask what style of play for Irish rugby in the post Joe Schmidt era."What Stuart Lancaster's biggest strength is that he's brought in multi phase play to Leinster and it’s the way we’re training," says Fergus. "The Irish team didn’t evolve with the same type of sessions and all the emphasis on set pieces. I feel like Joe didn’t move forward."For more from the Left Wing you can visit the show page:www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the final week of the World Cup and, after two contrasting semi-finals set up an England v South Africa World Cup final, Ruaidhri O'Connor and Jonathan Bradley look back at the weekend just gone and begin to talk about Saturday's show-piece.The lads assess England's greatness, while they wonder if the 'Boks have a trick or two up their sleeves after boring their way to the final against Wales.They assess Wales' weird World Cup, with Warren Gatland's men left in a weird position where they achieved their goal but could have gone further.And as the end comes into view, there's some frantic sight-seeing to be done as Ruaidhri recounts his run-in with a Japanese lad in a Munster jersey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The show goes on in Tokyo and the World Cup semi-finals are upon us.It's been a week of heavyweight press conferences in Japan and Jonathan Bradley and Ruaidhri O'Connor have been listening to the noises from all four camps ahead of the big games at the weekend.England face the rampant All Blacks in Yokohama on Saturday, with Wales taking on South Africa a day later.Jonathan's been staking out the final venue, but says there's not much to be doing in Japan's second biggest city. At least the rugby should be good.Inevitably, the lads veer into a chat about the fallout from Ireland's exit and discuss some very pointed comments from Brian O'Driscoll and Isa Nacewa, before they get back on point.Can England stop the three-peat or is this just New Zealand's world and the rest of us just live in it.Wales have somehow reached the semis, but it looks like the end of the line against the all-powerful 'Boks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a bad week for Jaco Peyper but an even worse one for Irish rugby. Another Rugby World Cup and another quarter-final exit. Luke Fitzgerald, Fergus McFadden and Alison Miller joined Will Slattery on this week’s Left Wing to dissect all that went wrong, asking how and why we dropped from the heights of 2018, but they also celebrate Joe Schmidt’s Ireland managerial career. “It’s a tough one to take and you’ve got to feel for the players,” said Fergus. “It’s a World Cup, the expectations have been so high and the fall from grace hasn’t been easy. Maybe you have to look at the structures and wonder were they ones to have?” The panel give their verdicts on the semi-finals, Peyper’s ‘photo-gate’ and they look ahead to the Andy Farrell era with an expected clear-out of a number of players for 2020. It’s time to look ahead but whilst also remembering how far Joe Schmidt has brought Irish rugby despite the disappointments this week. For more from the Left Wing you can visit the show page:www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/ The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the final episode of the The Left Wing daily, Ruaidhri O'Connor is joined by Cian Tracey who like Ireland, is leaving Japan sooner than planned. The lads reflect further on Ireland's dismal World Cup exit to the All Blacks while assessing the chances of the four remaining teams as the serious business heats up.Andy Farrell has a huge job on his hands to rebuild Ireland as the page will quickly turn. There are also some overall thoughts on the hugely enjoyable experience of spending the last five weeks in Japan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Joe Schmidt era is over and it has ended in a crushing defeat to New Zealand that sees them march on to the World Cup semi-final and Ireland in the familiar position of searching for answers.Cian Tracey and Ruaidhri O’Connor pick through the rubble of an abject performance from an Irish team that made errors, gave away penalties and played into the hands of the best team in the world when it mattered most.They discuss the coach’s post-match comments, assess the impact of this loss on Schmidt’s legacy and also praise the All Blacks who delivered a sensational performance that ends Ireland’s journey in Japan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's World Cup is on the line in Tokyo tomorrow and Johnny Sexton led a one-man Captain's Run at the venue where they'll meet the All Blacks.We hear from the Ireland out-half on how he feels the game will go, as Jonathan Bradley is joined by pod regular Ruaidhri O'Connor and Tom Cary of The Telegraph who has been covering Ireland throughout the tournament.Ireland's tournament isn't the only thing on the line, Joe Schmidt's legacy is also in the mix as he prepares for what could be his final match.Sexton is confident they can get the job done, but so are the All Blacks who are more focused on their mullets than James Ryan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The teams has been named and Saturday's World Cup quarter-final between Ireland and the All Blacks is getting closer.Ruaidhri O'Connor, Jonathan Bradley and Cian Tracey are in Disneyland where Joe Schmidt has named his strongest side for the winner-takes-all showdown with the world champions.They assess the two line-ups and consider whether Ireland's experience can beat the All Blacks' expansiveness, if Steve Hansen is taking risks with his team selection and whether Ireland are the team the All Blacks least wanted to face.They also take a quick look at the selection surprises from England and Australia as a mouthwatering weekend draws ever closer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Ireland and New Zealand taking a day off in Tokyo before team announcements tomorrow, Jonathan Bradley, Cian Tracey and Ruaidhri O'Connor take a look at the three other last eight clashes.Can the hosts keep their run of success going against the Springboks in what will be a fascinating clash of styles and a re-match of their famous 2015 match in Brighton. Can Japan's quick hands beat Jacques Nienaber's rush defence? Will South Africa prove too strong or will the Brave Blossoms continue to surprise?Down in Oita, England v Australia is a dream for reporters who are getting front-row seats in the battle for hearts and minds between Michael Cheika and Eddie Jones. On the pitch, Australia have more questions about their selection, but England haven't been tested. Form would suggest they'll be too strong, but the Wallabies are capable of a shock.And on Sunday, Wales take on a France team who have had their traditional behind the scenes arguments and come into this game without really having fired a shot. Wales are well organised and have a Grand Slam behind them, but the French will always have a chance given the talent available.The lads give their quarter-final predictions, although some are more definitive than others as Ruaidhri flip-flops over an Ireland win, with Jonathan confident of a first trip to the quarter-finals and Cian predicting Schmexit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're down to the business end of the Rugby World Cup and it's not South Africa, but New Zealand, that Ireland are facing, so what chance does Joe Schmidt's Ireland have of actually progressing past the quarter-finals?It's the biggest of asks against the All Blacks and on this week's Left Wing podcast, Leinster and Australia's, Scott Fardy, who played in the 2015 World Cup final, joined Luke Fitzgerald, Fergus McFadden and Will Slattery.For Scott Fardy it comes down to one thing: defence. Do that and we could be five point victors he reckons,"Just defend well, defend really well, then you have a chance."Fergus McFadden also thinks the Irish players will lift themselves for a match-winning performance, while Luke doesn't think so, believing New Zealand, ultimately, will have the edge.The panel also discussed the importance of Johnny Sexton, Joe Schmidt's trick-plays, the Nigel Owens' influence and they give their predictions for the other quarter-final pairings, the chances of an upset in those games and will Japan's fairytale World Cup continue into semis?For more from the Left Wing you can visit the show page:www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cian Tracey, Ruaidhri O'Connor, and Jonathan Bradley are on hand to discuss the fall out of Bundee Aki's three-game ban and what it means for Ireland's World Cup hopes.After a busy day scattered across Tokyo, Cian visited the All Blacks camp and got the thoughts of their assistant coach Ian Foster on what kind of challenge he expects from Ireland on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ruaidhri and Jonathan were in Disneyland where the mood within the Ireland squad is noticeably positive despite the news of Aki's suspension.The lads argue why Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose are an ideal centre pairing to face New Zealand, while is some interesting chat surrounding the All Blacks possible team selection.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's taken a while, but the knock-outs are finally upon us as Ireland travelled to Tokyo from Fukuoka to prepare for the game of their lives against New Zealand on Saturday.Before they left, Cian Tracey got the thoughts of Johnny Sexton who is not happy at the level of criticism the team has received for their performances at this World Cup and the out-half is in confident form going into the big one.Ruaidhri O'Connor got a red-eye to see what Steve Hansen had to say for himself and it turned out to be a lot as he laid down an early marker and got the mind-games up and running.Having watched the Japan game in a bar packed with travelling fans, the lads are feeling the World Cup buzz as an exciting weekend of knockout rugby approaches.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As if the Rugby World Cup couldn't offer up any more farce, Cian Tracey and Jonathan Bradley report on a "disgraceful" playing surface in Fukuoka where Ireland complete their pool campaign against Samoa tomorrow.Compared to the impending destruction of Super-Typhoon Hagibis, this is small beer but it was clear from Joe Schmidt's behaviour at today's Captain's Run that hes not happy with the pitch.Along with Ruaidhri O'Connor, the lads assess the potential for danger from the pitch and from Ireland's 17/1 opponents, while they reflect on the looming crisis that will hit the World Cup if Scotland are knocked out without getting the chance to compete for their quarter-final place.All three are tipping a win, but the bonus point and the performance are as important as the result.We take some listeners questions, while Ruaidri has a bit of advice for travelling fans on some no-nos when ordering food in Japan after attracting an audience over dinner last night.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland have named their team, but with two games already cancelled and a third very much at risk Cian Tracey, Jonathan Bradley and Ruaidhri O'Connor discuss the ramifications for the tournament.It could have a direct impact on Ireland's chances in Pool A if Joe Schmidt's side fail to get a bonus point win against Samoa on Saturday.The lads assess Schmidt's team selection for a tough final game as the show goes on in Fukuoka despite the chaos elsewhere.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After watching Scotland hammer Russia, Ruaidhri O'Connor, Cian Tracey and Jonathan Bradley are on hand to run through the permutations for Ireland's quarter-final hopes.The worrying trend of the top teams pulling away from the rest continues as the lads wonder if anything will change after this World Cup.Cian and Jonathan both visited Hiroshima today and speak about the powerful impact it had on them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland have taken their hits so far in this World Cup but the question remains whether they can pick themselves up for the rest of the tournament.On this week's Left Wing, Neil Francis joined Luke Fitzgerald, Fergus McFadden and Will Slattery and as usual, Franno didn't pull any punches."They look a tired team," says Franno. "The graph is going a particular way and even if they correct it against Samoa, they’ve got a lot of things wrong. Is it mirroring something? Where are the unforced errors coming from?"While all the panel agree that Ireland are more than capable of beating anyone on their day, no one can see them doing it for a semi or final. "It’s a tough space to be in mentally because you have to move on pretty quickly," says Fergus McFadden. "Your'e just hoping Joe is picking their confidence up again because time is of the essence."The panel also lament the continued poor standard of refereeing, whether Joe Schmidt has learned from 2015 and the return to form of the 'veteran' McFadden for Leinster in the Pro14.For more from the Left Wing you can visit the show page:www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cian Tracey, Ruaidhri O'Connor and Jonathan Bradley are back together as they take the podcast to an outdoor setting along Naka River in Fukuoka.The Typhoon that was threatening Ireland's game against Samoa on Saturday thankfully seems to be veering away from southern Japan, but the hosts game with Scotland could now be thrown into doubt if it hits Tokyo. The lads discuss the knock-on effects of that. We hear from Joey Carbery who says he wants to repay the faith that has been shown in him. The lads debate the value in trying Carbery at full-back in order to use two play-makers.There are also several listener questions to get through to make up a bumper pod.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Typhoon Hagibis tracks its way towards Japan, Cian Tracey is joined by Jonathan Bradley (Belfast Telegraph) and Ruth Gorman (UTV) to discuss the storm's potential implications for Ireland's final pool game against Samoa on Saturday.There is good news on the injury front as Jordi Murphy has remained with the squad despite picking up a rib injury last week, while Joey Carbery and Robbie Henshaw are also back in training. Having had the weekend in Fukuoka, Jonathan talks about experiencing a play-off game in the Japanese baseball league as Ruth offers an insight into what it has been like to cover the World Cup from a television point of view.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's a travel day for Ireland and their press pack and that means we're on the road to Fukuoka. Before departure, Cian Tracey and Jonathan Bradley join Ruaidhri O'Connor to reflect on a difficult night for Joe Schmidt's men against Russia.Can a weekend off give them the lift they so appear to need? We hear from captain Rory Best about the team's confidence, while one of our party reveals he made a show of himself in front of the skipper in the hotel tennis court yesterday.There's plenty more happening in Japan with an exciting weekend of rugby ahead, the show must go on after all!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland won 35-0 against Russia in the Kobe Misaki Stadium, but there wasn't much to be positive from a sloppy performance despite Joe Schmidt putting a brave face on things.Cian Tracey, Ruaidhri O'Connor and Jonathan Bradley were all reporting on an error-strewn match that did little to inspire any faith that this Irish team can achieve their goals by getting to a semi-final and beyond in Japan.The injury count is mounting, the players' body-language is poor and there's a familiar feeling about this World CupWill a couple of days off in Fukuoka do the trick? should Ireland send for Devin Toner if Jordi Murphy is injured? What can Schmidt do to inspire a team who look low on energy and off their game in the next two weeks?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruaidhri O'Connor and Alan Quinlan were at Ireland's Captain's Run to hear assistant coach Andy Farrell's views on the defeat to Japan and the state of refereeing in the tournament ahead of the clash with Russia.Quinny assesses Ireland's performance, wonders where the leaders have gone but believes they have enough left to bounce back and achieve in Japan.It's not all Ireland, the former Munster back-row has been on the road and experienced something special in Kamaishi last week when Uruguay beat Fiji.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The feel-good factor has gone again and suddenly Group A has got interesting. This week on the Left Wing, Luke Fitzgerald, Fergus McFadden and Will Slattery look back on the shock defeat to Japan and try to put a positive spin on things.But has the trauma of Rugby World Cups past come back to haunt them and what damage will there be to the confidence of the players?"On our day we can beat New Zealand or South Africa," says Fergus. "But the inconsistencies in our performances are the most concerning thing.""The Russia game is an opportunity for players to put their hands up for selection," believes Luke. " I want to see a cohesive performance, correct the errors, show we’ve become acclimatised and are a force to contend with."Plus, the lads discuss the ongoing problems with officiating, why Michael Cheika is such a tough nut (including a great story from Fergus from their Leinster days), and Luke's unforgettable Nelson Mandela moment.For more from the Left Wing you can visit the show page:www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruaidhri O'Connor takes a turn in the hot seat and is joined by Cian Tracey and Jonathan Bradley to chat about the Ireland team to face Russia on Thursday.The lads discuss why Johnny Sexton's return is vital to get Ireland moving in the right direction again as an all Munster tight-five packs down together.Cian and Jonathan have both sampled the famous local Kobe beef and there are more tales about a trip to Japanese onsen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland have moved to Kobe as preparations for the Russia game on Thursday ramp up.Cian Tracey is joined by Jonathan Bradley as they look back on the shock defeat to Japan having had more time to reflect on it.We hear from CJ Stander who admits that the loss to the host nation was up there with the biggest disappointments of his career. Jordi Murphy is due to link up with the squad today and the lads ask how ready he would be to play on Thursday after the long haul flight. Robbie Henshaw’s fitness is in the spotlight again as Joe Schmidt faces a selection headache in midfield.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's World Cup hit a major speed-bump as Japan turned up the noise on an unforgettable night at the Ecopa Stadium.Cian Tracey is joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor and Jonathan Bradley to reflect on a result that will cause shockwaves across the rugby world and puts Joe Schmidt's on course for a quarter-final against the All Blacks.Did Schmidt get his selection wrong? Was the preparation off and did everyone just underestimate the tournament hosts who played so well?With Jack Conan on the way home and Jordi Murphy set to replace him, the squad only have until Thursday to fix things as they take on Russia in their third game, needing a bonus point win to keep control of their destiny.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are growing concerns surrounding Jack Conan's ankle injury as Cian Tracey, Ruaidhri O'Connor and Jonathan Bradley discuss the implications of the setback as Ireland gear up for tomorrow's clash against Japan.The lads relay tales of how the mayor of Fukuroi has made Ireland his second team, an elevator encounter with a legendary French scrum-half, and we hear about Jonathan's long trip to Fukuoka to check out how Irish man Peter Nelson got on in his World Cup debut with Canada.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Schmidt has named his team to face hosts Japan in Saturday's clash at the Ecopa Stadium in Shizuoka and the big news is that Jack Carty starts at out-half as Johnny Sexton is rested and Joey Carbery goes on to the bench.Cian Tracey and Ruaidhri O'Connor hear from scrum-half Conor Murray and assistant coach Andy Farrell on why Carty is the man for the moment, while they discuss his rise from a promising soccer player who trialed with Southampton and a good Gaelic footballer in Roscommon to Ireland's No 10.Japan have also named their team, leaving captain Mitch Leitch on the bench and their coach Jamie Joseph is nonplussed by the absence of the World Player of the Year.A listener asks what the punishment is for whoever stood on Jack Conan's foot to force him out of the game, as the lads consider the strength of an unchanged Irish pack and what it means for the set-piece.Cian reckons it's Ireland by 20 or more, Ruaidhri is going for a closer result while he also has a somewhat strange cultural experience in a Japanese bath.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland took a day off their media duties in Shizuoka, which gave Cian Tracey the chance to catch up with a few familiar faces in Nagoya where South Africa are looking to bounce back from their loss to New Zealand against Namibia, while Jonathan Bradley called into the Japanese for their latest thoughts on the clash with Ireland.While they were doing that, Uruguay caused the shock of the tournament so far with their win over Fiji and Ruaidhri O'Connor was watching on.After a night of team bonding with some karaoke, the lads assembled in their hotel lobby to discuss all of the above while being soundtracked by a life flute recital in Hamamatsu, the music capital of Japan.They discussed all of the above, while also chatting about the team selection issues facing Joe Schmidt ahead of tomorrow's announcement and the warning from Uruguay to never underestimate an opponent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rugby World Cup has begun and it started with a bang.From Ireland's complete performance against Scotland to New Zealand beating South Africa and France overcoming Argentina, Fergus McFadden joined Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery for another episode of the Left Wing to dissect the key games.James Ryan's growing influence and spectacular playing stats week after week were lauded as was Rory Best's return to form and the front five giving the team the platform to perform."The real stand-out for me was the front-row," said Luke. "It’s a real point of difference for us.  We’re in a great place but it is still important that they take Japan seriously and try to smash them."With a probable quarter-final against South Africa to look forward to after their defeat to New Zealand, Fergus believes the South African defence can be got at."South Africa weren’t as impressive as they have been.  They're making a few silly decisions out of defence.  There's parts of their game that would encourage me that we could beat them."Away from the Rugby World Cup, there's also the return of the Pro14 to look forward to for Fergus McFadden and he talks to Will about being the old man in the dressing-room and how he keeps the spring in his step coming into his twelfth year at Leinster.For more from the Left Wing you can visitwww.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland have moved out of the city and into the country where they give their latest update today. Cian Tracey, Ruaidhri O'Connor and Jonathan Bradley were on hand in Shizuoka to get the latest news and discuss the increasingly bullish noises coming from the Japanese camp ahead of Saturday's game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World Cup is in full flow and Joe Schmidt’s men are on the march. Cian Tracey and Ruaidhri O’Connor are on the move after the win over Scotland sets Ireland on their way to a quarter-final. They bring the latest from Hamamatsu as thoughts turn to Saturday's clash with Japan and a prospective quarter-final against the SpringboksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cian and Jonathan had to rush to the World Cup opening ceremony, to we've gone to our bench as Ruaidhri is joined by Alan Quinlan and Billy Keane to reflect on Ireland's team for Scotland and life in JapanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cian and Jonathan had to rush to the World Cup opening ceremony, to we've gone to our bench as Ruaidhri is joined by Alan Quinlan and Billy Keane to reflect on Ireland's team for Scotland and life in JapanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blurb: Cian Tracey and Ruaidhri O'Connor have added Jonathan Bradley from the Belfast Telegraph to their line-up. The lads discuss first their impressions of Yokohama, how the weather is going to be a big factor this weekend and why Christian Lealiifano's remarkable recovery is already the story of the World Cup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just another day of drama at the World Cup where Wales have lost  a coach and the Ireland back-three is looking depleted ahead of the opening weekend. Ruaidhri O'Connor and Cian Tracey bring you the latest news and views from the Ireland base in Yokohama.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing in association with Aldi, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by their World Cup-signing, Fergus McFadden.The Leinster star is signed up with the Left Wing for the duration of the tournament in Japan, and starts by looking back on his World Cup memories - both good and bad.McFadden made the 2011 squad - at Luke's expense - before falling just outside the cut line in 2015. He talks about the difficulties of missing out on selection as well as telling some brilliant stories about his time in New Zealand.The lads also talk about the challenges that pop up from being away for such a long period of time, as well as why it's important for the fringe players to keep focused even if they aren't in selection contention.With Ireland set to start their World Cup against Scotland this weekend, the guys also discuss the lengthening injury list. With Rob Kearney, Keith Earls and Robbie Henshaw in danger of missing out, the possible Ireland selection is up for debate.Joe Schmidt's fullback options, New Zealand vs South Africa and the threat of Fiji are all also up for discussion.For more from the Left Wing you can visitwww.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cian Tracey and Ruaidhri O'Connor are back after another night of breaking Ireland injury news as Rob Kearney becomes the latest doubt for Sunday's opener against Scotland. We hear from Rhys Ruddock and his brother Ciaran (S&C coach), who both played for the Ireland U-20s at the 2009 Junior World Cup in Japan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Independent.ie's Cian Tracey and Ruaidhri O’Connor are in Chiba and they’re getting used to life in Japan where Ireand are not giving up hope on injured star Robbie Henshaw who will miss the opener against Scotland but remains hopeful of playing a part at the World Cup. Ireland scrum coach Greg Feek gives an update on the Leinster man, while the lads discuss sumo, the inclement weather and Ireland’s strategy for basing themselves in a charmless suburb outside Tokyo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before heading off to the Far East on their great Rugby World Cup adventure, the Irish Independent’s Ruaidhri O’Connor and Cian Tracy joined Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery to preview the tournament, give their predictions on how far Ireland will go and who will win the tournament. Looking ahead to Ireland’s likely strongest XV Luke disagrees with the consensus on Bundee Aki getting the nod ahead of Garry Ringrose saying it’s even worse than the Devin Toner situation.“They’re going to pick a 16 stone guy who’s a big lump ahead of Garry Ringrose. He shouldn’t be on the team. The guy is a blow-in. It’s going to annoy me watching it. Ringrose is a super-star in the making, he is class and more creative. Aki is getting away with it and it’s wrong and doesn’t sit well with me. What’s going on here? We’re not picking any of the Irish guys? Ringrose has got the potential to be the next Drico.”Striking a pessimistic note, none of the panel can see Ireland getting past the quarter-finals either, be it New Zealand or South Africa that we end up facing.“It will be a close match against New Zealand,” says Luke. “And against South Africa their pack will be an issue for us. South Africa are on form and timing their run well and with a heavy heart I can’t see us beating them.”“What would be worse though,” says Ruaidhri O’Connor. “Is if we beat New Zealand in the quarter-finals, we all lose our minds and then lose to Wales in the semi.”That or Eddie Jones and England winning the World Cup.For more from the Left Wing you can visitwww.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Ireland gear up for their final warm-up game against Wales before they depart for Japan next week, Cian Tracey and Jonathan Bradley discuss the importance of having an almost fully squad to pick from.We hear from Rory Best who talks about the lineout issues as Jean Kleyn looks for a big performance after a tricky week. The lads agree that there is a lot to like about having CJ Stander and Jack Conan starting in the same back-row.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh from being called a xenophobic, Brexit-eering, Boris Johnson wannabe, Luke Fitzgerald is back on the Left Wing with Will Slattery this week to defend and explain his anger at the Devin Toner World Cup snub.“We’re not talking about people coming over in a boat like refugees. We’re trying to keep the international game separate and special. It’s special to be Irish, you can’t just give it out for nothing.”Luke also believes that many players in the Irish World Cup squad feel the same way and don’t agree with Joe Schmidt’s decision.Voicing his opinions and disappointment on the show was Ian Madigan who has played under Schmidt at Rugby World Cups and gives an insight into the decision-making process to Schmidt’s game-plan.Plus, the lads discuss the other parts of the squad make-up including the omission of Will Addison and the lack of depth at 9.For more from the Left Wing you can visitwww.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/ The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Ireland's record defeat to England at Twickenham, Joe Schmidt has picked his team for the redemption mission against Wales in Cardiff.Cian Tracey, Ruaidhri O'Connor and Jonathan Bradley look at his back-row selection, the role of Will Addison and Rory Best's captaincy as the World Cup looms large.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The record defeat to England was a dark day for Irish rugby and the issues that were in evidence are still there. Ireland needs to find its form and find it badly is the view from this week’s Left Wing podcast with the Irish Independent’s rugby correspondent, Ruaidhri O’Connor, joining Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery.What went wrong is fixable says Luke but he’s more concerned with the lack of leadership on the team.“There’s lots of really good players in the back-line but where are the personalities?” he asks. “Where are the individuals who would grab the game by the scruff of the neck when things are going wrong? Personalities like Drico, Horgan, O’Gara, where are they? There’s too many Indians and not enough Chiefs there.”The future of Rory Best and what he brings to the team is also questioned severely by Ruaidhri who believes his rate of decline has been alarming.Looking ahead to the crunch Wales game on Saturday this will be an important chapter in determining Ireland’s World Cup story. But there’s enough good players there to turn it around so there’s still hope yet.For more from the Left Wing you can visithttps://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Left Wing is back for another season and Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are on hand to discuss all the latest news around Ireland's World Cup preparation.The lads start off by discussing the long pre-season preparation ahead of the World Cup, as Luke looks back on the experiences he had in preparing for the big tournament under Joe Schmidt in 2015. Luke says that the long build-up can be both mentally and physically draining and that it is important that Schmidt gets the balance between work and rest over the next few weeks.The lads also discuss the selection dilemmas facing Ireland, including how many out-halves and scrum-halves to bring to Japan. It looks to be a battle between Ross Byrne and Jack Carty and Kieran Marmion and Luke McGrath to get on the plane. Munster team-mates Tadhg Beirne and Jean Kleyn also look to be competing for a slot, and Luke thinks that Beirne should get the nod.The Left Wing is sponsored by Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Alan Quinlan to review the 2018/19 season.Leinster saw off Glasgow in a tight PRO14 final last Saturday and Alan was impressed by the steel showed by Leinster to dig out the win. He also say that it was a very positive season for Leinster but Luke thinks the team has a lot to work on after the defeat by Saracens in the Champions Cup final.For Munster, there has been a lot of upheaval behind the scenes while the team failed again at the semi-final stage in both competitions. Alan thinks a more expansive style of play would work wonders for the team and Luke says they are missing one key man in the backline.Finally, Ireland will soon go into camp ahead of the World Cup. Luke gives his opinion on the tweaks Joe Schmidt needs to make to have success at the World Cup.Luke also talks about meeting up with the Leinster Heineken Cup-winning team of 2009 on the ten year anniversary of their win.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald look ahead to the PRO 14 final and discuss last weekend's semi-final.The lads start off by discussing Glasgow's comprehensive win over Ulster, and Luke asks why Ulster haven't been able to get over the line and win a trophy in the last ten years. Leinster vs Munster turned out to be one-sided on the scoreboard and Luke thinks Munster are missing one play-maker in the backline to really take the next step. For Leinster, Ross Byrne got the nod to start against Munster and Luke thinks this is a sign that Leinster have a succession plan in place to take over from Johnny Sexton.And with Rob Kearney currently negotiating a new contract with the IRFU, Luke Fitzgerald explains how difficult it can be when you are facing an uncertain future in professional rugby.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey to discuss the Champions Cup final.Saracens clinched a third European crown in four seasons after seeing off Leinster, producing a powerful performance to run out 20-10 winners. The lads start by discussing one of the game's pivotal moments - Leinster's decision not to kick the ball out at the end of the first half. Luke thinks too much has been made of Luke McGrath's decision and that the game was lost elsewhere. Leinster's lack of line-speed and attacking problems on the day are also discussed - as is Saracens' top quality display.The lads also look ahead to the PRO 14 semi-finals next weekend, with Glasgow hosting Ulster and Leinster taking on Munster at the RDS.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald preview the Champions Cup final with Cian Tracey and Ruaidhri O'Connor of the Irish Independent.Leinster vs Saracens is the dream final match-up, pitting last year's winners against the side who won back-to-back European crowns in 2016 and 2017. Leinster got the better of the English giants in the quarter-final last year en route to glory but Saracens are fully fit and firing on all cylinders ahead of this weekend's tie.The lads go through some of the mouthwatering head-to-head match-ups that could decide the outcome, from Mako Vunipola vs Cian Healy to Owen Farrell vs Johnny Sexton.Luke says the the battle between the packs will decide the outcome, while Ruaidhri thinks that referee Jerome Garces could be a key figure after allowing a free-for-all at the breakdown in the semi-final between Saracens and Munster.The lads also debate who is the best Champions Cup team ever, and look back at Leinster's journey over the last ten years on the anniversary of their first ever Heineken Cup triumph.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald discuss the PRO 14 knock-out stage and Munster's trophy ambitions.Johann van Graan's men take on Benetton in the PRO 14 quarter-final as they look to win their first trophy since the 2011 league title, with an away semi-final against Leinster awaiting them if they prevail. Luke thinks Munster are lacking an X-Factor star in the backline like Leinster's James Lowe, but says that he still fancies them to win the PRO 14.In the other quarter-final, Ulster host Connacht at Kingspan Stadium. Luke thinks that Ulster have got their recruitment right in recent seasons by focusing on the pack, and from a Connacht perspective thinks that head coach Andy Friend should opt for Caolin Blade over Kieran Marmion at scrum-half.Luke also weighs in on Jerome Garces' Champions Cup final appointment as well as picking out one Leinster young player who he thinks could have a big future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Leinster back row Jack Conan to discuss the Champions Cup semi-final win over Toulouse and much more.Conan played a key role as Leo Cullen's men booked their place in the Champions Cup final in Newcastle, and the big number eight takes us inside the Leinster set-up as he explains how the team got the job done at the Aviva Stadium.The lads also look ahead to the mouthwatering clash between Saracens and Leinster in this year's final, with the two teams having won the last three European titles between them. Conan is relishing the chance to go up against one of Europe's heavyweights and is also looking forward to his own personal battle with Billy Vunipola.Conan also discusses his own preparation, from why he switched to mostly eating vegetables to the importance of being self-critical when assessing your performance. The 26-year-old also talks about his life off the pitch, including why he decided to go back to college having previously neglected his studies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Munster and Ireland legend Denis Leamy to preview the Champions Cup semi-finals.Munster are looking to qualify for their first European Cup final since 2008 as they face Saracens at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Johann van Graan's men are underdogs for the final four clash but Leamy thinks that Munster can produce a famous win.For Leinster, Leo Cullen must decide which two players to select from James Lowe, Scott Fardy and Jamison Gibson-Park due to foreign player restrictions. Luke Fitzgerald thinks that Lowe has to start and that Johnny Sexton's return to fitness could be crucial in tipping the game in Leinster's favour.Luke and Denis also look back on the famous European Cup semi-final between Leinster and Munster at Croke Park on the ten-year anniversary. Leinster beat Munster that day en route to their first Heineken Cup win and Leamy thinks that it was a season that set Leinster up for future success.Will and Luke also discuss the new season of Game of Thrones and Will asks how the podcast fared during his absence last week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cian Tracey fills the sizeable boots of Will Slattery, and he is joined by Luke Fitzgerald ahead of another busy week.Ireland Sevens made history by qualifying for the World Series for the first time and Luke believes having another avenue for players can only benefit Irish Rugby.Connacht face a season defining game against Cardiff and Luke and Cian discuss how securing Champions Cup rugby is the next stage of the Westerners' development.The lads analyse Munster's back-three options. Luke reckon's Johann van Graan's side must be brave against Saracens, but before that they have to see off a rapidly improving Benetton side.Luke is of the view that there will be a big response from Leinster at home having as Leo Cullen welcomes back two key men in Robbie Henshaw and Devin Toner.Plus, Cian and Luke talk about Will Addison's set-back and call for a reaction from Ulster to finish the season on a high.For more from the Left Wing visit:www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined on the line by Tommy Bowe to discuss a cracking weekend of European rugby.Leinster pipped Ulster in an enthralling quarter-final tie at the Aviva Stadium, and Bowe thinks that the northern province have a lot to be positive about despite the defeat.As former international wings, Fitzgerald and Bowe are well placed to discuss Jacob Stockdale's error in the act of finishing, and both think that the Ulster star will bounce back stronger from the incident.The lads also weigh in on whether or not the World Rugby should outlaw the jackal at the breakdown as injuries such as the one that befell Dan Leavy increase. Tadhg Beirne's theatrical reaction to a shoulder charge, Keith Earls' stellar performance and the mouthwatering semi-final line-up are also up for discussion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Champions Cup is back after the post-traumatic stress suffered from the Six Nations campaign and with all four provinces in action this weekend there’s a lot to look forward to with Will Slattery, Cian Tracey and Luke Fitzgerald previewing all the action on this week's episode.The inter-pro tie between Leinster and Ulster is the pick of the quarter finals while the panel reckons Edinburgh v Munster will also be a tight game with Edinburgh’s own Scottish internationals coming back buoyed after their draw against England.Luke and co are all going for Leinster and Munster to win while Connacht’s chances in the Challenge Cup depend strongly on how much they rotate their team selection.Plus, after the news that Paul O'Connell will not be staying on at Stade Francis, does he have a future in coaching? And on the 10th anniversary of the infamous ‘Bloodgate’ game between Harlequins and Leinster, Will and Luke look back on that match and the fall-out and aftermath from it all.For more from the Left Wing visit www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing podcast is in association with Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It may have been a disappointing Six Nations campaign but on this week’s Left Wing podcast, Luke Fitzgerald believes everyone should just calm down and catch themselves on. The panel of Will Slattery, Cian Tracey and Luke discuss the fall-out from the defeat to Wales and the criticism being levelled at the coach and players“Things aren’t that bad,” says Luke. “We still have the best coach in the world and none of these players have gone bad overnight. This will have hurt Joe but now is not the time to be overriding what got us here. Joe needs to believe in himself now as does the team.”With all eyes turning next to the World Cup, just what kind of legacy will Schmidt and this team end up with? Whatever happens though, the future is still bright with the Grand Slam success of the Irish U20s.Plus, the panel discuss how we should view this Wales team in the pantheon of Grand Slam winners and will England be a real danger at the World Cup?For more from the Left Wing visit www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing podcast is in association with Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the end of an era as Ireland face Wales in Cardiff this Saturday. In the last Six Nations game for both Joe Schmidt and Warren Gatland, the winner decides who has the best head-to-head record against each other and Luke Fitzgerald believes the game is going to be ‘an absolute war’. Plenty to look forward to then, even if it’s unlikely that Ireland will retain their Six Nations title, and Irish Independent’s rugby correspondent, Ruaidhri O’Connor joined Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery on this week’s Left Wing podcast to preview the final action in the 2019 Six Nations.The panel discussed how much Sean O’Brien’s place is in danger, with one eye on the World Cup, “He needs regular starts, he’s too good a player not to be considered. But Sean has a lot of work to do and he needs to hit form,” said O’Connor.Whilst there’s also the conundrum of Tadhg Beirne not getting more game time under Schmidt. “Joe is the best coach in the world but he’s an odd selector and some of his choices are hard to understand,” said Luke.For their predictions, Luke was going for an Ireland win and England to beat Scotland, while Ruaidhri reckons Wales have the momentum to win them the Grand Slam in Gatland’s last game in charge.For more from the Left Wing podcast visit www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing podcast is in association with Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bernard Jackman joins Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery on this week’s Left Wing to preview Ireland’s Six Nations clash against France, plus Jackman discusses life after the Dragons, and why Welsh rugby is in turmoil over Project Reset, Luke gives his thoughts on the criticism of Johnny Sexton’s outbursts and why he believes the player needs to ‘take it down slightly’.“I’m uneasy about someone as smart as he is and as good as he is that he’s unable to slightly change it. Take it down slightly, is it helping you at the moment?”Luke and Bernard give their verdict on reports that Sean Cronin will be left out of the matchday squad.“He is probably the best bench hooker in the world,” says Jackman. “And it’s incredibly tough to be dropping him altogether.”“I don’t get it, it stinks of something else,” says Luke.Plus, Bernard Jackman on his future plans for his next coaching role and why only relying on coaching doesn’t help with your career or the pressure.For more from the Left Wing podcast visit www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing podcast is in association with Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are Ireland really as bad as some pundits are making them out to be or have expectations for Irish rugby just risen to insane heights? Luke Fitzgerald, Will Slattery and Cian Tracey review Ireland’s first three games in the Six Nations and wonder if the glass is half-full or half empty.“This isn’t the time for an overhaul,” believes Luke. “But it is time to think about the basics that have been the bedrock of this team. The players are wanting it too much at the moment and look a bit tense and are over-running it a bit. They need to figure out how to want it whilst being calm to deliver on things. The lads need to go for a few drinks and just relax a bit.”Two wins over France and Wales and the perspective would start to look very different with Cian pointing out that the team training in Belfast this week will be a welcome change of scene away from the intense bubble of Carton House.The panel also discusses the merits of picking Quinn Roux ahead of Iain Henderson, plus Luke defends his stance on Ulster rugby over the last few years, the abuse he has been getting on social media and why he’s sticking to his opinions.For more from the Left Wing podcast visit www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing podcast is in association with Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a Left-Wing podcast exclusive, Ireland legend, Paul O'Connell, joined Will and Luke to talk all things rugby. The former Ireland captain opened up on the challenges of coaching in France with Stade Francais, recalled his memories of winning the 2015 Six Nations and the impact it had in the lead up to the World Cup later that year, and says why he wouldn't make wholesale changes for the next Six Nations clash against Italy.For more from the Left Wing podcast visit www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing podcast is in association with Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald and joined in studio by Leinster and Ireland scrum-half Luke McGrath to discuss his career to date.McGrath made his Leinster debut as a 19-year-old back in 2012, and is now one of the senior players. The former St Michael's College pupil opens up on his rise through the ranks, having captained his home province from an early age.McGrath is currently sidelined with a knee injury but is hoping to be back in early March for his province. McGrath talks about the intricacies of playing scrum-half and what he has learned from playing alongside Johnny Sexton for club and country.Luke Fitzgerald also discusses his comments on Jacob Stockdale on last weekend's podcast and gives an assessment of Ireland's performance against Scotland.For more from the Left Wing podcast visit www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing podcast is in association with Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mood may have been sombre in the aftermath of the comprehensive defeat to England in the Six Nations at the weekend, but for Luke Fitzgerald, it's about looking to the bigger picture."This is not the end of the world. Everyone just calm down. Let's for once in our lives say it’s about the World Cup," Luke told Will Slattery and Cian Tracey on this week's episode of the Left Wing. "Who cares about the Six Nations? We have a chance to do something special with this team in the World Cup."Apart from the players' lack of physicality, the lack of atmosphere was also an issue."It shouldn't take the All Blacks coming to town for there to be an incredible atmosphere," said Cian. "It was so noticeable coming up to kick-off how empty the stadium was."In the short-term there's the game against Scotland to come and the panel reckon Ireland will do it and not repeat the mistakes from the English game."They haven’t delivered this time, it’s ok, they’ve a great coach to put things right and they’ll beat Scotland," says Luke.For more from the Left Wing podcast visit www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing podcast is in association with Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Joe Schmidt’s last Six Nations with Ireland and he’s sure to want to go out on a winning note, but should one eye be on the World Cup and our chances there?On this week’s Left Wing podcast, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Irish Independent Rugby Correspondent, Ruaidhri O’Connor, and outspoken columnist, Neil Francis, to look ahead to Ireland’s opening clash against England as well our chances of winning the tournament overall.Plus, former Irish international, Fiona Steed, gives the run down on the Irish Womens’ Six Nations. The opening games against England on Friday and the clash against France will be their toughest challenges and a top three finish should be Ireland’s goal, she tells Will and Luke.One of the main talking points however, is whether Joe Schmidt should be looking to blood new players in the coming weeks with the World Cup year in mind and Luke says he’d rather a drop off in the Six Nations than the World Cup.‘It’s all about the quality of coaches,’ says Neil Francis. ‘Joe will figure out how to beat the opposition, even if it takes until the second half against the English.’For more from the Left Wing podcast visit https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/The Left Wing podcast is in association with Aldi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Six Nations may be fast approaching, but so are the Schools Rugby cup competitions and in a special bonus episode on the Left Wing, Tony Ward joins Will and Luke to preview this year's Schools Rugby with a special supplement appearing in Saturday's Irish Independent.The usual suspects - Blackrock and St. Michaels - are the favourites once again, but Belvedere and Clongowes can never be discounted, while the stand-out tie for the weekend opening fixtures has to be Terenure v St. Marys."The competition was always big," says Tony. "But it's getting bigger and bigger and so are the players as well."With a background on every squad covered, Tony Ward also features Temple Carrig school in Greystones which he believes will be a force in the years to come.For more from the Left Wing just go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-left-wing/And don't forget, you can get the 2019 Schools Rugby supplement in Saturday's Irish Independent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ian Madigan to discuss his first season in the Premiership with Bristol.Madigan joined Bristol in 2017 and won promotion to the top flight after a year in the Championship. Madigan opens up on the challenges and excitement of playing Premiership rugby, as well as talking about how the Bristol project is developing under Pat Lam.Madigan also discusses his hopes of an Ireland recall as well as the development of Joey Carbery as he looks to challenge Johnny Sexton for the starting out-half jersey.It was also another great weekend for the provinces, with all four Irish teams booking European quarter-final places. Luke and Will look back on a brilliant weekend for Irish rugby as well as Joe Schmidt's surprise decision to select Jack Carty ahead of Ross Byrne in his Six Nations squad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by the Irish Independent’s Cian Tracey to look back on a cracking weekend of Champions Cup rugby.All four Irish provinces won in Europe, and the lads start off by talking about Ulster’s big win over Racing 92.Jacob Stockdale crossed for two more tries and Luke pays tribute to the Irish winger, who is in sensational form.Simon Zebo was allegedly subjected to racial abuse from the Kingspan crowd in Belfast, and the panel weigh in on the incident.Munster and Leinster also enjoyed important wins, with Joey Carbery’s form, Scott Fardy’s place among Leinster imports and Garry Ringrose’s development all up for discussion.Luke also has praise for Connacht after they saw off Sale at the Sportsgrounds in the Challenge Cup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Irish Independent rugby correspondent Ruaidhri O'Connor to look ahead to a massive weekend of Champions Cup rugby.Leinster, Munster and Ulster all have a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals and are facing into tough European tests. Munster are first up on Friday night with a trip to Gloucester, with Leinster and Ulster hosting French giants Toulouse and Racing 92 respectively on Saturday.Luke is predicting an Irish clean sweep while Ruaidhri thinks Ulster could be the team that runs into trouble.The lads also discuss Connacht centre Tom Farrell's emergence this season and whether he might be called into Joe Schmidt's Ireland squad for the 2019 Six Nations. Will also asks the lads whether the amount of Leinster talent across the four provinces - 26 of the 60 starters in the weekend's inter-pros were from Leinster - is diluting the unique identity of the teams.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Irish Independent rugby correspondent Cian Tracey to look back at the festive rugby and look ahead to 2019.Will is billing 2019 as the biggest year in the history of Irish rugby and the lads agree that there is a lot to be excited about ahead of the World Cup.Looking back at Leinster vs Munster at Thomond Park, Johnny Sexton’s fiery style of captaincy is discussed. Luke thinks that Sexton will learn from the tough outing and will improve his dialogue with referees as a result.Connacht’s continued growth, Munster’s attacking structure and Ulster’s development are all up for discussion as The Left Wing returns for 2019.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Jordi Murphy to discuss his move from Leinster to Ulster and his career to date.Murphy made the decision midway through last season to move up north, and he explains why he decided to leave Leinster after seven seasons. The Ireland back row also discusses the misconceptions around players from the Republic of Ireland moving to Belfast to play for Ulster, and says his experience has been a really positive one.Ulster have gone through a number of changes on and off the field in the last few years and Murphy gives an insight into head coach Dan McFarland and his coaching staff.Luke and Will also discuss what Christmas is like for rugby players, rugby Christmas parties and go over all the Champions Cup action from last weekend. The lads are in agreement that Castres were guilty of some very cynical play against Munster, but Luke thinks that Johann van Graan's men are often guilty of poor discipline themselves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Munster and Ireland second row Tadhg Beirne to discuss his unique journey to the top.Beirne was let go by Leinster in 2016 and signed with the Scarlets in Wales. He quickly became one of the stars of the PRO 12 and won the league in his first season before signing with Munster.Beirne opens up on the tough parts of his journey, like the injury problems he had at Leinster, as well as the success he has achieved since, culminating in winning his first international cap last June.Luke and Will also discuss last weekend’s Champions Cup action, which featured a clean sweep from the Irish provinces.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Irish Independent rugby correspondent Cian Tracey to discuss all the latest rugby news.The lads start with their belated reaction to the news that Andy Farrell will replace Joe Schmidt as Ireland head coach after the World Cup, with Luke saying that it’s a natural time to move on after a brilliant tenure.Talk moves to Leinster’s strength in depth after their big win over the Dragons, with Will asking how the province is able to hold onto so much young talent.Joey Carbery’s continued development at out-half, Ulster’s progress under Dan McFarland and Connacht’s good form are also up for debate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of the Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by USA Eagles Head Coach Gary Gold and USA attack coach Greg McWilliams to discuss this weekend’s game and the state of US rugby.Greg has previously been the Director of Rugby of St Michael’s College and the backs coach for the Irish women’s team so he is well placed to asses the current state of Irish rugby as well as the journey American rugby is going on. Gary’s background as a former Springboks assistant and an ex-head coach in the Premiership gives him a unique perspective to talk about the state of world rugby as well as his American mission.Ireland’s position in the world rugby rankings, USA’s potential and this weekend’s game are all on the agenda too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Ireland second row James Ryan to discuss the huge win over the All Blacks as well as his phenomenal year.Ryan played a big role in the victory over the back-to-back world champions, and he reflects on the superb achievement after what has been a memorable year for the Irish team. Ryan looks back on his sharp rise in 2018 that saw him win the PRO 14, Champions Cup and Grand Slam, and also talks about the serious hamstring injury he suffered in 2016 that ruled him out for almost an entire year.The talented 22-year-old opens up on areas of his game he wants to work on as well as his experience being coached by Joe Schmidt.Luke also looks back on Ireland's win over the All Blacks - including his prediction that Ireland would lose by 15 points!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's epsiode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Wasps and former Leinster out-half Jimmy Gopperth to preview Ireland's blockbuster clash with New Zealand.It's world number two hosting world number one at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday and Gopperth cannot wait to watch the action unfold. He says that Ireland have to hold onto the ball for long periods and frustrate the All Balcks if they want to come out on the right side of the result.Gopperth also thinks that Joe Schmidt should be given the chance to succeed Steve Hansen as All Blacks head coach after the 2019 World Cup.Fitzgerald thinks that it could be a tough day for Ireland, as is predicting that the visitors will win by at least two tries.Luke also looks back on his clashes against the All Blacks as a player, including the heartbreaking 22-20 defeat in 2013.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Leinster and Ireland prop Cian Healy to discuss the November internationals and his career to date.Healy is a key part of Joe Schmidt's Ireland team who have big matches against Argentina and New Zealand this month, and the powerful prop says that the games are crucial to achieve his goal of the team getting to number one in the world.Healy also discusses his early days at Leinster when he broke into the team as a 21-year-old and the early growing pains he had as a prop.There were also some tough injury-hit years where Healy suffered from nerve damage and he explains to the lads just how tough it was to return to his top form.Healy's knife-making hobby, the art of scrummaging and the 2019 World Cup are also up for discussion in the in-depth chat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined Irish Independent rugby correspondent Ruaidhri O'Connor to preview the November internationals.Ireland face Italy, Argentina, New Zealand and USA in an action-packed four-match schedule and the lads break down the various selection headaches Joe Schmidt has as he attempts to select his best team from a very strong squad.Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose are fighting for two starting spots in the centre and Luke thinks that Ringrose is the one player of the three who is nailed on. At hooker, 36-year-old Rory Best is expected to start against the All Blacks but Luke says that Niall Scannell and Sean Cronin should both be ahead of him.There's also the small matter of Joe Schmidt deciding his Ireland future - should Schmidt extend his stay for another four years or will his tenure reach its natural conclusion after the World Cup?England's struggles under Eddie Jones, Ireland's deep back row and the Conor Murray conspiracy theories are also up for discussion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Leinster duo James Tracy and Rory O'Loughlin to discuss their careers to date.The lads start off by recapping Leinster's narrow defeat in Toulouse, a game that James and Rory were in the squad for. Rory chats about the hair-raising atmosphere in France while James gives an insight into the painstaking post-match review sessions that Leinster conduct after each game.The guys also delve into the tough journey they had to make the breakthrough at Leinster, with James not playing for a full year under Matt O'Connor while Rory was uncertain about his professional future as he entered the final year of his academy contract.The lads also give an insight into working under Stuart Lancaster, Leo Cullen and Joe Schmidt as they outline the differences between training with Leinster and Ireland.James' switch from prop to hooker and Rory's eye-opening experience on the wing early on in his Leinster career are also up for discussion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Cian Tracey of the Irish Independent to discuss the first weekend of Champions Cup action.Leinster dished out a serious statement of intent against Wasps, winning 52-3 and the lads delve into how the reigning champions have got even better this season. Luke talks about the performance of Luke McGrath and how he has improved his overall game while Will and Cian chat about how James Ryan has already emerged as leader in the team.Munster also got a great result, drawing away to Exeter and although Luke thinks they have room to improve in attack, he says they are set for a big performance against Gloucester. Ulster also had a big win at home to Leicester, and Cian thinks that new man Will Addison could be included in Ireland's squad in November after another stellar display.The lads also discuss the fall of Leicester and Toulon, Maro Itoje's taunting, Luke's comments on Danny Cipriani and Will unveils his European power rankings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Irish Independent rugby correspondents Ruaidhri O'Connor and Cian Tracey to preview this season's Champions Cup.Holders Leinster get the tournament underway on Friday night against Wasps and the lads think that Leo Cullen's men will be tough to beat in this year's competition. Leinster have a tricky trip to Toulouse coming up next weekend and Cian Tracey thinks that the away encounter will be the champions' biggest test in the pool stage.For Munster, they start their campaign with a very difficult game away to Exeter. Luke Fitzgerald fears for them at Sandy Park and thinks that Exeter could leave Thomond Park with a win later in the campaign too.Ulster have been landed in a tough pool with Racing 92, Scarlets and Leicester and none of the panel think that they will make it out of the group.Simon Zebo's scintillating form in Paris and his international prospects are discussed, as is Danny Cipriani's up and down career as well as the biggest challengers to Leinster in this year's tournament.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by James Lowe to talk about his time at Leinster and his career to date.Lowe’s all-action style has won him plenty of plaudits since moving to Ireland, and he discusses his unique playing style and how he developed it.He also chats about his time with the Chiefs in Super Rugby, the difference between northern and Southern Hemisphere rugby and his experience training with the All Blacks.Lowe also reveals his tough family circumstances and how he is determined to help out at home through his rugby career.The lads also ask Lowe about his international rugby aspirations, with Lowe qualifying for Ireland in 2019.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Irish Independent rugby correspondent Cian Tracey to discuss the start of the season.Munster have had a bumpy ride with new out-half Joey Carbery but Luke is confident that the talented ten will come good soon.The lads also debate player privacy regarding injuries after the recent case of Conor Murray declining to disclose the reason behind his absence. There have been new tackle laws introduced that season that have proved very controversial - are they a good thing for the game?Leinster’s strong start, unbeaten Ulster and the feelgood factor in Connacht are all up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Leinster out-half Ross Byrne to discuss his career to date.Byrne has made over 45 appearances for Leinster since 2016 and has become a key man in a team that won the PRO14 and Champions Cup last season. Byrne opens up on his development from a rookie who came on against Northampton at Franklin's Gardens to an out-half who regularly starts big games for Leinster.Byrne travelled to Australia as part of the Ireland squad last summer and he opens up on the eye-opening experience of stepping up to train with Joe Schmidt's squad. The 23-year-old also discusses the different elements of playing out-half as well as playing with his younger brother Harry, another out-half who is in the Leinster academy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald is joined by Ireland and Connacht second row Ultan Dillane to discuss his journey from Tralee RFC to international rugby.Dillane moved from Paris to Kerry at the age of seven and after a spell in the Munster underage set-up he ended up accepting a Connacht academy contract.He explains his unusual journey to the top as well as his breakout year in 2016 when he made his international debut against England at Twickenham.Dillane is targeting a return to the Ireland set-up after a tough 2018 and he talks about his hopes for the new season under Connacht head coach Andy Friend.Also, Luke and Will discuss the weekend's PRO14 action as well as Leicester's decision to sack Matt O'Connor after just one match.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ulster scrum-half John Cooney to discuss his breakout season last year as well as his hopes for the upcoming campaign.Cooney made the move from Connacht to Ulster in 2017 and won the club's Player of the Season. He explains why he originally decided to leave Leinster in 2014 and how he motivates himself with memories of the times in his career when he wasn't getting much game time.Ulster have made a fresh start this season with new head coach Dan McFarland and Cooney gives an insight into the new regime up north as well as what it's like working with backs coach Dwayne Peel and defence coach Jared Payne. Cooney also earned a recall to the Ireland squad last summer for the tour of Australia, and he says that he is hoping to play a part in Joe Schmidt's squad in what is a World Cup year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Left Wing is back as Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald kick off another season with Leinster backs coach Felipe Contepomi.Felipe explains what drew him to coaching and why he decided to pursue a full time role instead of returning to his work as a doctor. He also discusses the areas he will focus on as Leinster backs coach as well as the transformation the club has gone on since he first joined back in 2003.Contepomi also enjoyed many battles against Munster during his time in blue, and he reveals that rather than hating Munster, he actually admired them.Will and Luke also look ahead to the new season as they welcome back listeners for another great season of rugby chat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the last Left Wing of the season, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Bristol out-half Ian Madigan to recap Ireland's series win over Australia and much more.Madigan has already done his firs t block of pre-season training with Bristol and is relishing a crack at the Aviva Premiership this year. He tells the lads how the team is getting on, the new signings he is excited about and the impact John Muldoon has made already as the defence coach.Madigan also delves into the intricacies of playing at number ten, as well as some of the common misconceptions that some fans and commentators have about the position.The lads also discuss their highlights from Ireland's historic win in Australia, as well as making the case that Johnny Sexton should be given the World Player of the Year award.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Leinster and Ireland wing Fergus McFadden to discuss a historic season for Irish rugby.McFadden was part of a Leinster side that won a fourth European Cup, and he looks back on a memorable personal campaign that saw him return to top form.The veteran back also played a part in Ireland's Grand Slam triumph, and McFadden also discusses the impact Stuart Lancaster has made at Leinster as well Leo Cullen's development in the role of head coach.Luke and Will also look back at Ireland's win over Australia in the second test of their summer tour, as Luke predicts a Wallabies win in Saturday's decisive third test.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Irish Independent rugby correspondent Cian Tracey to discuss the opening weekend of the summer tests.Ireland came up short against Australia in Brisbane, and the lads break down where Joe Schmidt's men went wrong. Luke thinks that Schmidt has to make a number of changes for the second test - but still expects Australia to sneak it.The lads discuss the possible new faces in the team for Saturday, as well as the threats Ireland have to look out for. Luke thinks that Sean Cronin should be Ireland's starting hooker, and can't understand why Joe Schmidt doesn't regularly pick him in his team.There was also plenty of controversy after the All Blacks vs France game, after Sam Cane and Ofa Tu'ungafasi escaped a citing for their dangerous double hit on Remy Grosso that left the French wing with a fractured skull.Do the All Blacks get preferential treatment from referees?England's latest loss is also discussed as well as the Springboks' early resurgence under Rassie Erasmus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Simon Zebo to discuss his imminent move to Paris to play for Racing 92.Simon explains why he decided to leave Munster and make the move to the Top 14, and how much he is looking forward to playing with one of Europe's best teams.Despite being dropped by Joe Schmidt after the move was announced, Zebo is still holding out hope of making the World Cup squad, although he hasn't spoken to the Ireland head coach since his departure was confirmed.Zebo also reflects on his time at Munster and reveals the big regret he has after leaving the province.Luke and Will also discuss Joey Carbery's move to Munster, and Luke thinks that it may work out differently to how Irish rugby want it to.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Leinster legend Isa Nacewa to reflect on his remarkable career.After achieving a Champions Cup/PRO 14 double in his last season as a rugby player, Nacewa reveals his plans for the future as he prepares to return home to New Zealand. Fitzgerald discusses the qualities that made the Kiwi so indispensable to Leinster while Nacewa looks back on how Michael Cheika flew to New Zealand to convince him to move to the northern hemisphere.Luke and Isa look back on the Leinster vs Munster rivalry that was such a big part of their careers, and Nacewa explains the differences in playing Super Rugby and in the Champions Cup.Nacewa also gives his view on Ireland's chances at the World Cup, and says that Joe Schmidt's men should be targeting a win.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Munster and Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray to discuss his eventful season and his career to date.Murray talks about breaking into the Ireland team unexpectedly at just 22, and how he was able to rise up the levels while taking things in his stride. The number nine has formed a formidable partnership with Johnny Sexton and he gives an interesting insight into their on-pitch relationship and how it works so well.He also discusses the possibility of moving abroad in the future, and the tough process of Rassie Erasmus leaving Munster midway during the season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Irish Independent rugby correspondent Cian Tracey to recap Leinster's Champions Cup final win against Racing 92.Leo Cullen's side sealed a fourth European Cup win, and Luke reflects on what it was like watching his former team win the trophy for the first time without him. The lads discuss the reasons why the future is bright for Leinster, from James Ryan's emergence to their massive strength in depth.Next up is Munster at the RDS in this Saturday's PRO 14 semi-final and Luke warns that Leinster must be on their guard to avoid an upset defeat.The lads also give their choice for European Player of the Year and look ahead to the summer tour to Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ireland and Ulster wing Tommy Bowe to discuss his legendary career as he prepares to retire.Tommy talks about the criticism he got early on in his career and how he overcame some tough seasons to thrive for both club and country.Bowe decided to move to Wales and play for the Ospreys in 2008, where he developed into one of the world's best wings. He explains what the move did for his career as well as talking about how much he enjoyed his time with the Ospreys.As well as an illustrious Ireland career, Bowe played on two Lions tours. He explains the great lengths that he went to in order to get fit during the 2013 tour to Australia, and the satisfaction he took in winning the series.Luke and Will also preview Leinster vs Racing in the Champions Cup final.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by recently retired Springboks legend Bryan Habana.Habana has won almost every single honour in the game but the lads start out by asking about one particular part of his CV - his losing record against Ireland!Luke and Bryan both played in the famous Lions test series in 2009, and Bryan explains why those games were so important to him in his career.He also reflects on the most important coach he had during his time playing rugby, and opens up on the unique experience of playing with so many stars in Toulon - including feeling the wrath of mercurial owner Mourad Boudjellal.The lads also ask Bryan about winning World Player of the Year, when he peaked as a player and how Luke could have been his team-mate in Super Rugby.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald recap all the Champions Cup action as well as discussing the retirement of Isa Nacewa.Luke hails Nacewa’s contribution to Leinster and ranks his best players to line out for the province. The lads dissect Munster’s disappointing defeat to Racing and while they agree it was a bad performance, outline some reasons for positivity heading into next season.As for Leinster, Will can’t see them being beaten again this season while Luke analyses why they were so dominant against the Scarlets.The lads also discuss their recent holidays and cover the possibility of Ross Byrne or Joey Carbery moving to Ulster.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Leinster and Connacht second row Damien Browne to discuss his epic 4,800km solo row across the Atlantic ocean.Damian set off from the Canary Islands and 63 days later set foot on dry land in Antigua. He tells Luke and Will of the tough fitness regime he underwent to prepare for his marathon feat, and how his first day turned into a disaster.He also reveals the mental and physical struggles of navigating across the ocean on your own, and opens up on the challenges of acclimatizing back to normal life after spending so long at sea.Luke also talks about his toughest ever training session and match as a professional rugby player.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ireland and Munster star Keith Earls to discuss Ireland's Grand Slam win and his scintillating form.Luke and Keith discuss what it is like working under Joe Schmidt, with Earls describing the impact the Ireland boss has had on his career.Earls also opens up on how he struggled for confidence early in his career, his recent surge in form and how he decided to focus on his strengths rather than his weaknesses as he got older.The Munster star also discusses his time with the Lions in 2009 and how that setback helped shape the rest of his career. Earls has recently been working with Keith Barry, and the Ireland wing reveals why he has used the mentalist as his sports psychologist.The lads are also given an update on Earls' injury, and he is hoping to return to action before the end of the season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Leinster and Ireland flanker Dan Leavy to discuss his season to date.Leavy won Man of the Match against Saracens last Sunday and he discusses his brilliant performance - as well as his excellent inter-play with James Ryan that led to a try. Leavey also reveals that he didn't always think he would make it as a rugby player when in school.The Leinster star also talks about Ireland's recent Grand Slam win as well as his relationship with fellow young gun Ryan.Luke and Will also talk about Easter eggs, Luke's appearance on a rival podcast and Munster's epic win over Toulon.The lads agree that Andrew Conway is hitting his peak after his sensational match-winning try.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Irish Independent rugby correspondent Cian Tracey to preview this weekend's Champions Cup quarter-finals.Leinster vs Saracens and Munster vs Toulon headline the quarter-final line-up, and the lads feel that it will take two huge performances to see both Irish teams into the semi-finals. Injuries will be key for both Leinster and Munster, as the provinces sweat on the fitness of key players, and Luke thinks that whether both sides have a full deck to choose from could decide the outcome.The lads also discuss whether players should take holidays during the season, Connacht's Challenge Cup quarter-final and whether Clermont can turn their increasingly poor season around.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Johnny Sexton to discuss Ireland's Grand Slam win.Sexton talks about the work that went into the big victory over England, including the set-piece move that saw prop Tadhg Furlong handle the ball like a back in midfield.Johnny also talks about a possible future as a coach, his reaction to Eddie Jones' comments about his parents and his relationship with Ireland coach Joe Schmidt.There has been talk that Ireland should rest Sexton for the summer tour to Australia, but the out-half is adamant that if he is fit, he wants to play. Sexton also chats about Leinster's preparations for their crunch Champions Cup quarter-final clash against Saracens.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of The Left Wing, live from Kennedy’s Pub, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined by Robbie Henshaw and Scott Fardy to preview England vs Ireland.Robbie discusses the impact Bundee Aki has made in the championship while playing with three different centre partners while Scott discuses the evolution of 21-year-old second row James Ryan.Luke assess’ whether Eddie Jones can turn things around while the panel react to the Australian’s ‘scummy’ comment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined by David Wallace to look back on Ireland's Grand Slam-winning season of 2009.Wallace had been in the team for a number of years and had come up just short of glory, with Declan Kidney then steering Ireland to Six Nations success in his first season in charge.Luke was just starting his international career, and remembers the famous training camp where Rob Kearney stood up to challenge the squad ahead of the Six Nations campaign.The championship culminated in a dramatic final day against Wales with Ronan O'Gara winning Grand Slam with a drop goal at the death - a moment that both David and Luke admit was extremely nerve-wracking!The lads also have news about the first ever live Left Wing podcast, next Wednesday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Cian Tracey of the Irish Independent to discuss all the latest Six Nations action.Ireland are three from three and with Scotland to come at home, could well be on course for a Grand Slam when they play England on St Patrick's Day. The lads discuss Ireland's performance against Wales and whether Garry Ringrose is the right player to replace the injured Chris Farrell.After Jacob Stockdale improved his try-scoring record to eight in seven tests, Will asks Luke about his own try-scoring record and whether the ability to cross the whitewash is a skill.England's stuttering display against Scotland, Wales' cause for optimism and Huw Jones' potential is also up for discussion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Bristol out-half and former Leinster star Ian Madigan.Ian talks about the importance of sports psychology to his preparation, and in particular how it helps him in dealing with the pressures of goal-kicking. The lads also discuss how Ian is getting on in Bristol, as well as how it feels to watch the Ireland team play in the Six Nations now that he is no longer a part of it.Also, Will and Luke go through listener questions to determine who will win the inaugural Left Wing mug competition, and they also have some listener questions for Ian.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman.Jackman fills the lads in on how his project in Wales is coming along, as he looks to lay the foundations for lasting success at the Dragons. They also discuss his time in charge of Grenoble in the Top 14, from how the language barrier prevents French players from getting access to top coaches from around the world to the problems that occurred when he tried to impose restrictions on desserts! Ireland vs Wales is also on the agenda. Joe Schmidt has only beaten Wales once in four attempts in the Six Nations - why have Ireland struggled against Warren Gatland's men?There's also talk of Pancake Tuesday, and Will gets Luke's thoughts on a new Left Wing competition he wants to run.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former England and Lions star Alex Corbisiero. The lads look back on an exciting weekend of Six Nations action as Alex weighs in on how Eddie Jones' England side are progressing as they look for a third championship in-a-row. Ireland required a sensational Johnny Sexton drop goal to beat France, and the former loosehead prop says he was disappointed with how 'tentative' Ireland looked.The lads also discuss the impact Stuart Lancaster has had at Leinster, with Alex sharing his memories of being coached by him at England. And with Andy Farrell currently coaching the Irish defence, Corbisiero thinks the Lancaster/Farrell ticket could be very effective at Ireland.Luke and Will also share the experience of attending the game in Paris, including a harrowing story of Will having to leave the Stade de France immediately after Sexton's drop goal cleared the bar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ulster centre Darren Cave to look ahead to the Six Nations.Ireland are being tipped by a lot of people to win the tournament this year, and Darren and Luke are in agreement that having Joe Schmidt as coach gives the team an edge over their competitors.The lads look back to the 2015 World Cup and remember how Schmidt got them focused to take on Romania in a way that few coaches could match.It has been a difficult season for Ulster but Cave is hopeful that the province isn't far from turning the corner.Will and Luke are travelling to Paris this weekend for the big game - and Luke reveals that the last time he was in Paris was for a secret meeting with Michael Cheika over a move to Stade Francais.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing in association with Laya Healthcare, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined in studio by Irish Independent rugby correspondent Cian Tracey to recap an exciting final weekend of Champions Cup action.Leinster booked a home quarter-final and possible home semi-final after winning in Montpellier, and the lads discuss the performances of Jordan Larmour and James Lowe on the wing. Munster joined Leinster in the knockout stages after a big victory against Castres, and the lads were in agreement that Keith Earls was the star of the show.For Ulster, it was a disappointing exit at the hands of Wasps while Connacht will play Gloucester in the Challenge Cup quarter-final.Luke, Cian and Will also discuss Leinster vs Saracens in the quarter-final, the Player of the Year nominees and Will's New Year's resolution to take up golf.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's podcast, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined by Leinster and Ireland star Rhys Ruddock.The flanker is currently recovering from a nasty hamstring injury and he tells the lads how his rehab is going - as well as giving Irish fans some positive news on his return.Ruddock's dad Mike is a Grand Slam-winning coach with Wales, and Rhys talks about the influence his father has had on his rugby career, as well as explaining how he came to the decision of playing his rugby in Ireland.Also, Will and Luke discuss the recent debate surrounding Munster second row Gerbrandt Grobler as well as going over the weekend's Champions Cup action.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Leinster and Ireland star Jamie Heaslip.The back row is currently on the sidelines with a back injury and the lads try their best to extract as much information as possible on when Heaslip might be back on the field.The 100-cap international has one of the most impressive CVs in world rugby, and gives an insight into the meticulous off-field preparation that has helped him win so many honours.Despite his success, there is a section of fans who have never warmed to Heaslip, and Luke and Will ask him whether it bothers him that he doesn't get the same affection from supporters as some other Irish stars.Heaslip is also involved in a number of businesses away from rugby, and he explains how he is preparing for life away from the game.And finally, Will confronts Jamie about an urban legend regarding a pre-match meal he may have eaten before the 2011 PRO 12 final.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor of the Irish Independent to recap all the festive action.The lads agree that Leinster have pulled substantially ahead of the rest of the provinces, but will Jordan Larmour and James Lowe be able to force their way into the team for the Champions Cup?Luke thinks that the 20-year-old Larmour still has a bit to learn before he makes the step up to Europe, while Ruaidhri analyses whether youngsters Dan Leavy and Josh van der Flier can usurp Sean O'Brien and Peter O'Mahony in the Irish team.As for Munster, indiscipline has become a big problem for them after getting another player sent off against Ulster.Connacht's resurgence, Ulster's comeback win and the top ten rugby players in the world are also up for discussion on the first Left Wing episode of 2018.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Dublin star Cian O'Sullivan to discuss his All-Ireland-winning inter-county career and how he balances work with top level sport.Luke and Cian are friends from their time in school, and discuss the challenges they faced in working their way to the top of rugby and Gaelic football. Cian reveals that battling back from a serious injury to play in the 2015 All-Ireland final was his proudest moment in a Dublin jersey, and he sheds some light on how Dublin are able to snatch victory from the jaws of the defeat so often.Luke and Will also discuss the weekend's Champions Cup action, whether Ross Byrne is a viable alternative to Johnny Sexton, Leicester's indiscipline, Kyle Sinckler's antics and Ian Keatley's resilience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Des Berry of The Herald and Cian Tracey of the Irish Independent to discuss all the Champions Cup action.After Leinster's impressive win in Exeter and Saracens' heavy defeat, Will argues that Leinster are now the Champions Cup favourites. Simon Zebo stood out during Munster's big win against Leicester - but will that be enough to get into Joe Schmidt's Six Nations squad?Luke thinks that one of the reasons for Zebo's departure is that he doesn't enjoy playing in Schmidt's regimented set-up.The panel also discuss Matt O'Connor's outburst after Leicester's defeat, as well as why his dealings with the media led to his Leinster downfall. The lads also discuss Ulster's win in a blizzard, why everyone loves Clermont and why certain players enjoy speaking to the media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Ulster and Ireland star Stephen Ferris to preview the Champions Cup back-to-back fixtures.Despite a decent set of results so far this season, Ferris paints a gloomy picture of the state of Ulster rugby as they prepare to face Harlequins. It is Les Kiss' third season as Director of Rugby and Ferris thinks that an upturn in performance level is needed for him to get a fourth.It is Ireland vs England in the Champions Cup with all three Irish provinces taking on Premiership sides this weekend. The panel are predicting a successful weekend for the Irish sides, but are wary of an in-form Exeter.And Ferris also gives some insight into Saracens' massively successful Director of Rugby Mark McCall, who gave him his debut at Ulster.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by in studio by Irish Independent rugby correspondents Ruaidhri O'Connor and Cian Tracey to review the November internationals. O'Connor discusses Jacob Stockdale's big contribution to Ireland's three wins while Tracey analyses the team's midfield options heading into the Six Nations. The panel then debate whether Leinster youngster Jordan Larmour could soon be called up to the Ireland squad, while Fitzgerald says that Joe Schmidt has a tendency to make 'odd' selections, but is such a good coach that he can overcome them.Scotland enjoyed a strong November, but are they really a Six Nations threat? The lads discuss Gregor Townsend's Scottish revolution and ask whether or not the All Blacks have come back to the pack after losing two games in a calendar year for the first time since 2011.There is also some provincial discussion as the panel talk about the likelihood of Peter O'Mahony leaving Munster and Ulster's struggle for form.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by former Leinster centre Eoin O'Malley.Like Fitzgerald, O'Malley was forced into retirement through injury when he was just 25. The talented centre was just emerging as a contender for Brian O'Driscoll's 13 jersey when he was forced to step away, and O'Malley discusses what it was like battling Ireland's greatest player for a place in the Leinster team.O'Malley also talks about how Joe Schmidt managed to keep the whole squad happy while rotating players, while Fitzgerald reveals a nightmare encounter he had against the Scarlets when he was just 18.Fitzgerald and O'Malley also open up on how tough it can be when you are forced to hang up your boots prematurely.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Leinster wing Fergus McFadden to discuss the province's season so far, Ireland's demolition of the Springboks and their rivalry as team-mates.Fitzgerald and McFadden discuss the performances of Jacob Stockdale and Andrew Conway against South Africa, while McFadden talks about the competition for places in the Leinster back three.The duo had a healthy rivalry during their time with Leinster and Ireland, and the good friends reveal that they were able to help each other on the pitch despite competing for places.Fitzgerald also reveals the time that Joe Schmidt cut Brian O'Driscoll down to size in a training session and McFadden looks ahead to Leinster's upcoming back-to-back Champions Cup fixtures against Exeter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery is joined by Irish Independent rugby columnist Tony Ward, Irish Independent rugby correspondent Ruaidhri O'Connor and Des Berry of The Herald to preview Ireland's upcoming November series.The panel debate the key selections issues facing Joe Schmidt, including whether centre Bundee Aki will make his debut, and look ahead to the challenge posed by South Africa this Saturday.Tony Ward also weighs in on Sean Cronin's surprise omission from the Ireland squad and the lads look discuss Warren Gatland's poor record with Wales against southern hemisphere opposition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Bristol out-half Ian Madigan.The lads hear what life has been like under Pat Lam in the English championship, and look back at his career with Leinster as well as the crushing 2015 World Cup defeat to Argentina.And as someone directly impacted by the IRFU's stance on players playing abroad, Madigan gives his take on Simon Zebo's recent move and his own international future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined in studio by Connacht flanker Jake Heenan.In a wide-ranging interview, Heenan opens up on his tough teenage years in New Zealand, how Pat Lam convinced him to go to Connacht and the changes out west under new coach Kieran Keane.Luke and Jake, who is now Irish qualified through the residency rule, also have an interesting discussion on the use of project players.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Irish and Sunday Independent columnist Neil Francis to discuss how the Irish provinces fared in the first weekend of Champions Cup action, and look ahead to this weekend's games.Neil isn't overly pleased with Leinster's performance while Luke thinks that the errors made by Leo Cullen's men can be rectified ahead of Glasgow on Saturday.The lads also discuss JJ Hanrahan's role at Munster, the cynicism on show in their draw against Castres, what Ulster need to do to take the next step, and Warren Gatland's response to Sean O'Brien's Lions criticism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Ireland and Leinster scrum-half Eoin Reddan to discuss whether the PRO 14 gets the respect it deserves.The league often comes in for criticism, in particular for the amount of games that the frontline Irish internationals are rested for, but Reddan argues that having played in the Premiership, he knows that the PRO 14 is every bit as good.The former number nine thinks that the standard of the competition comes in for unfair criticism and thinks that fans and the media should study the league a little closer rather than just slagging it off.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald preview the Champions Cup with Irish Independent rugby correspondent Ruaidhri O'Connor.The lads do a pool-by-pool guide, with all three tipping the Irish provinces to make the quarter-finals.They also make their tournament winner prediction, and Luke gives a surprising answer when asked whether the current Saracens team are better than the Leinster side he played on under Joe Schmidt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by Irish Independent rugby correspondent Ruaidhri O'Connor and Kitman Labs CEO Stephen Smith.Will, Ruaidhri and Luke look ahead to Leinster vs Munster this Saturday and discuss how the provinces are shaping up after five games of the PRO 14 season.The lads then chat to Stephen Smith about the future of technology in sport and how his company work with professional teams from around the world, and across multiple sports, to help them minimise injury risk through the use of innovative software.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of The Left Wing, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined by Munster captain Peter O'Mahony.The back row looks back on his eventful summer with the Lions that saw him captain the side in the first test, before he was dropped from the squad for the remaining two tests with the All Blacks.And with Munster currently looking for a replacement for Rassie Erasmus, O'Mahony talks about the state of his team after a strong start to the season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined in studio by Sunday Independent columnist Paul Kimmage. Kimmage takes Fitzgerald up on a tweet where the former Ireland international referred to the ex-pro cyclist's use of amphetamines, while Fitzgerald was unhappy with Kimmage characterising Dublin pulling down Mayo players late on in the All-Ireland final as 'cheating'.The trio also tackled the topic of pain-killer use in rugby, and whether players are going over the line in the quest to take the field - with Kimmage and Fitzgerald having different views on the matter.Having played for ten years in the professional game, Fitzgerald was also vehement that he had never seen any doping in rugby.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Slattery talked to Jamie Heaslip and Tony Ward at last week's National Ploughing Championships for a special episode of The Left Wing recorded in front of a live audience.Heaslip admits that he still isn't sure when he might return from a back injury while Ward says Irish fans must be patient as the PRO 14 continues to take shape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of The Left Wing, Will Slattery and Luke Fitzgerald are joined by former Ireland and Leinster second row Mike McCarthy.McCarthy discusses how he came to terms with the end of his career after a move to France was scuppered by an injury - something that Fitzgerald can relate to having been forced out of the game at 28.The former lock also looks back on his career, including his memorable time playing under fiery defence coach Shaun Edwards at Wasps.Also, Irish Independent rugby columnist Ruaidhri O'Connor joins the show from South Africa to discuss Leinster's eventful tour to South Africa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the first ever Left Wing podcast, Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery are joined in studio by Ireland international Sean O'Brien.The Tullow Tank gives plenty of insight into the successful Lions tour to New Zealand, including what they got right - and wrong.He also discusses how he bounced back from his recent injury trouble as well as the influence that Michael Cheika and Joe Schmidt have had on his career.Also, Irish Independent rugby correspondent Ruaidhri O'Connor joins the lads to talk about Leinster PRO 14 trip to South Africa, including the visa issues that saw two of their players forced to return home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.