RTÉ Rugby Podcast

Hugh Cahill presents this week's RTÉ Rugby Podcast and is joined by Bernard Jackman in studio, while Neil Treacy dials in from his Sydney hotel room.
The lads dissect Ireland's opening Nations Championship win over Australia and look ahead to Japan this weekend.
They also take a look at the All Blacks' win over a weakened France and South Africa's ruthless display of force against England.
TIMESTAMPS
0'10" Rugby in July - is it strange? How are Ireland feeling at the end of a very long season.
3'20" How did Australia lose that game? Hugh reckons, like the Cork hurlers, winning isn't a habit yet.
8'20" Should Australia have taken that late kick at goal amid ongoing issues at half-back?
12'45" Neil assesses Sam Prendergast's performance as the out-half rebuilds his confidence away from the intense scrutiny of a Six Nations.
17'10" Ciarán Frawley likely to start against Japan as Andy Farrell set to make an unusual number of changes.
18'50" All Blacks remain a work in progress under Dave Rennie.
20'30" England not getting better under Steve Borthwick. Bernard has heard Johann van Graan being sized up as his replacement.
27'10" Springboks' excellence built on battle stats.
34'10" Update on Jeremy Loughman and Irsh health ahead of Japan Test.
36'00" Neil's packing technique versus Moss Keane
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Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Gareth Steenson as we preview the start of Ireland's Nations Championship campaign against Australia in Sydney.
We discuss whether or not the new Nations Championship format will be a success, and discuss some of the travel challenges facing teams in 2026.
The panel break down a couple of the key selection calls Andy Farrell will be dealing with this week ahead of meeting the Wallabies.
And we also pay tribute to former Ireland women's head coach Philip Doyle, who died last week, while also discussing the new tweaks to the Champions Cup for next season.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Will the Nations Championship improve the game?
07:45 - Too much travel for teams?
11:10 - Can Ireland win the Nations Championship?
20:40 - Who starts at out-half against the Wallabies?
33:50 - What will the back row look like with Caelan Doris out?
39:35 - How will the new maul refereeing interpretations affect Ireland?
44:55 - Philip Doyle RIP
48:40 - Tweaks to the Champions Cup
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Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman, Jake White and Ian Keatley on this week's pod as we recap Leinster's URC title win, Leo Cullen's departure in 2027, and the upcoming Nations Championship.
Jake joins Neil and Bernard to discuss where things went so right for Leinster and so wrong for the Bulls in Friday night's URC final at Croke Park, as the province produced a dominant 36-7 win against their South African opponents.
We also discuss Cullen's announcement this week that he would be leaving his role as Leinster head coach in 2027, after 12 years in charge. And we ask Jake if he will be throwing his CV into the mix!
Later in the pod, Ian comes on to take an early look ahead at Ireland's Nations Championship campaign, which gets under way against Australia in Sydney on 4 July.
We discuss how Sam Prendergast has hit form at the right time as the Test window arrives, as well as running through some of the selection calls faced by Andy Farrell.
And we also pay tribute to Munster prop Oli Jager, who confirmed his retirement from rugby on medical grounds last weekend.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Deja vu for Leinster and the Bulls
05:25 - Costly mistakes from high profile Springboks
13:55 - Leinster's scrum held its own
18:25 - Leo Cullen's Leinster legacy
21:00 - Is Jake White interested in the job?
23:30 - The risks and possible rewards by announcing Cullen's departure so early
30:00 - Sam Prendergast grabs the Bull by its horns
37:30 - How will the Ireland back row look against Australia?
41:15 - Billy Bohan set for his debut?
44:42 - Sam Illo's rise in 2025/26
51:28 - Oli Jager's retirement
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Neil Treacy and Bernard Jackman are joined by a special guest this week, as former South Africa and Bulls head coach Jake White helps us look ahead to the BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final between Leinster and the Bulls.
White, who brought the Bulls to three URC finals during his time in charge (22:00), explains why Leinster remain the "benchmark" for others to follow in the URC, and why the South Africans are better equipped to get the better of Leo Cullen's side in Friday's final at Croke Park (12:15).
The ex-Springboks coach gives us the South African perspective on where this week's final will be won and lost, with a big focus on the scrum (30:35) and the first quarter.
And we also get White thoughts on some of the changing trends in rugby (04:00), as well as putting some listener questions for the World Cup winner (50:30).
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Neil Treacy is joined by Ireland number 8 Aoife Wafer, as she discusses a record breaking Six Nations for Ireland's women, winning a second successive Player of the Championship, and and her belief that Ireland can become the best team in the world.
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