The Leinster Listen

Episode 78, and we're back with another Leinster Club Interview on The Leinster Listen, this time with Tullow RFC being represented by Paddy Browne. A Carlow club founded in 1928 and reborn in 1971 at John Browne Park in the Blackgates, now in Leinster League Division 1A with three Towns Cup wins (2017, 2023, and 2024), a clubhouse Bernard Jackman once called home, and the same Browne, Roche, Dawson, and Kenny families still woven through the place. 🏉 Who they are; Paddy Browne on his name, role, and a club with roots back to 1928 💚 What makes them different; rural Carlow identity, community depth, and life at the Blackgates 👩‍🦰 Women's rugby; how the women's game fits Tullow today 📜 Club history; the stop-start early years, the 1971 relaunch, and Towns Cup glory 🎯 Challenges and ambition; retaining players, competing at 1A level ⭐ Legends and grounds; the players people still mention 📍 How to join; training nights, the Blackgates, and how to get in touch via tullowrfc.com

Episode 77, and we're back on the men's side — Leinster's first game at the redeveloped Laya Arena in over two years. Zebre Parma visit Donnybrook on Saturday for a pre-season test event before the URC title defence kicks off against Cardiff on the 23rd. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Pre-season context; Zebre's 21-21 draw with Benetton, Leinster's 31-29 loss at LOU Lyon, and what to expect from a capped-attendance friendly at the RDS 📋 Match details; kick-off, venue, weather, tickets, and the Laya Arena return after two seasons at the Aviva 👕 Team lineups; Zebre were too afraid to release theirs 🔮 Score prediction; Leinster 47-22, MOTM Caspar Gabriel

Episode 76, and the women's interpro season ends where Episode 75 feared it might — with Beth Buttimer and the Munster maul writing the script again. After the 39-19 Cork loss, the Connacht response, and an eleven-try rout of Ulster in Belfast, Sarah Delaney's Leinster side met Matt Brown's unbeaten champions at Dexcom Stadium for the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship final. Munster won 14-5, claimed their 17th title, and completed a second successive clean sweep. Ruth Campbell's injury and Leinster's red-zone wastefulness will sting long after Galway. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship match results; Connacht vs Ulster in the third-place play-off and Leinster vs Munster in the championship final — plus the final standings after Finals Day. 📊 Overall opinion of the game; Prediction check from Episode 75, the maul question answered, Campbell's injury, and why Leinster could not turn territory into points. 🔍 Analysis of the game events; Scrums, lineouts, defence, and attack — with a full match timeline from Breen's early yellow to Buttimer's title-sealing maul try. 🏆 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship positioning after this weekend; Munster's back-to-back titles, Ulster's play-off revenge, and what the 2026 table looks like now the competition is complete. 🎙️ Discussion Point; Leinster's preseason friendly with Lyon — quick opinion on the men's 31-29 loss at Gerland the night before Finals Day, the fringe-player runout, and whether the leaky edge defence is a concern before the URC.

Episode 75, and it's the one we've been building towards all month. After the Munster mauling in Cork, the Connacht response at Energia Park, and an eleven-try demolition of Ulster in Belfast, Sarah Delaney's Leinster side meet Matt Brown's unbeaten champions at Dexcom Stadium for the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship final. Fourth Leinster-Munster decider in four years — revenge for the 39-19 Round 1 loss and last year's 50-15 hammering, or another Munster coronation on the west coast. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Finals Day predictions; My calls for Connacht vs Ulster in the third-place play-off and Leinster vs Munster in the championship final — plus the final table after Round 3. 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, Galway weather, Spórt TG4 coverage, and Finals Day referee appointments. 📋 Team lineups; Full confirmed XVs — Govender brings O'Brien and Jordan back with a 6:2 bench, Brown restores O'Leary and Cahill as Clohessy misses out. 🎯 Score and POTM Prediction; Form, the fourth final in four years, recent Leinster-Munster history, my scoreline call, and who I've gone for as player of the match.

Episode 74, and we're back with another Leinster Club Interview on The Leinster Listen — this time with Balbriggan RFC. A North Dublin junior club founded in 1925 at Bowhill in Balrothery, with men's sides in Leinster League Division 2A, women's teams in Division 1 and Division 6, thriving minis and youths, and a Stingers disability tag team, plus a history that runs from the 1928 Towns Cup to Alma Atagamen in the Ireland women's squad. Here is what we cover in this episode: 🏉 **Who they are**; name, role, and a club founded in 1925 on the Rope Walk and reborn through youths rugby in 1967 💚 **What makes them different**; green and white identity, North Dublin roots, and a club that helped pioneer youths rugby in Leinster 👩‍🦰 **Women's rugby**; Division 1 and 2XV sides, the 1990s team, the 2014 revival, and players like Alma Atagamen on the provincial and international stage 🤝 **Community and Leinster Rugby**; volunteers, minis and youths, the out reach and all the things Balbriggan do to bring Rugby to the area 🎯 **Challenges and ambition**; retaining players, competing for young talent, and where Balbriggan want to be in five years 📍 **How to join**; training on Tuesday and Thursday nights, youth and mini schedules, and how to get in touch via balbrigganrfc.com

Episode 73, and Leinster delivered the statement Belfast demanded. After the Munster mauling in Cork and the six-try response against Connacht at Energia Park, Govender's side needed a bonus-point win at Affidea Stadium to reach the Dexcom Stadium decider — and they produced eleven tries in a 75-5 rout. Robyn O'Connor scored five, Katie Whelan bagged a hat-trick, and Ruth Campbell took official player-of-the-match honours. Munster meanwhile stayed unbeaten with a 47-12 win over Connacht in Galway, setting up a fourth Leinster-Munster final in four years. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship match results; Ulster 5-75 Leinster in Belfast and Connacht 12-47 Munster in Galway — plus the final table and Finals Day fixtures. 🎯 Prediction post-mortem; My Episode 72 call of Leinster 34-14 and Alma Atagamen for POTM vs the actual 75-5 scoreline and Ruth Campbell's official award. 📋 Match analysis; Eleven Leinster tries, Ulster's lineout woes, O'Connor and Whelan's eight-try Wexford partnership, and King's sin-bin that Ulster could not punish. 📊 Championship positioning; Munster unbeaten on 15 points, Leinster through to the final on 10, and Connacht vs Ulster in the third-place play-off. 📅 Next game; Leinster face Munster in the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship final at Dexcom Stadium, Galway on Saturday 29 August.

Episode 72, and it's winner-takes-all in Belfast. After the Munster mauling in Cork and the six-try response against Connacht at Energia Park, Leinster travel north for the final round of the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship — beat Ulster at Affidea Stadium and the Blues are in the Dexcom Stadium decider against Munster a week later. Murray Houston's side are fighting for pride and a third-place play-off after a 62-0 Cork hiding, but this is a semi-final in all but name. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Round 3 predictions; My calls for Ulster vs Leinster in Belfast and Connacht vs Munster in Galway — plus where the table stands after Round 2. 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, Belfast weather, Spórt TG4 coverage, and John Purcell in the middle with Morgan McCartney and Glenda Mellon on the sidelines. 📋 Team lineups; Full confirmed XVs — Govender makes eight changes with O'Sullivan Sexton and Whelan at half-back, Boles captains Ulster with Daley injured and McKinley making her senior debut. 🎯 Score and POTM Prediction; Form, the semi-final stakes, recent Leinster-Ulster history, my scoreline call, and who I've gone for as player of the match. 🇮🇪 Discussion Point; What needs to change if we meet Munster in the final? — lessons from the 39-19 Round 1 loss in Cork, Buttimer's maul masterclass, why the internationals-back gamble failed, and whether Connacht answered enough of the right questions.

Episode 71, and we're back with another Leinster Club Interview on The Leinster Listen — this time with BGF Ravens RFC and Director of Rugby Paul Ng. Ballymun, Glasnevin and Finglas Ravens: a one adult men's team club founded in 1958 as Unidare RFC from the Unidare Works factory in Finglas, reborn as BGF Ravens in 2014, and playing out of Mount Temple in Glasnevin. Here is what we cover in this episode: 🏉 **Who they are**; Paul Ng, Director of Rugby, and a club founded in 1958 from the Unidare Works factory league 💚 **What makes them different**; a one adult men's team serving Ballymun, Glasnevin and Finglas — from Business Houses roots to a community club identity 👩‍🦰 **Women's rugby**; why the Ravens stayed a single men's team and how that shapes the club on and off the pitch 📜 **Club history**; Blackrock College pitches, Jamestown Road in Finglas, Suttonians and Malahide in the 1990s, DCU, and the 2014 rebrand 🤝 **Community and Leinster Rugby**; North Dublin roots, the Mount Temple partnership, and a season played entirely away while the pitch was refurbished 🎯 **Challenges and ambition**; keeping a one-team club competitive in Leinster Metro League, player retention, and where Paul wants the Ravens in five years ⭐ **Legends and grounds**; the players people still talk about, and life at Mount Temple 📍 **How to join**; training nights, grounds in Glasnevin, and how to get in touch via the BGF Ravens Teamo site

Episode 70, and Leinster needed a response at Energia Park. After the Munster mauling in Cork, Govender's side faced a semi-final in all but name against Connacht, win or the Galway final was gone. Six tries, debut scores from Stacey Flood and Niamh Murphy, and Erin King leading from the front delivered a 36-21 bonus-point win that keeps the Blues alive. Munster meanwhile booked their final spot with a 62-0 hammering of Ulster, and the U18 Schools opened their title defence with a 33-12 win in Cork. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship match results; Munster 62-0 Ulster in Cork and Leinster 36-21 Connacht at Energia Park, plus the Round 2 table and what it means for Belfast. 🎯 Prediction post-mortem; My must-win Leinster 31-26 call vs the actual 36-21, and why Erin King was the right player to build around. 📋 Match analysis; Nine tries, Reilly's double for Connacht, and how Leinster found their finish when it mattered at 24-21. 📊 Championship positioning; Munster through to the final, Leinster second on five points, and a winner-takes-all trip to Belfast next Saturday. 🏫 U18 Schools; Leinster's 33-12 bonus-point title-defence win over Munster at Virgin Media Park — Victor Chauvire's length-of-the-field try the pick of five touchdowns. 📅 Next game; Leinster travel to Affidea Stadium to face Ulster on Saturday 22 August, the winner reaches the final at Dexcom Stadium.

Episode 69, and we're going behind the camera on The Leinster Listen — an interview with Avril Kinsella (@therugbygirlire), a sports videographer who covers rugby for the Leinster and Irish rugby. Here is what we cover in this episode: 🎬 Getting into the game ; how Avril found videography and why sport became her focus 🏉 First rugby gig ; the shoot that started it all and what she remembers from it 📍 Pitch-side life ; positioning for the shot without getting flattened ✍️ Shaping the story ; clear briefs from teams and coaches versus finding the angle yourself 📱 Fans and video ; how content has changed engagement with club and provincial rugby 📈 Where demand is growing ; highlight reels, player profiles, full match coverage 🎤 Through the camera lens ; favourite interviewee, dream guest, and the project she's proudest of 🔗 Follow her work ; where to find Avril Kinsella online Find Avril Kinsella on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok @therugbygirlire

Episode 68, and we're picking through the wreckage of another Munster mauling in Cork. Leinster travelled to Virgin Media Park with the internationals back, Sana Govender in the dugout for his first competitive game, and my bold Episode 67 call of a narrow Blues win — Munster had other ideas. Beth Buttimer scored four tries, the champions ran in seven overall, and Leinster's 39-19 defeat leaves them bottom of the table after Round 1 with Connacht up next at Energia Park. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship match results; Munster 39-19 Leinster in Cork and Connacht 15-10 Ulster in Belfast — plus the Round 1 table and what it means for the run-in to Galway. 📊 Overall opinion and analysis; Where Leinster fell short on the maul, the set piece, and the scoreboard — plus a full run-through of tries, cards, and the official player of the match. 🎯 Prediction post-mortem; My Leinster 27-24 call from Episode 67 vs the actual 39-19 — and why Dannah O'Brien was not the star of the show. 📅 Next game; Leinster host Connacht at Energia Park on Saturday 15 August — Craig Hansberry's westerners arrive off a McGann and Deely-inspired win in Belfast. 🌍 Discussion Point; The wild and wacky rugby news from this week — Ma'a Nonu at 44 on the Sharks bench to face the All Blacks, the Amatosero red card farce in Osaka, Mo'unga's bizarre NZ eligibility row, Hansen vs World Rugby's ref meetings, and the Stormers' 20-year-old fly-half.

Episode 67, and we're heading down the N7 for the opening round of the 2026 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship. Leinster travel to Virgin Media Park to take on defending champions Munster, a repeat of last year's final, but a very different competition this time with all the Ireland internationals back and WXV selection on the line. Sarah Delaney leads a much-changed Blues side under new head coach Sana Govender, looking to banish the memory of that 50-15 hammering in Dublin. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Round 1 predictions; My calls for Munster vs Leinster in Cork and Ulster vs Connacht in Belfast. 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, weather, where to watch on Spórt TG4, and Siobhán Daly in the middle with John Purcell and John Moynihan on the sidelines. 📋 Team lineups; Full confirmed XVs for both provinces — Delaney's captaincy bow, six Leinster debutants, Munster's Lane and Moore debuts, and the Corrigan vs Elmes Kinlan wing battle. 🎯 Score and POTM Prediction; Form, the internationals-back factor, last year's double defeat, my scoreline call, and who I've gone for as player of the match. 🇮🇪 Discussion Point; Can the internationals flip the script after last year's 50-15? — digging into what changed between 2025 and 2026, Govender's first game in charge, and whether Munster's home fortress still holds. My new website is now live and you can find it at theleinsterlisten.com

Episode 66, and we're trying something new on The Leinster Listen — a Leinster Club Interview with Emerald Warriors RFC. Ireland's leading LGBT+ inclusive rugby club, founded in Dublin in 2003, with men's+ sides in the Leinster Metro League, the Azure women's+ team in Leinster Women's Division 4, and a trophy cabinet that includes the 2025 Union Cup in Oslo. Here is what we cover in this episode: 🏉 Who they are; name, role, and the club's founding in August 2003 💚 What makes them different; Ireland's first primarily LGBTQ+ rugby club, open to all, and a fixture on the international IGR circuit 👩‍🦰 Women's rugby; the Azure women's+ team, Leinster league rugby, and the Emily Valentine Vase at Union Cup 2025 📜 Club history; Bingham Cup 2008 in Dublin, Union Cup 2019, and two decades of firsts 🤝 Community and Leinster Rugby; Pride, BelongTo, Bank of Ireland sponsorship, and life beyond the pitch 🎯 Challenges and ambition; volunteers, player retention, and where the Warriors want to be in five years ⭐ Legends and grounds; the players and volunteers people still talk about, and life at The High School and Belvedere 📍 How to join; training nights, grounds in Rathgar and Dublin 3, and how to get in touch via ewrfc.ie

Episode 65, and Ireland's Nations Championship summer ends with a thud at Eden Park — Andy Farrell's full-strength side were hammered 40-21 by Dave Rennie's All Blacks in Auckland. Six New Zealand tries, a 28-7 half-time deficit, and a McCloskey pass that gifted Will Jordan his 51st Test try. Damian McKenzie was official Man of the Match, Sam Prendergast kept Ireland honest with three conversions and the assist for Hugo Keenan's try, but 17 turnovers and 40 missed tackles told the story of a night the fortress stood firm. Round 3 delivered elsewhere too — France topped the Northern Hemisphere table with a 42-15 win over Japan in Tokyo, England survived seven yellow cards to beat Argentina 31-24 in Santiago del Estero, Scotland came from 10 down to beat Fiji 33-17 at Murrayfield, South Africa nilled Wales 43-0 in Durban, and Joe Schmidt signed off with a 57-10 Wallabies rout of Italy in Perth. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🌍 Nations Championship Round 3 results; All six fixtures from Saturday — our game at Eden Park, Japan vs France in Tokyo, Australia vs Italy in Perth, Fiji vs Scotland at Murrayfield, South Africa vs Wales in Durban, and Argentina vs England in Santiago del Estero — plus the wildest game of the weekend in Argentina. 🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why this was a sobering reality check — six All Blacks tries, 17 Irish turnovers, the 53-Test Eden Park streak extended, and Farrell insisting the gap is narrower than the scoreline suggests. 📋 Analysis of the game events; Tuipulotu and Savea in the first half, Conan's brief lifeline, McCloskey's gift to Jordan, Aumua's maul try, McCarthy and Keenan after the break, McKenzie's score, and Lienert-Brown's late finish. 🗺️ Nations Championship positioning after this weekend; Final summer standings — France top the north on 12 points, Ireland finish on 10, South Africa and New Zealand both on 15 in the south, and both hemispheres deadlocked again on 48 competition points apiece. 🎙️ Discussion Point; Nations Championship Southern Series Team of the Tournament — Ruck's post-Round 3 XV, Jack Conan as Ireland's sole pick, Ito and Gibson-Park as my snubs, and debutante shout between Grandidier Nkanang and Jansen.

Andy Farrell recalls his A-listers for the Round 3 showdown with the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday morning. Nine changes from the Japan win, Robert Baloucoune returns on the wing, and Sean Jansen waits on the bench to face his birth nation. Dave Rennie backs Ruben Love at 10 and Will Jordan chases more history at the world's most intimidating Test venue. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🌍 Nations Championship Round 3 predictions; All six Saturday fixtures with Irish kick-off times and venues — our game at Eden Park (8:10am), Japan vs France in Tokyo (9:40am), Australia vs Italy in Perth (11:10am), Fiji vs Scotland at Murrayfield (2:10pm), South Africa vs Wales in Durban (4:40pm), and Argentina vs England in Santiago del Estero (8:10pm). 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, Auckland winter weather, Eden Park's 52-Test unbeaten run, Nic Berry in the middle with Luc Ramos and Damon Murphy on the touchline, and where to watch on Virgin Media One. 📋 Team lineups; Full Ireland and All Blacks matchday 23s — Farrell's nine changes and Baloucoune's return, Rennie's four personnel changes with Moorby starting and Tupou Vaa'i at blindside, and the five biggest All Black names with their clubs. 🎯 Score and MOTM Prediction; Ireland's first-ever win in New Zealand in 2022, four defeats at Eden Park, the All Blacks' 47-17 over Italy and Will Jordan's record-breaking hat-trick, the 10/3 outright odds, and my scoreline call.

Episode 63, and Ireland stay perfect in the Nations Championship — Andy Farrell's much-changed side made it two bonus-point wins from two with a 36-20 victory over Eddie Jones's Japan in Newcastle. Debutant Sean Jansen was player of the match with a try on his first cap, Robbie Henshaw crossed on his return, and Tom Stewart's late score sealed the bonus point on a day the set piece creaked but the squad depth delivered. Round 2 elsewhere brought Will Jordan's record-breaking hat-trick as New Zealand hammered Italy 47-17, France's Aaron Grandidier Nkanang scored twice on debut in a 42-26 comeback win over Australia, England ended their losing run with an 11-try 73-8 rout of Fiji, South Africa held off Scotland 42-28 at Loftus, and Argentina beat Wales 35-21 in San Juan. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🌍 Nations Championship Round 2 results; All six fixtures from Saturday — NZ 47-17 Italy, France 42-26 Australia, our game in Newcastle, England 73-8 Fiji, South Africa 42-28 Scotland, and Argentina 35-21 Wales — plus a fun fact: both hemispheres dead level on 33 competition points and perfectly balanced on aggregate points difference (+22 north, -22 south) after two rounds. 📢 Important Podcast Updates; Dynamic Ads are gone from the podcast for good — they will never be re-added. 🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why Farrell called it relief more than pleasure — Japan competitive for 60 minutes, the lineout a worry, but maximum points and four debutants celebrated. 📋 Analysis of the game events; Taira Main's early try, Timoney and O'Toole responding, Henshaw before the break, Jansen's debut score, Era keeping Japan in it, Byrne's penalty, and Stewart's last-minute bonus point. 🗺️ Nations Championship positioning after this weekend; Ireland on 10 points from two games — top of the Northern Hemisphere group — with Eden Park against the All Blacks next Saturday. 🎙️ Discussion Point; Standout debutantes from the Nations Championship so far — Sean Jansen, Ryunosuke Ito, Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, Noah Caluori, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, and the All Blacks rookies who've broken through in July.

Episode 62, and Ireland's Nations Championship summer rolls on — Andy Farrell makes nine changes and hands four debuts for the Round 2 clash with Japan at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday morning. Tadhg Beirne captains a rotated side, Sean Jansen starts at No 8, and Eddie Jones returns to the Japan dugout after his suspension. The team sheets are in. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🌍 Nations Championship Round 2 predictions; All six Saturday fixtures with Irish kick-off times and venues — NZ vs Italy (6:10am, Wellington), Australia vs France (8:40am, Brisbane), our game in Newcastle (11:10am), Fiji vs England (2:10pm, Liverpool), South Africa vs Scotland (4:40pm, Pretoria), and Argentina vs Wales (8:10pm, San Juan). 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, Newcastle weather, McDonald Jones Stadium, Andrea Piardi in the middle with Ben O'Keeffe on the touchline, and where to watch on Virgin Media 1. 📋 Team lineups; Full Ireland and Japan matchday 23s — nine Ireland changes, four debutants for the men in green, Japan's one change with Taira Main on the wing, and the five biggest Japanese names with their clubs. 🎯 Score and MOTM Prediction; Ireland's 11-1 head-to-head record, the 41-10 in Dublin last November, Japan's 27-10 over Italy, how Japan's 'chosoku' attack and contestable kicking could test Ireland's blitz, the 1/6 outright odds, and my scoreline call. 🎙️ Discussion Point; What Rugby League rules I think should be introduced to Rugby Union — the 40/20 kick, shot clock on set pieces, captain's challenge, sin bin for professional fouls, limited interchange, and golden point extra time.

Episode 61, and Ireland are off the mark in the Nations Championship — Andy Farrell's injury-hit side came from 12 points down to beat Joe Schmidt's Wallabies 33-31 in a madcap thriller at a sold-out Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Hugo Keenan was official Man of the Match — try-saving tackle on Suaalii and the bonus-point score — Tom Clarkson's 77th-minute try sealed it, and Ben Donaldson missed two late penalties on a night the Prendergast brothers both crossed too. Round 1 delivered elsewhere too — New Zealand edged France 34-32 in Christchurch and South Africa hammered England 45-21 at Ellis Park in two of the wildest games you'll see all summer. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🌍 Nations Championship Round 1 results; All six fixtures from the opening weekend — NZ 34-32 France, Japan 27-10 Italy, our game in Sydney, Fiji 24-39 Wales, South Africa 45-21 England, and Argentina 38-47 Scotland — plus a look at the two wildest games in Christchurch and Johannesburg. 🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why this was classic Farrell-ball — 24-12 down, defence all over the shop in the first half, belief in the closing stages, and a prop burrowing over with three minutes left. 📋 Analysis of the game events; Pietsch's early try, four Wallaby first-half scores, Keenan's tackle on Suaalii, Gibson-Park before the break, Clarkson's winner, Sheehan's disallowed try, Shaw's yellow, and Donaldson's two missed penalties in the red. 🗺️ Nations Championship positioning after this weekend; Ireland on five points with a bonus-point win, Australia and France on two, England nil — and Round 2 fixtures including Japan vs Ireland in Newcastle next Saturday.

Episode 60, and Ireland's Nations Championship summer is here — Andy Farrell's side open the Southern Series against Joe Schmidt's Wallabies at a sold-out Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday morning. Sam and Cian Prendergast become the first brothers to start together for Ireland in the same team, Dan Sheehan captains with Doris and Crowley ruled out, and the team sheets are in. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🌍 Nations Championship Round 1 predictions; All six Saturday fixtures with Irish kick-off times — NZ vs France (8:10am), Japan vs Italy (9:40am), our game in Sydney (11:10am), Fiji vs Wales (2:10pm), South Africa vs England (4:40pm), and Argentina vs Scotland (8:10pm). 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, Sydney weather, sold-out Allianz Stadium, Ben O'Keeffe in the middle, and where to watch on RTÉ. 📋 Team lineups; Full Ireland and Australia matchday 23s — the Prendergast brothers in the same XV, Sheehan captains, Suaalii and Gordon for the Wallabies, and the 5-3 bench splits. 🎯 Score and MOTM Prediction; Ireland's five-game winning streak over Australia, the 46-19 in Dublin last November, Farrell vs Schmidt, the 7/10 outright odds, and my scoreline call. 🎙️ Discussion Point; Carbery's Homecoming and Europe's Wildcards — Joey Carbery confirmed back from Bordeaux, the new Champions Cup qualification rules, three-tries bonus points, October start, and Leinster's Pool 1 draw.

Episode 59, and the club season is done — back-to-back URC champions, Leo Cullen's departure announced, and now the focus shifts to Andy Farrell's Ireland squad heading south for the inaugural Nations Championship. Jack Crowley is ruled out, which leaves four fly-halves in the squad: Sam Prendergast, Harry Byrne, Ciarán Frawley, and Nathan Doak — the Ulster scrum-half who can also play 10. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🎙️ Discussion Point; Andy Farrell's Four Fly Halfs — Crowley ruled out, Prendergast's Grand Final form, Byrne's Champions Cup credentials, Frawley's South Africa tour experience, Doak's versatility at 9 and 10, and who starts in Sydney, Newcastle, and Auckland. 🏉 Next game; Ireland's Nations Championship Southern Series — Australia (4 July, Sydney), Japan (11 July, Newcastle), and New Zealand (18 July, Eden Park).