Craggy Rugby Podcast

Recorded on location in Parma this weekend as Connacht produced a third successive Pro12 bonus point win on Saturday to move top of the table after 15 rounds. Ulster's slip up on Sunday meant Connacht are out on their own at the top having equalled their win tally and points tally from last season already with seven games still to play. Host Rob Murphy and regular guest William Davis take you through the story of the game, we have an interview with Connacht team Doctor and members of the NUIG rugby academy as well while we hear from Pat Lam and Matt Healy as well. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After two Pro12 bonus point wins on the bounce, positivity was high in the world of Connacht rugby until Sunday afternoon when news broke that Robbie Henshaw was leaving the province. The reaction to this news has been huge from rugby supporters all around the island and we felt it needed a podcast special. Host Rob Murphy is joined on skype by Alan Deegan and William Davies to discuss the implications of this huge move for the Athlone man. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The upward surge continues for Connacht after Thursday's bonus point win away to the Dragons. Ten points from two games as the westerners continue to mix it with the sides chasing the top four. On this week's podcast, Rob Murphy and Alan Deegan take you through the story of the game while Linley MacKenzie joins us afterwards to look back on the 26-21 win over the Newport based side. We spoke to Pat Lam and Eoghan Masterson too, both acknowledged that it wasn't pretty at times but no one is complaining either. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Connacht picked up five points from their Saturday afternoon tussle with the table topping Scarlets at the Sportsground while their visitors left without a single point. The 30-17 victory has Connacht joint top of the Pro 12 and very much back on track. The craggy crew take you through the story of the game. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A combination of a bonus point 47-5 victory over Enisei STM and Brive failing to match that return away to Newcastle meant Connacht secured top spot in Pool 1 on Saturday and a European Challenge Cup quarter Final in Grenoble next April.First on this week's podcast Alan Deegan and William Davies take you through the game, then Rob Murphy and Dave Finn join them for post game chat. There's audio from Pat Lam too. This weeks topics include, a game review, a preview of the forthcoming crucial game against the Scarlets next Saturday at 3pm and an update on some key contract news this week involving Rodney Ah You. Don't forget to join our super bru Six Nations prediction pool. Pool name 'CraggyIslandRugby 6N pool' Code: nineyoke Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It might be time to worry a little for Connacht supporters and players alike. Yet another last minute defeat, this time a man called Laranjeira notched his seventh and match winning penalty on 80 minutes for a 21-18 win. The run is now at five straight defeats. On the trip to Brive this weekend were Rob Murphy, William Davies, Linley MacKenzie, Niall 'Packie' Sheil and Ronan Byrne and they all have roles on this week's podcast. We also hear from Pat Lam and John Muldoon while Dave Finn joins the podcast to review our contract signings from the season so far. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The close shaves continue for Connacht, Jack Carty looked to have won it for the Westerners in Parc Y Scarlets on Sunday with a 78th minute penalty but Steve Shingler had the last say in a 21-19 win for Llanelli. Still Connacht continue to play well in defeat, earn points from their reversals and dismiss what is now a four game losing streak as no major cause concern because the performance levels remain high. Rob Murphy and Alan Deegan were in west Wales, Rob Loydd joined them afterwards while we also hear from Steve Shinger, Pat Lam and Tiernan O'Halloran. Plus we go through some of your questions on twitter after the game. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a wet and windy night in Dublin, Connacht were blanked on the scoreboard by Leinster despite a strong first half display against the difficult elements on the east coast.Alan Deegan and Dave Finn joined Rob Murphy at the RDS and take you through the 13-0 defeat. We hear from Pat Lam, Tom McCartney and Eoin Reddan via the post game press conference. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Game 14 of Connacht's season brought a first home defeat and a second successive Pro 12 reversal, this time at the hands of Ulster. Nick William's second half try sealed the win late on after a tight battle for most of the game. Alan Deegan takes you through the game, Rob Murphy then chairs a panel discussion with Packie, Dave Finn and a brief cameo from William in South Africa. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newcastle beat Connacht on Sunday 29-5 with a bonus point to reignite their European campaign and garner some revenge for last week's defeat. A young much changed Connacht certainly didn't let the cause down with a stirring first half display before succumbing to the hosts after half time. On duty in Kingston Park were Rob Murphy and Alan Deegan with Linley MacKenzie joining the crew for the post game chat. There's a special guest too as 88 time England internaitonal Tamara Jones joins the podcast to review the game and we also hear from Pat Lam, Craig Ronaldson and Dean Richards. . Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A 25-10 victory over the Newcastle Falcons on Friday has Connacht Top of Pool 1 in the Challenge Cup ahead of Sunday's rematch in Kingston Park. With Ulster on Stephen's Day looming large and the injury count at an all time, Connacht are back to winning ways thanks to Jack Carty's seven kicks from eight attempts and Dannie Poolman's try.On the podcast this week, Alan Deegan and William Davies take you through the game with a little help from Emma. Rob Murphy, Dave Finn and Packie are along for post game analysis while we have lots of post game press conference audio from both teams. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The winning streak was brought to a halt at eight for Connacht on Friday night in Cardiff as the Blues overturned a half time deficit to win 20-16. On this week's podcast, host Rob Murphy, William Davies and Linley Mackenzie were in the Welsh capital for the game and discuss the impending injury crisis enveloping the province. We also hear from Connacht's Ronan Loughney, Head coach Pat Lam and Cardiff Blues Head Coach Danny Wilson. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finally! Saturday's brilliant 18-12 victory over Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday night helped end a dreadful run of defeats away to Irish provinces but far more importantly served to underline the huge progress being made by the young squad. Pat Lam's men led from start to finish and withstood some hugely challenging moments before securing the win with a Bundee try that will live long in the memory. The Craggy Island Rugby crew where there. Alan Deegan and William Davies did the in game recordings before Host Rob Murphy joined the duo along with Dave Finn and Linley Mackenzie for the post game chat about 90 minutes after one of the games of the season in the Guinness Pro 12. We have audio from Pat Lam, John Muldoon and Eoghan Masterson and as you might imagine, there is a fair amount of animated chat after Connacht ended a 29 year run without a competitive win in Limerick and a 13 year wait for an away win against any Irish province. Eight wins in a row now and top of the Pro 12 table going into Decembe

Win number seven on the bounce for Connacht. All sorts of records falling then after Saturday's narrow but well deserved victory over Brive at the Sportsground. The tension was high in the last few minutes but Connacht held firm and head into next weekend's top of the table Pro 12 clash with Munster at Thomond Park. Alan, William, Dave and Rob are all along again this weekend with Linley MacKenzie joining in for a chat about Russia and the win over Brive. We also hear from Pat Lam and Tiernan O'Halloran. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A rugby match like no other, that was the simple description for Connacht's opening European game this season away to Russian side Enisei in Krasnoyarsk Russia. Our man on the ground in Siberia was William Davies who undertook the epic trip via Brussels and Moscow last Tuesday returning on Sunday night. He documented the trip for the podcast. We hear from all sorts from the Connacht travelling party and take you through a week where the Connacht team overcame conditions that no rugby team has arguably ever faced to defeat competition débutantes Enisei 31-14 with a bonus point in -20 degrees. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Top of the league after 7 rounds, that's some going from Connacht to start the season. On Friday they defeated Treviso 33-19 and that result coupled with Leinster's win over Scarlets propelled them to the top. On this week's podcast we have Linley McKenzie and Niall Sheil joining us along with regulars Alan Deegan, Dave Finn and host Rob Murphy. There's post game audio from Pat Lam and Craig Ronaldson as we reflect on an eventful game look ahead to the European action. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Rugby World Cup podcast concludes with a full review of the final weekend and a look back at the tournament overall. We also look ahead to the campaign for Ireland to host the 2023 World Cup. Host Rob Murphy is joined by Alan Deegan, William Davies and Dave Finn to wax lyrical about New Zealand, pick out the highlights of the tournament, review the coverage and look ahead to the future of the game. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The good run continues for Connacht after Saturday's 14-9 home win over Edinburgh. Tiernan O'Halloran's first half try was enough to topple the Scots and keep Connacht in second in the standings thanks to five wins from six. To start the podcast Alan Deegan, Andrew Flaus and William Davies take you through the game before host Rob Murphy and regular guest Dave Finn join the pod. We hear post game Audio from Pat Lam, the thoughts of a New Zealander on winning the World Cup, discuss the poorly organised Russia trip and William has a bit of a Bombshell at the end of the podcast. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've reached episode seven and only one weekend remains of this highly entertaining Rugby World Cup. This week's episode gets a little heated as the lads debate the merits of World Cup progress over Six Nations success. We review the semi finals, call the final and discuss lots of TMO stuff. Host Rob Murphy, joined by guests Alan Deegan, William Davies and Dave Finn. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Connacht's 21-16 victory over the Ospreys on Saturday evening they now sit joint top of the Pro 12 table ahead of Saturday's clash with Edinburgh at the Sportsground. Host Rob Murphy is joined by guest Alan Deegan, William Davies and Dave Finn to review a thrilling away performance at the Liberty Stadium where Matt Healy and Bundee Aki tries made all the difference. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.