The Second Captains Podcast

Even with a grand slam fresh out of the oven and a historic series win over NZ in his back pocket, Andy Farrell was already looking ahead to the World Cup in his post-match press conference on Saturday evening; unlike other big Irish moments in the past, this one felt more like the start of something, rather than the end.We get Andrew Trimble and Shane Horgan on to put this title in context, to explain why Ireland played so badly for an hour, to examine the evolution of Johnny Sexton and to marvel at Ireland's ability to get out of sticky situations.We discuss the Freddie Steward red card, Ireland's incredible defence ad discipline stats and how nice it is to see the players be backed to express themselves, on and off the pitch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grand Slam weeks don't come around too often (for now) so we went all out this week with Connacht's Andy Friend dropping by on Wednesday to chat about Mack Hansen's Snake Hips, versatility and general ‘looseness’.Fresh from offering the best analysis around on the Gary Lineker Tweet debacle, Ken dusted down his Columbus Egg as proof he had been right about Trent Alexander-Arnold all along.Plus, there’s Guardiola on how a Julia Roberts trip to Old Trafford both hurt and motivated him in equal measure. Join us for ad-free, contract-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary Lineker's brief exile from Match of the Day has ended in an apologetic climbdown by the BBC director general Tim Davie, after the immediate support shown by his colleagues in BBC Sport checkmated the broadcaster.We talk today about aspects of the affair. Was the tweet that got Lineker in trouble really so outrageous? And what does the BBC's commitment to impartiality mean in a media landscape where nobody believes in anyone else's impartiality?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was all manner of things thrown at the Ireland team in Murrayfield but as fans and pundits are coming to realise, this team don’t panic.We chat to Stuart Barnes and Shane Horgan about the invention, versatility and deep confidence this side displays, and we ask if there is any way England, who got dismembered by France, can pull things around in a week.We marvel at Peter O’Mahony’s clarity of thought, Jack Conan’s modesty, Mack Hansen’s creativity and Scotland’s mental and physical collapse.Plus Murph quenches his Quaich thirst and we put Rhasidat Adeleke’s latest achievement in context. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Much admired long-time zoom contributor, first-time live guest, Caitlin Thompson of Racquet Magazine, joined us in The Brass Monkey in New York’s Meatpacking District. Caitlin regaled us with tales from John McCain’s election tour bus ‘The Straight Talk Express’ and how that experience convinced her to drop political reporting in favour of sports journalism. Plus there’s an extract from our chat with Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster ahead of our game with Scotland as well as a deep dive from Ken into the fallout from the 7-0 at Anfield.Join us for ad-free, contract-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've arrived in New York, eaten a hot dog, and made our way straight to the Ghostbusters building to record today's show.All five of us are on air at the one time (for the first time ever?) a7.51.130nd we have a chat about that scary day 10 years ago when we left Newstalk for pastures unknown. Eoin warns us about Slimer, Mark does his Michael Jordan hall of fame speech, Murph talks about Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure a bit too much, Simon explains the art of the deal and Ken talks in flight movies.We love you all, thanks for sticking with us, more shows coming from New York this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ken watched but did not understand what he saw at Anfield today as previously weak, fragile, inconsistent Liverpool turned this game into a massacre.Ten Hag called it unprofessional, which, considering the source, may be the deepest cut of all for Man United. Ken wades into the errors and the implications of this historic defeat.Salah was brilliant today, which begs the question - where has he been all season?We talk to Ryan Hunn of the Stadio podcast and Wrighty's House about an epic comeback win for Arsenal.Plus there's mystic Souness, Gunnersauras TV and Ken calls the title, again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2014 the Dubs lined out against Donegal in the All-Ireland Senior Football Semi-Final. Paul Flynn was clipping scores from all angles as Dublin paraded their personal brand of rock-and-roll Gaelic Football. Unknown to the Footballing public however was that the 3-14 that Michael Murphy’s Donegal were able to slip by them that day would set the course for a rebuild that saw Jim Gavin’s men go on a 45-game winning streak, notching 6 All Ireland Titles in the process.We talked to Flynn and Murphy on the World Service this week about that fateful game in order to seek answers to Dublin's poor form at the moment.  Plus, we seek some clarity on exactly what the Italian band did to our poor anthem before last weekend's Six Nations game in Rome and there’s an extract from our chat with Ireland’s athletics superstar-in-waiting; Rhasidat Adeleke.Join us for ad-free, contract-free, member-led broadcasting for just €5 + VAT a month at secondcaptains.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday Erik ten Hag won the first trophy he could win as manager of Man United. Jose Mourinho also won the League Cup in his first season there - but this time it feels different, right?We also talk about Graham Potter’s unfortunate habit of comparing his situation at Chelsea with Mikel Arteta’s early days at Arsenal. Laurie Whitwell and Miguel Delaney join us to talk about the Carabao Cup final. Why did it never quite get going for Newcastle? How have the leopards in Manchester United’s dressing room managed to change their spots? And with Avram Glazer a visible presence at yesterday’s final, what is the latest on the takeover front? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland's season, and all the good vibes surrounding this team, hung in the balance for long periods of the second half in Rome, but a brilliant 18-phase try, finished by Mack Hansen, won the game and kept the Slam dream alive.We discuss Six Nations 7's rugby, Ireland's new midfield, Hugo Keenan's metres, Italy's brilliant attack, Scotland's failed comeback in Paris, Welsh gardening and anthem skulduggery.And we digest listener feedback on our Full Swing episode, which was.... mixed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.