Second Captains @ The Irish Times

The World Service is a fairly broad church and this week was no different. Ken got around to watching the David Beckham Netflix documentary and was suitably unimpressed by what he deemed to be a 'tissue of lies'.Meanwhile, we got word from New Zealand legend Justin Marshall on how he feels his boys are set for their clash with Ireland this weekend. Interestingly for us, it's not all rosy in the garden for the All Blacks. Plus, US Murph fills us in on the most dramatic news to come out of America in ages.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.

At least there was one Scot who turned up on Saturday. We savour the anguish in the voice of our Stretford End correspondent, who sent a message of hopelessness late in the second half when all seemed lost. We were (mostly) spared another week of “it’s not incompetence it’s corruption” thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s late deflected winner at the Emirates. Lars Sivertsen and Jonathan Wilson join us to talk about the two big games of the weekend. Is it finally really happening for Arsenal? What is the problem with Lars’s boy, Erling Haaland? Why was Brighton-Liverpool one of the most interesting games Jonathan has seen in a long time? And what can Scandinavia teach us about football’s fight for Freedom?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland put in one of the best performances of the Farrell era to beat Scotland out the gate by halftime, at which stage everyone's thoughts turned to the mighty, but maybe less mighty than they used to be, All Blacks.We chat to Shane Horgan, Gerry Thornley and Scotty Stevenson of TVNZ about the level this Irish team are now playing at, the injury issues and what decisions Farrell will have to make over the next few days, whether past World Cups or the series win in NZ are relevant, the Joe Schmidt factor, and who they see as the more likely winner.Meanwhile, Ken is impressed by Ireland but is worried about the other nations, Murph says "I told you so" to Scotland and Simon caught up with Caelan Doris and Andy Farrell after the match in Paris.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Second Captains World Service we discussed André Onana's transformation into a Just Stop Oil protestor, Shane Horgan pleaded with our Permutations Man to be quiet (!), while Eamon Carr joined us in studio to tell us of his life on the road with the Horslips, which included some run ins with John Law. 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.

All we ask of the Ryder Cup is that it be close… and if it’s not close, can we at least make sure that Rory McIlroy is picking fights in the car-park on the Saturday night?  Malachy Clerkin of the Irish Times and Gavin Cooney from the 42 are back in studio to talk to us about Rory’s fightin’ talk, Patrick Cantlay’s cap, and why these things keep finishing in crushing wins for the home team. There’s also a triumphant/boring return for Permutations Man, Marcus Aurelius, and five-team groups in the Rugby World Cup.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fastest current player in the Premier League, De Zerbi De Stroyed at Villa, and the psychology of charity penalties... just some of the things we talk about today before moving on to the main event of Referees and their Video Review helpers.Miguel Delaney and Dion Fanning join us to pick through the entrails of the post-Spurs v Liverpool carnage. Is this the biggest VAR mess yet? Does it have the potential to grow from an embarrassment into a genuine scandal? Are there solutions that can improve the current situation? Or - since VAR clearly doesn't work - is the obvious fix not just to... bin it altogether? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Second Captains World Service we discussed the joys and high farce of the Ryder Cup, Kimmage told us some home truths, we look at some scary RWC permutations and we have a football show coming up on Thursday. Are Man United back?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.

Thursday 21st September 2023 was Murph Day, as friends, family, colleagues and Fíor-Ghaels assembled in the Sugar Club in Dublin to celebrate the launch of his new book “This Is The Life”.Ken, having read the book, realises there was a lot he didn’t know about his old pal – and now feels bad for constantly bringing up the county final Murph lost and played so terribly in, all those years ago.Second Captains regulars Oisin McConville and Jamie Wall joined the party too to discuss the book, the GAA’s fetishisation of hardship, its use of emotional blackmail and why it is the perfect “third place”.Plus there’s young Murph, selfish Murph, talented Murph, Tony’s van, “the anywheres”, and a live rendition of Frances Murphy’s TV guide.“This Is The Life” is available in all good bookshops now, or available online here https://linktr.ee/CiaranMurphy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland showed guts and defiance in an epic battle against world champs South Africa, and while there's talk of the two teams meeting again in a final, have we all got too carried away with a win that doesn't even come close to getting us into a QF?We get reactions from And-versity Farrell on their mental toughness, Tadhg Beirne on their lineout issues, Ryan Baird on what won it for Ireland, and SA head coach Jacques Nienaber on their decision to kick at goal so often, given they didn't pick a proven goal kicker.We chat to Daily Maverick sport editor Craig Ray about some of SA's decision-making on and off the field of play and his theory on why they used their lineout and maul so rarely.Andrew Trimble tells us what most pleased him about Ireland's performance, the display of James Lowe, the bench impact, the huge impact the Irish fans are having on this tournament and why this is so much bigger than just another pool win.Plus there's permutations man and we discuss Zombie nation.  Hosted on Acast. See ac

Ireland managers down the years have got used to being asked whether there is anything they can learn from Rugby, but is it time to put those same questions to Mikel Arteta? After the NLD post-mortem, we talk about why Chelsea are too big to fail and how Szoboszlai is ensuring that Jordan Henderson's reputation continues to crater. With apologies, there is a brief section about VAR.The Ireland WNT started the Nations League campaign with a 3-0 win against Northern Ireland, in front of a record crowd of nearly 36,000 at the Aviva. Ken was there to see whether the team is ready to move on from Veraball. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graeme Souness joined us last week in the sold-out Olympia Theatre as part of our tenth birthday celebrations to discuss his philosophy on punditry.  We look at the many myths surrounding Mack Hansen's journey to Irish Rugby superstardom, and there's Gabriele Marcotti on how to rediscover the magic of the Champions League. 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.

Ken hasn't always pulled for the team of us but the anti rugby discourse is sending him the other way. Can Irish rugby hold onto its newest fan?We chat to Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about Ireland's improved lineout, their ability to cope with South Africa's defence, Andy Farrell's bench options, Fiji's demo job on Australia and if teams should fear England in a potential semi final.Plus there's live show news, Dave Kilcoyne on Farrell's happy camp and Gloria Gaynor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"There's no new way to play football," Graeme Souness told us at the Olympia on Thursday night. But has anyone mentioned this to Roberto de Zerbi?We talk about why Brighton's way of playing football really is new, and why some kneejerk voices in the MSM (Ken) are already turning on Erik ten Hag after what was, to be clear, only his second home league defeat in a year. Then we talk to Paul Brown (@pbsportswriter), who has reported extensively on Everton's prospective new owners, 777 Partners, for Josimar magazine in Norway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland briefly stuttered before romping to a feel-good win that included some under-12's tactics, a bit of Bundee brilliance, a lap of honour and Mack in his cacks.We chat to Shane Horgan and World Cup winner Joel Stransky about how happy Andy Farrell and Sexton were afterwards, what we can learn from the Scotland SA game, why France will put the fear into the other teams and why don't more players kick drop goals, a la George Ford, especially considering they have won World Cups for SA (Stransky), England (Wilkinson) and NZ (Carter).Plus there's smooth Sexton, how Ireland can beat the Boks and tears for Fiji. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Things are not looking good.Stephen Kenny, the preacher of revolution, outdone once again on the European battlefield by an opposing manager with an ability to tweak in-game tactics.Ireland have lost four out of five in the group, bringing Ireland's total number of competitive defeats to 13 in 26 matches. Bare facts have begun to conspire against Stephen Kenny.On today's Football Pod we are joined by Richie Sadlier and Damien Delaney. We talk through the tactical missteps and, respectfully, look towards the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was all about the Irish national teams this week on the World Service. First up, the Irish Football team who fly into Paris for their Euro qualifier against the French as lambs for the proverbial slaughter - if Richie and the lads are to be believed.More hope, maybe, for the rugby team as the Rugby World Cup kicks off on Friday with Ireland going in as slight favourites - if AI supercomputer data models are to be believed.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.

It's a new week on the Second Captains podcast, one which features both the Irish soccer team playing France, and the start of our Rugby World Cup campaign. Ken finds out today that our football team are not, in fact, playing in the Stade de France for rugby reasons - a revelation which while late in arriving, we should offer thanks for arriving at all.We talk to Caitlin Thompson of Racquet Magazine about the new wave of American tennis talent that is in danger of taking over Flushing Meadows and the US Open. They seem completely uninhibited by the baggage of American tennis' underachievement of the last 20 years (Williams sisters besides) and are electrifying the already-raucous New York crowd.There's also Carlos Alcaraz, whose AI tennis brain has bowled Caitlin over and Ken's thoughts on the 'Devil Genre'.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday evening, Evan Ferguson became the first 18 year old to score a hat trick in 25 years. This is an incredible sporting achievement, so why does it seem like everyone's first instinct now is to start babbling about money? It actually wasn't always this way..After Arsenal's late surge to victory against Manchester United we discuss Mikel Arteta's new folksy wisdom-based communication style, and wonder how Jadon Sancho thought it was a good idea to post that message disputing his coach's account of why he didn't make yesterday's squad. Andrew Mangan and Lars Sivertsen join us to talk about the weekend's football. Four games into his Arsenal Premier League career, how happy are Arsenal fans with Declan Rice? Are there worrying indications that Erik Ten Hag might be about to jump over the fence (baby)? And, when you get right down to it, is Evan Ferguson better than Erling Haaland?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the world service we covered the Vera Pauw saga, looked on in horror at the Rubiales family dynamic, built up to Bohs V Rovers with Declan Devine, and looked at the mess that's left when the worlds of American Football, the deep south, conservatorships and Hollywood collide.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.

Another day, another Second Captains presenter making their way to a swiftcare clinic - this time it's brave Ciaran Murphy. What's the prognosis, soldier?There were no surprises in Andy Farrell's World Cup squad, but Cian Healy's omission is a blow to their chances. We talk to Andrew Trimble about the time he missed out on the 2015 RWC, how to play Joe Schmidt, the team's patchy form in the warm-ups, and, after two positive doping tests over the weekend, whether he thinks rugby has a potentially huge issue with performance-enhancing drugs.Plus there's Femke Bol's redemption and fans with typewriters.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.