Second Captains @ The Irish Times

Ireland - Wales is the biggest rugby game since our last game in the 6 Nations, but that's just the way it is when a Grand Slam is on offer. Shane Williams, Shane Horgan and our own pocket-rocket Simon Hick are on hand to tell us why Joe Schmidt and Warren Gatland aren't about to over think this one. Johnny Ward of the Racing Post joins us to look ahead to the Gold Cup on Friday, plus there's Jeremy Clarkson, the eternal presenter/producer struggle, and AP McCoy's face in a crisp. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin and Ken hail David Luiz and Thiago Silva, the kings of Stamford Bridge. Who does Jose Mourinho blame for Paris' triumph? And why does he act as though it's impossible to win a game by more than one goal?Jonathan Wilson joins us for a closer look at Chelsea's failure.And Emmet Malone is on hand to analyse Martin O'Neill's latest Ireland squad. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin and Ken discuss the glitch in Messi's game, some misplaced angst about Ireland v England, and Wenger's vigilante justice. Dermot Corrigan reports from Madrid, where Messi and Ronaldo's fortunes seem linked but divergent. Raphael Honigstein joins us to discuss doping and memory in German football. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ireland keep winning, so what's the big problem? But Matt Williams reckons our brand of rugby won't make the sort of impact our team are capable of making at the World Cup.GAA referee David Gough was told not to wear a rainbow wristband in Croke Park during the Dublin-Tyrone league game - we speak to the man himself. And there's middle-aged cheats in Lycra, Mark English's racing intelligence and poor ol' Lance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We discuss Jose Mourinho's eternal quest for beauty, the amplifying power of football on Twitter, and tyrant body doubles.Richard Sadlier joins us to analyse the ethics of spitting and the progress of Louis van Gaal. And Emmet Malone is in to look forward to the big kick off of the Airtricity League. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The stock of Ireland's half-back pairing of Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton continues to rise and rise, to the point now where they are being routinely described as the best scrum-half and out-half combination in the world. Simon went to meet Murray to chat expectations, and putting the family filter on all the media hoopla.US Murph tells us about Spring Training and the US reaction to Padraig Harrington's brilliant win on Monday at the Honda Classic, and we hear about Murph's bovine alter-ego, spittin' time, and the return of Paul Galvin. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We discuss the fall of Allen Bula, the end of Jose's trophy famine, and why Liverpool might just have exorcised the ghost of Luis Suarez.Tony Barrett was at Anfield to see what he reckons might be the most important win of Brendan Rodgers' time at Liverpool. And James Montague puts forward the case that Qatar 2022 is a good idea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Ireland machine rumbles relentlessly on; Gerry Thornley and Denis Hickie discuss the team's simple complexity, the importance of Sexton and the growing Welsh threat.Oisin McConville and Anthony Moyles talk to us about what's eating our gaelic football. Plus we have our first Buddhist monk listener, Ken tells us about the DJ 2000 he's working on to replace Murph and we predict the 2015 Rugby 'international rules' World Cup final. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We speak to Irish Micky Ward about the Gatti trilogy, family feuds, life in Boston and seeing it all played out on the big screen in the Oscar-winning "The Fighter."Shane Horgan and Stuart Barnes talk Paul O'Connell love ahead of Ireland / England, and one of our cricketing heroes Kevin O'Brien joins us from Canberra. Plus there's Richie Sadlier's cake, and the thorny issue of membership of the Blarney Army. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We poke through the entrails of Arsenal's Champions League defeat to Monaco, Qatar's winter World Cup and Liverpool's marketing mix.Jonathan Wilson was in Manchester to see Barcelona's superstar strike trio dismantle City. Dion Fanning and Philippe Auclair join us to talk about where Arsenal go from here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Its Second Captains live and dangerous from the Sugar Club in Dublin with special guests Brian Kerr, Richie Sadlier, Denis Hickie, Damien Varley, Shane Jennings and Gerry Thornley.We preview Ireland V England, talk about reformed Englishmen and speculate if Schmidt will throw off the shackles on Sunday. We ask Brian and Richie if Messi is now unmanageable, if Balotelli will ever improve and should Steve Gerrard be analysing his own teammates. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

MOTD's little brother, Robbie Savage schtick, Jose TV and the appropriate use of counter-cyclical policies in football management.John Brewin was at St Mary's to see Liverpool close to within two points of the CL places. Kieran Canning analyses Barcelona's surprising defeat to Malaga ahead of their game against Manchester City. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chelsea fans on the metro, Arrigo Sacchi in the mixed zone, and why in terms of the FIFA election, nothing is true and everything is possible.Terry Daley joins us from Rome to analyse Arrigo Sacchi's controversial remarks about black players in Italian youth football. We hear from Robbie Keane on Steve Gerrard's move to LA. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

World Champ Andy Lee joins us in studio to discuss defending the title, money, hard work and free Second Captains hoodies.US Murph talks to us about NFL Films, once described as "the most effective propaganda organ in the history of corporate America". Plus we've the Voice of God, A Rod's hate machine, and why Irish sportspeople should be more like Ronnie Delany. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran discuss the return of Tim Sherwood, Olivier Giroud's near-post prowess, and David Luiz's selective sense of destiny.Sam Wallace joins us to talk about why Sherwood might be the right man for Villa. And Paul Doyle analyses PSG's prospects ahead of tomorrow's return of the Champions League See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With Ireland sitting pretty with two wins from two, we should probably simply be asking "Are you not entertained?" Gerry Thornley and Denis Hickie join us to talk about Sexton, Bastareaud and the looming English challenge.The Dubs started life under Ger Cunningham with a win over Tipperary, and Clare will have to wait another week for a first inter-county win since last April.Plus there's Fifty Shades of Grey reviews, rugby brutality, our brilliant cricketers and a very special World Cup PBESO. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We mourn the passing of the age of Scottish giants, and try to work out what the Premier League should do with its five billion pounds.John Brewin analyses a strange week for Louis van Gaal, in which his attempts to educate were not received warmly by the Manchester press pack. And Nick Harris of sportingintelligence helps us pick through the detail of the TV rights deals. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ireland have named an incredible team to play France, but we can't help but wonder if all those injuries really have cleared up. Gerry Thornley joins us to discuss.Tiger Woods is taking an indefinite break from golf - can he handle the humiliation of a long, slow slide into obscurity?Plus there's Andy Lee's world-title challenger, mid 80's boxing on youtube, and rat experiments on golfers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Shane Jennings and Shane Horgan join us to discuss Ireland's kicking game, Henshaw, big beatable France and the George North concussion issue.Eamon Dunphy talks to us about his decades-long admiration for the retiring AP McCoy. Plus there's Butragueno's heartbeat, fairytale endings for men who have far more than their fair share and some news on our upcoming live show. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eoin, Ken and Ciaran talk about the treachery of Gareth Bale, and Big Sam's lofty contempt for Long Ball United.Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about the inexorable rise of Harry Kane. And Jonathan Wilson reports from Equatorial Guinea on the Africa Cup of Nations heroes. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.