Ep 3398: Ireland In A Fix, Farrell’s Few Words, Boks Are The Best
Ireland eventually got the win over Japan on Saturday but all the same doubts remain about a team that has had very few good performances since the summer of 2024.
©INPHO/Gary Carr
Andy Farrell was honest with the media afterwards, stating “we need to get over ourselves and get on with the big boy stuff”. We chat to Shane Horgan and Gerry Thornley about Farrell’s frankness, why previously skilful players are making so many handling errors, how the lineout could be so clunky two weeks in a row, and if the team has any hope against a marauding South African team in two weeks time.
©INPHO/Billy Stickland
We also chat to Craig Ray about an era defining win for Rassie’s side in Paris, if the Boks have any weaknesses anymore and Australia’s topsy turvy season.
“This was no robbery. It was an assault under the lights in front of 80,000 people. The Boks took everything France could throw at them for an hour and overcame a red card.”
Fourteen-man Springboks produce stirring second-half comeback to smash France https://t.co/txlmyCwKaS
— Craig Ray (@craigray11) November 9, 2025
Plus there’s body language bluster, questioning Paul O’Connell and the day Irish rugby created a monster.
Click the player at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series’ ‘Where Is George Gibney?’ and Stakeknife.
What world’s remain for Stephen Bradley to conquer? pic.twitter.com/jNbAjQlXn3
— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) November 10, 2025