The Molecast

You can support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole1) A conversation reviewing Munster's season becomes a conversation about absolutely everything2) Team Farrell and the importance of Tonga Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole. Stade Rochelais taste Euro-victory in Dublin to retain the Heineken Champions Cup.1) What was the winning and losing of the game? 2) Where are Leinster after two seasons full of near misses and at the end of the Lancaster era? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole 1) Munster's biggest win in a decade at Lansdowne 2) Leinster's questions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole1) Terenure claim their first All Ireland League title in a game that makes us think fundamentally about how to win rugby matches 2) Can the gap between the best amateurs and the academies be bridged? 3) How does Leinster vs Toulouse look from another week on? 4) Connacht - it's not how you start, it's how you finish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole | Does Dan McFarland need a re-brand, a new challenge, a hug, or a senior coach? Why no love for the Ulstermen who finished second in the URC? | Leinster vs Toulouse is too close to call, but that doesn't mean we can't lay into the EPCR a bit for old times' sake | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1) Munster travel to Stormers and pick up a classic road victory — but don't worry, the Moles' praise is tempered with some concerns over their back division.2) The Sam Prendergast Hype Train™️ has left the station, calling at all stops until the Rugby World Cup Final3) Jacques Nienaber is the surprise announcement as Leinster's "Senior Coach" after the RWC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole"How do Leinster get to Carnegie Hall?" "Demographics!" Tough camparisons this weekend for Ulster and Munster but this isn't time to Break Up The Dubs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleThe Grand Chelem Pod! #FREED #FROM #DESIRE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleA whole lotta heapin' goin' on: Praise for Ireland and scorn for England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleA better late than never Molecast on the excellent Italian game, what promises to be a barnburner in Murrayfield next weekend and a... eh... preview of the Edinburgh v Leinster game Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleI. The big Ireland vs France discussion: how it went downII. Welsh rugby plumbs new depths Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole 😉1) Ireland dispell Warren's voodoo with a series of rugby events2) Have our U20s finally found the kind of mutant beef on which to build our future3) What's the difference between "being good at nothing" and "not being good at anything"?4) France's meaningless away form and the fit and fighting Italians Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole1) Warren gives us the heebie-geebies! The big man's aura looms over Ireland's opening Six Nations clash — or maybe he won all his tournaments in non-vintage years 😉2) Fin Russell to kick Scotland to victory of the Injured English? One of us thinks so3) Eddie mines the Aussie digger mentality Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleLive in one take from a kitchen table:1) The phoney war of the group stages ends, and the real war begins - in two months' time2) Mid-table Munster on the up, but suffering from institutional failings3) Going in on Connacht, for some reason4) Duane Vermeulen's Saturday Night Lights Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole1) Ireland Six Nations squad selection and the de-throning of Joey2) Eddie Jones mate3) Rowntree not taking any shit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleI. Ulster's kryptonite is not being able to listen to the Molecast for 6 weeksII. Munster gorge on a strict diet of low-hanging fruitIII. Leinster almost lose and it's funIV. Ireland in the Six Nations: could it be sh*t? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleI: Eddie Jones is hiding his plans for the Rugby World Cup better than any of his rivalsII: Would Warren go back to Wales and what would it achieve?III: Australia are an RWC dark horse — when they aren't all injuredIV: In praise of High King Josh Van Der Flier Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleAre Australia a banana peel with Kryptonite embedded into it? Or are Ireland just on a long upwards trajectory and the Wallabies on a long slow dive?Were New Zealand ever really about to lose to Scotland? Why did they go back to the formula that decidedly didn't work during the summer? And do they have a complex about visiting Fortress Twickenham HQ in this hotly anticipated test match?Lastly: the Boks, will they ever learn? 😂 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleDoes the World-Cup-Cycle give Ireland's powerhouse win over the Boks more meaning, or was it just a bit of a classic slobberknocker on a Saturday night?Why did Ireland 'A' miss the point so badly at the RDS?Also: Fiji selections, Australian revival and Perilous Pumas! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole1) Is that smell coming from the Ulster dressing room or the URC boardroom?2) Move over Bundee, Mackenzie Hansen is the new King of Connacht3) Crowley should be in the squad (woah-ooo-woah)4) Meeting the physical level of the Saffa teams5) The Blue Machine ticks onwards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleIreland's international squad has precious few surprises: what can you expect when you win a test series in New Zealand? Britain in Crisis! The Premiership bluster sees them lose as many clubs as Prime Ministers. Where were will it end? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleWe're doling out high praise for the internationals who brought their A game in the instant classic between Leinster and the Cell C Sharks at the RDS. Who plays what role in Munster's off-field team as they struggle to define short-term and long-term goals?And finally the Emerging Ireland tour that no one can agree about, other than that it's good to win in a big rugby country like South Africa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleLeinster's wet weather excellence against Ulster; someone defends the Emerging Irish tour; tough schedules in the URC and The Top 14 becoming Le Premier League du Rugby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleMunster are back at the big well of woe and we use a number of metaphors to explore what's wrong. Elsewhere: Luka Modric and the PhD in tackling, a Mark E Smith reference(!), and Ulster vs Leinster HYPE HYPE HYPE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleRugby didn't stop while we were on our break so there's plenty to talk about: 1) Are we seeing the last of the Stewsdays at Leinster? 2) After an anomalous and clunky first year, the URC looks like a meaner, tougher competition that's less forgiving for the young 'uns. 3) What's the craic with Emerging Ireland?4) The Premiership and what makes people go to rugby matches?Oh and don't think Raynal didn't get both barrels in an X-RATED, expletive laden coda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleStill somewhat unbelieving of Ireland's incredible achievement in New Zealand, the Moles gather remotely to discuss the *serious vibes* of the tour embodied by Rob Herring just going for the line and getting there when it seemed so unlikely.We look at NZ's relative lack of structure, the diminishing power of their front five, and whether Foster can survive, or whether the Graham Henry Bootroom Era has to come to an end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleIreland beat the All Blacks in the land of the long white cloud with a performance that overcame frustrations from the first two tour matches, showed both toughness and guile and leaves us asking very legitimately: can we win the series?We ask the big questions about where this non-vintage All Blacks team is going?And we finally we ask what LEARNINGS can taken (by both team and commentariat) from a very heartening victory of the Māori All Blacks in Wellington on the tour's last mid-week game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleIreland stink up Kirikiriroa with a rudderless and disciplineless performance against the Māori All Blacks: catastrophe or opportunity for LEARNINGS? Also, what's wrong with rugby generally. But seriously, Ireland were so bad we didn't even get around to talking about the test match this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleWe take a look at how Ireland's actual touring party to New Zealand compares with what was predicted before surveying the landscape of winners and losers in the recent weeks of cup match rugby: Leinster's defeat to the Bulls, Leicester's shit-on-a-stick win over Saracens and Castres' ability to squeeze out the rugby royalty of Toulouse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleThe One Where Leinster Lose The Final: How it happened? what is its significance? Where next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleTwo Leinster matches to consider 1) the rotated squad turning over Munster in the URC dead rubber that still has profound implications2) the front-liners out to put some ghosts to bed against La RochelleMAH GAWD THAT'S WILL SKELTON'S MUSIC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmoleThe Moles chow down on the semis, the final, Leinster, La Rochelle, playing principles, 130kg props, departing coaches and replacements, Alex Soroka's hair and 10 minutes on why you should name your awards something cool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A big snotty post-QF roundtable:1) Munster v Toulouse: a clash of styles for the ages2) Leicester v Leinster: Tigers back at the big table but no longer the alpha predator in Europe3) Are Toulouse's monster pack Leinster Kryptonite or sick of getting on planes and running around the pitch?4) La ROGelle vs Racing: côte du bœuf vs croissants5) Bizarre listing of French clubs we like and one of us really can't stand Montpellier Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up, it's the big NZ squad selection chat. Are there really such things as bolters?Secondly we talk about Ulster's slide after so much recent progress.Lastly we chat AIL Final briefly as Terenure look to shock Clontarf and round off an incredible year for the Lakelands outfit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three Tributes:1) Dan Leavy — what a goddamn player2) A consummate Leinster performance, their best of the season, obliterates their opponents on Saturday night3) Pints at the game and alickadoos farting Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support the Molecast at https://www.ko-fi.com/dementedmole/After smashing the English at Fortress HQ with a bonus point and by a record margin not even achieve in the annus mirabilis of 2018, much of commentary focused on Ireland's flaws and celebrated England's moral victory — when did the script get so flipped?Wales vs France was a grizzled test match that our purists adored. A Wales low on talent but high on guts vs a French team high on talent but low on "ambition". We ask simply, how good are France?Also shouts out to our new favourite human missile Aitzol King and Ireland's general standing in world rugby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With no BIG MATCH to talk about, we get into the weeds talking about DEPTH and whether it really makes that much of a difference, or is it just a desire for change for changes sake to get your province's man into the jersey? Carbery, Coombes, Baloucoune and bulky meaty fleshlumpeaters are all discussed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Joey Carbery not just the successor but a real competitor to Johnny Sexton after a lauded performance in Paris, or is the Emperor standing 10 yards behind the gainline, putting up weak garryowens and not sticking to the gameplan?The eternal match situation debate: go to the corner and maul satisfyingly over the pack who've disrupted your lineout and out-physicalled you all day, or take yer bloody points? Honourable mentions to xP, The I Am An All Black Fallacy and the Mole's own epitaph.Elsewhere, the U20 Grand Slam dream is alive and Luigi Garbisi appears, so maybe the big brother should be called Mario now? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's 80+ minutes of audio balm put rub on your tired Six Nations muscles.Were the Wales team that Ireland put to the sword dismal or were Ireland just that good? And what is it that's so good about this Ireland team (hint: it's definitely running straight :P )France and Italy was a predictable result but with lots to interest the Ireland fan with an eye on next week. Is France's team still to reach maturity?Is Eddie Jones's 4D chess the beginning of a new team or the beginning of the end? For us the answer is simple enough... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A scattershot journey through a week of rugby football union: I. "Be nice to refs!" [/Owen Doyle voice]II. Which way does the stream of influence flow between Leinster and a Leinster-led Ireland?III. Do Ulster have the legs to go long in Europe?IV. Can Ireland win another Six Nations 18 months away from a Rugby World Cup to prove, eh, nothing to nobody? V. Scotland, whisper it, are dark horses.Support The Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Farrell names an Ireland squad that everyone pretty much thinks is great and we still find some room to squabble over omissions and inclusions.One Mole saw Munster's win away at Castres B as a season defining event while another Mole saw Leinster's facile tryfest against Montpellier J5s as a harbinger of doom for the hollow shell of the European Cup.There's also a glowing tribute to Auch, Jacques Fouroux and the depth of French rugby and suggestion of a URC based cryptocurrency to run a salary cap across four jurisdictions. You read it here first.Support the Molecast at https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Munster and Ulster traded awful defeats over the sparse Christmas period, but public patience seems to have run out for Johann van Grann: we assess where they go from here with their promising youth. Elsewhere COVID has laid waste to Leinster's season and the Champions Cup — how will that affect a Leinster-led Ireland, and is European rugby worth saving in its current form?Support the Demented Mole: https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Van Going Going Gaaaan: The JvG era announces that it is coming to an end in summer 2022. What does Johann's report card look like as he prepares for his Leaving?A good weekend for the provinces is wrapped up, but with the sneaking suspicion that something is a little awry at Leinster as they rack up probably the least impressive win of the weekend.Lastly we talk selection, comparing the merits of Schmidt and Farrell's seemingly different approaches. There's only one World Cup Quarter Final mention in this one, and somehow we didn't manage an extended riff on Get Back at any point.Support the Molecast on www.ko-fi.com/dementedmole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Munster's half-backs kept Ireland in winning ways but took a slightly different route to achieving it: how do things stand for genuine legend Conor Murray and little white hope Joey Carbery after whomping Argentina?Have Ireland found their second playmaker in Tadhg Furlong or will the big guns figure out how to nullify our loops and pods in Twickenham, Stade de France and on tour in New Zealand?Farrell's selection has been a huge strength over autumn, but how is our depth chart looking beneath our main men?Apologies issued, nonsense talked and a brilliant autumn series rounded well and truly up.https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We continue to poke at the big plot hole in the middle of Ireland's autumn form: when did we get this good?More and more people are calling it Ireland's "best ever" performance, and yet we still nearly lost: so how good were our Kiwi opponents who seem to be indulging a Man Utd-esque level of mirror-staring.What can we expect from the future, and is it Ross Byrne? (He'd definitely take his points.)https://ko-fi.com/dementedmole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone loves stupid sexy Ireland after their best attacking display in years again (only?) Japan. Where have Farrell and Catt been hiding all the offloads until now? And how far can it take us?With the All Blacks in town, what's your preferred mode of defeat? Will we be happy as long as Faz's Fabulous Swashbucklers throw some punches? Or does the team just need some non-Leinster lads?https://www.patreon.com/dementedmole/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

McFarlard is at the end of his beginning, and van Graan is at the beginning of his end.(Apologies for the poor quality of one of the microphones — thankfully it was the least important one) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland were out thought and out fought all over Twickenham. Where do we go from here? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was Ireland's successful game plan against Wales about "playing what's in front of you", or was it something more subtle altogether?We also look ahead to the trip to Twickenham: can England's stutters be put down to typically tough Six Nations away days or are there bigger problems for the team since the high watermark of their semi-final victory over NZ ahead of our Triple Crown chance? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scotland delivered the kind of performance they wish they had in Yokohama last September but Ireland still came away victorious. So, how much credit can Ireland take from their narrow, nervy win?England's unbridled brutishness never turned up without their three brutes in chief on the pitch, and France looked both reborn and prone to a long rattle in the in second half. Can anyone stop them now they've got motoring?Wales eased into gear and look a bad match up for Ireland. Can we stop them from - ooof - another Grand Slam tilt? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.