Ireland's surprise selections, Stockdale's rebirth & France's new era

Will is joined by Luke Fitzgerald and Ruaidhri O'Connor from Paris to discuss Ireland's team selection to face France. Andy Farrell has sprung a number of surprises and the lads break down the big talking points and the areas where Thursday's games will be won and lost. The Left Wing is sponsored by Energia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rúaidhrí O'Connor is fresh from the Six Nations launch to join Will and Luke for this bumper edition previewing this year's tournament. Injury problems, the need to get on top of the scrum in Paris and how to communicate with referees are all up for debate as we warm up to Six Nations 2026. The Left Wing is sponsored by EnergiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sitting in for Will, Sinéad Kissane alongside Luke and Jonathan dissect how Munster came to find themselves relegated to the Challenge Cup after their Champions Cup exit, alongside Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle. Luke debates the difference between what a player wants in their out-half versus what fans value and the pod look ahead to Andy Farrell’s imminent Six Nations squad announcement on Wednesday. The Left Wing is sponsored by Energia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will is joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor for a special episode of the Left Wing to react to Scott Robertson's shock departure as All Blacks head coach. Ruaidhri broke the story late Wednesday night and he explains the sequence of events that saw New Zealand make a huge change less than two years from the World Cup. Whether Joe Schmidt will finally become the All Blacks head coach is also on the menu. The Left Wing is sponsored by Energia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will, Luke and Jonathan Bradley pick through Leinster's last-gasp win over La Rochelle and Munster's tough defeat away to Toulon. Leinster's mental strength, La Rochelle's missed opportunities and the flaws in Jacques Nienaber's defence are all on the menu from the showdown at the Aviva. Luke also thinks Irish teams have a growing discipline problem that needs to be addressed. The Left Wing podcast is sponsored by Energia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Luke are joined by Jonathan Bradley as Ulster's superb festive fixtures create a good buzz around a squad set for a trip to Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Munster's selection issue are to the fore as Leinster gear up to face Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle. The Left Wing Rugby Podcast is sponsored by EnergiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Luke convene for the last Left Wing of 2025 to pick through Leinster's revenge mission in Thomond Park and Ulster's strong showing against Connacht. Ciaran Frawley's move away from Leinster and where Munster are at halfway through their first season under Clayton McMillan are up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will and Luke are joined by Ruaidhri O'Connor to review a Champions Cup weekend that saw some good contests but plenty of blowouts amid a huge number of weakened teams. Luke was impressed with Leinster's digging in away to Leicester on Friday night while Ruaidhri was very disappointed with the spectacle in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday night.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will, Luke and Cian Tracey run the rule over a Champions Cup weekend which saw Munster's well beaten in Bath and Leinster win despite Luke's belief that they are unable to adapt in game. In the Challenge Cup, Connacht had a collapse while Ulster showed green shoots.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will is joined by Luke Fitzgerald and Jonathan Bradley to look ahead to the opening weekend of Champions Cup action. Whether Leinster's Champions Cup window has closed, Jacques Nienaber's curious TV interview and Munster's ability to compete in Europe are all on the menu. Ulster and Connacht's Challenge Cup aspirations and Eben Etzebeth's gouging incident are up for discussion too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.