Nathan Johns
@nathanrjohns.bsky.social
✍️: @IrishTimesSport
Sometimes 🎤 with @hbv_live @rtesport @bbccricket @skysports @talksport
Musings on Irish cricket:
https://theparttimer.substack.com/
Sometimes 🎤 with @hbv_live @rtesport @bbccricket @skysports @talksport
Musings on Irish cricket:
https://theparttimer.substack.com/
Leinster are conceding almost a full converted try more per game this season compared to last
Are flaws in Jacques Nienaber’s system leading to fissures, or is something else going wrong?
Analysis ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Are flaws in Jacques Nienaber’s system leading to fissures, or is something else going wrong?
Analysis ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
The Jacques Nienaber conundrum: What’s going on with Leinster’s defence?
A fascinating dynamic is at work in the province’s Champions Cup campaign as more and more opponents find ways to exploit Leinster’s imperfections
www.irishtimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Leinster are conceding almost a full converted try more per game this season compared to last
Are flaws in Jacques Nienaber’s system leading to fissures, or is something else going wrong?
Analysis ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Are flaws in Jacques Nienaber’s system leading to fissures, or is something else going wrong?
Analysis ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
News confirmed, King to captain Ireland.
No co-captains
McMahon is out with a long term knee injury but Monaghan is still with the squad
No co-captains
McMahon is out with a long term knee injury but Monaghan is still with the squad
Sounds like Erin King is to be announced as Ireland captain ahead of the Six Nations
Aged 22, she only debuted for Ireland (in 15s) in 2024
Named World Rugby breakthrough player that same year
Edel McMahon and Sam Monaghan were co-captains at the World Cup
Aged 22, she only debuted for Ireland (in 15s) in 2024
Named World Rugby breakthrough player that same year
Edel McMahon and Sam Monaghan were co-captains at the World Cup
January 15, 2026 at 2:05 PM
News confirmed, King to captain Ireland.
No co-captains
McMahon is out with a long term knee injury but Monaghan is still with the squad
No co-captains
McMahon is out with a long term knee injury but Monaghan is still with the squad
Sounds like Erin King is to be announced as Ireland captain ahead of the Six Nations
Aged 22, she only debuted for Ireland (in 15s) in 2024
Named World Rugby breakthrough player that same year
Edel McMahon and Sam Monaghan were co-captains at the World Cup
Aged 22, she only debuted for Ireland (in 15s) in 2024
Named World Rugby breakthrough player that same year
Edel McMahon and Sam Monaghan were co-captains at the World Cup
January 15, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Sounds like Erin King is to be announced as Ireland captain ahead of the Six Nations
Aged 22, she only debuted for Ireland (in 15s) in 2024
Named World Rugby breakthrough player that same year
Edel McMahon and Sam Monaghan were co-captains at the World Cup
Aged 22, she only debuted for Ireland (in 15s) in 2024
Named World Rugby breakthrough player that same year
Edel McMahon and Sam Monaghan were co-captains at the World Cup
Interview time on the @IrishTimesSport rugby podcast
Rory Best, an ex-Ireland captain under Joe Schmidt, is now general manager at Ulster
What does a GM actually do, and how have Ulster become Irish rugby's good news story?
Listen ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/the...
Rory Best, an ex-Ireland captain under Joe Schmidt, is now general manager at Ulster
What does a GM actually do, and how have Ulster become Irish rugby's good news story?
Listen ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/the...
Rory Best on how Ulster have turned things around
The Counter Ruck Podcast
www.irishtimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Interview time on the @IrishTimesSport rugby podcast
Rory Best, an ex-Ireland captain under Joe Schmidt, is now general manager at Ulster
What does a GM actually do, and how have Ulster become Irish rugby's good news story?
Listen ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/the...
Rory Best, an ex-Ireland captain under Joe Schmidt, is now general manager at Ulster
What does a GM actually do, and how have Ulster become Irish rugby's good news story?
Listen ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/the...
In the last few years, more AIL players have stepped up to provincial rugby
Conor Bartley at Munster
Bradley McNamara at Ulster
Jerry Cahir, Bobby Sheehan, Ivan Soroka and Dylan Donnellan at Leinster
Why are more clubmen getting chances at pro level?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Conor Bartley at Munster
Bradley McNamara at Ulster
Jerry Cahir, Bobby Sheehan, Ivan Soroka and Dylan Donnellan at Leinster
Why are more clubmen getting chances at pro level?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
‘The skill level is so much better’: AIL’s rise opens the door to the professional game for club players
The perception that the league is a ‘graveyard’ for young players eyeing professional careers ‘is changing’, says Clontarf’s Dylan Donnellan
www.irishtimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:09 PM
In the last few years, more AIL players have stepped up to provincial rugby
Conor Bartley at Munster
Bradley McNamara at Ulster
Jerry Cahir, Bobby Sheehan, Ivan Soroka and Dylan Donnellan at Leinster
Why are more clubmen getting chances at pro level?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Conor Bartley at Munster
Bradley McNamara at Ulster
Jerry Cahir, Bobby Sheehan, Ivan Soroka and Dylan Donnellan at Leinster
Why are more clubmen getting chances at pro level?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Interesting stylistic clash on Saturday night which dominated the post-match press chat
Munster are raging against rugby's trend of kicking and set-piece battles.
Leinster want to be more creative but think it's naive.
Who is right?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Munster are raging against rugby's trend of kicking and set-piece battles.
Leinster want to be more creative but think it's naive.
Who is right?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Tadhg Beirne: ‘The style of the game has gone backwards’
Munster forward would prefer if rugby had more flow after defeat to Leinster in scrappy affair
www.irishtimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Interesting stylistic clash on Saturday night which dominated the post-match press chat
Munster are raging against rugby's trend of kicking and set-piece battles.
Leinster want to be more creative but think it's naive.
Who is right?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Munster are raging against rugby's trend of kicking and set-piece battles.
Leinster want to be more creative but think it's naive.
Who is right?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Grit and niggle aplenty, but enough quality to give punters their money's worth?
Report from Thomond ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Report from Thomond ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Leinster show grit to beat Munster in scrappy URC clash at Thomond Park
Josh van der Flier shines in game lacking in attacking quality but full of physicality and niggle
www.irishtimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Grit and niggle aplenty, but enough quality to give punters their money's worth?
Report from Thomond ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Report from Thomond ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
December 20, 2025 at 5:54 PM
If Leinster go on to win Europe, this is the type of performance that will be painted as a gritty, vital win
For now, tho, all that can be said is they still look well below par
Report from welford road ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
For now, tho, all that can be said is they still look well below par
Report from welford road ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Below-par Leinster grind out win against Leicester in Champions Cup
Tries from Jamison Gibson-Park and Dan Sheehan meant the Irish province left Welford Road with four points
www.irishtimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:35 PM
If Leinster go on to win Europe, this is the type of performance that will be painted as a gritty, vital win
For now, tho, all that can be said is they still look well below par
Report from welford road ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
For now, tho, all that can be said is they still look well below par
Report from welford road ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Given the wider conversation on lack pace in Irish rugby, Rob Russell’s claim to be the fastest man in Leinster last year caught the eye
But he couldn’t stay fit and Leinster ultimately let him go
Spoke to Rob about life in Gloucester, injury woe and the need for speed ⬇️
the42.ie/6897219
But he couldn’t stay fit and Leinster ultimately let him go
Spoke to Rob about life in Gloucester, injury woe and the need for speed ⬇️
the42.ie/6897219
'I don’t know how much longer I would have been comfortable just playing in URC games and never in Europe'
The former Leinster wing speaks to Nathan Johns about his move to Gloucester and lessons learned about injury.
the42.ie
December 10, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Given the wider conversation on lack pace in Irish rugby, Rob Russell’s claim to be the fastest man in Leinster last year caught the eye
But he couldn’t stay fit and Leinster ultimately let him go
Spoke to Rob about life in Gloucester, injury woe and the need for speed ⬇️
the42.ie/6897219
But he couldn’t stay fit and Leinster ultimately let him go
Spoke to Rob about life in Gloucester, injury woe and the need for speed ⬇️
the42.ie/6897219
According to the Leinster website, Joshua Kenny is 6'3 and 100kg. Add to that his yard of pace
Not many wings with that profile in Irish rugby
Regardless of how far he goes, Kenny's story of landing on his feet after 7s was culled is worth highlighting ⬇️
www.the42.ie/joshua-kenny...
Not many wings with that profile in Irish rugby
Regardless of how far he goes, Kenny's story of landing on his feet after 7s was culled is worth highlighting ⬇️
www.the42.ie/joshua-kenny...
'I was a late developer' - Joshua Kenny's unorthodox route to Leinster's first team
Kenny charts his path to the URC, via athletics, sevens and the AIL.
www.the42.ie
December 1, 2025 at 11:40 AM
According to the Leinster website, Joshua Kenny is 6'3 and 100kg. Add to that his yard of pace
Not many wings with that profile in Irish rugby
Regardless of how far he goes, Kenny's story of landing on his feet after 7s was culled is worth highlighting ⬇️
www.the42.ie/joshua-kenny...
Not many wings with that profile in Irish rugby
Regardless of how far he goes, Kenny's story of landing on his feet after 7s was culled is worth highlighting ⬇️
www.the42.ie/joshua-kenny...
Tired of rugby analysts being happy with a lack of knowledge of the scrums
So I called up a scrum expert to get the verdict on Ireland's Springbok capitulation
TLDR: Ireland shouldn't be worried, but the 'Boks are ludicrously powerful. What makes them so good?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
So I called up a scrum expert to get the verdict on Ireland's Springbok capitulation
TLDR: Ireland shouldn't be worried, but the 'Boks are ludicrously powerful. What makes them so good?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Scrums for dummies: What goes on in there and why Ireland needn’t panic after Springbok ordeal
Former Ireland tighthead Mike Ross talks us through the finer details of the scrum as well as the ‘PR campaign’ against Andrew Porter and lessons from the loss to South Africa
www.irishtimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Tired of rugby analysts being happy with a lack of knowledge of the scrums
So I called up a scrum expert to get the verdict on Ireland's Springbok capitulation
TLDR: Ireland shouldn't be worried, but the 'Boks are ludicrously powerful. What makes them so good?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
So I called up a scrum expert to get the verdict on Ireland's Springbok capitulation
TLDR: Ireland shouldn't be worried, but the 'Boks are ludicrously powerful. What makes them so good?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Leinster getting their money's worth out of RG Snyman tonight
One try via his offload chalked off
So he does it again minutes later and this time it stands
He could be playing for SA down the road in Cardiff tomorrow. Leinster delighted he isn't
One try via his offload chalked off
So he does it again minutes later and this time it stands
He could be playing for SA down the road in Cardiff tomorrow. Leinster delighted he isn't
November 28, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Leinster getting their money's worth out of RG Snyman tonight
One try via his offload chalked off
So he does it again minutes later and this time it stands
He could be playing for SA down the road in Cardiff tomorrow. Leinster delighted he isn't
One try via his offload chalked off
So he does it again minutes later and this time it stands
He could be playing for SA down the road in Cardiff tomorrow. Leinster delighted he isn't
Reckon Jack Boyle was a bit miffed about losing his Ireland spot?
Three scrum pens and a barnstorming bust inside the opening 20 minutes at Rodney Parade
Three scrum pens and a barnstorming bust inside the opening 20 minutes at Rodney Parade
November 28, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Reckon Jack Boyle was a bit miffed about losing his Ireland spot?
Three scrum pens and a barnstorming bust inside the opening 20 minutes at Rodney Parade
Three scrum pens and a barnstorming bust inside the opening 20 minutes at Rodney Parade
The good life
Leinster Dragons in Newport.
Harry Byrne at 10
No sign (yet) of Rieko Ioane in the travelling party
Leinster Dragons in Newport.
Harry Byrne at 10
No sign (yet) of Rieko Ioane in the travelling party
November 28, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The good life
Leinster Dragons in Newport.
Harry Byrne at 10
No sign (yet) of Rieko Ioane in the travelling party
Leinster Dragons in Newport.
Harry Byrne at 10
No sign (yet) of Rieko Ioane in the travelling party
More Irish players moving to England.
Niamh O'Dowd has joined up as injury cover with Gloucester this week until the end of the season.
Brittany Hogan will join Sale Sharks in January
Niamh O'Dowd has joined up as injury cover with Gloucester this week until the end of the season.
Brittany Hogan will join Sale Sharks in January
November 26, 2025 at 9:41 AM
More Irish players moving to England.
Niamh O'Dowd has joined up as injury cover with Gloucester this week until the end of the season.
Brittany Hogan will join Sale Sharks in January
Niamh O'Dowd has joined up as injury cover with Gloucester this week until the end of the season.
Brittany Hogan will join Sale Sharks in January
Went a week early with this piece, but SA game both was and was not a discipline outlier for Ireland
I didn’t tell you so, but also didn’t not tell you so…
I didn’t tell you so, but also didn’t not tell you so…
Saturday morning pre-game analysis
From the start of World Rugby's head contact clampdown in 2019, Ireland have been among the game's best behaved.
Since 2024, though, Ireland have been among the worst offenders
Why are Ireland getting more and more cards?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
From the start of World Rugby's head contact clampdown in 2019, Ireland have been among the game's best behaved.
Since 2024, though, Ireland have been among the worst offenders
Why are Ireland getting more and more cards?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Ireland are receiving more cards than before – is it a problem and why is it happening?
Some may blame coaching or rule changes, but evidence suggests team behaviour is a factor, too
www.irishtimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Went a week early with this piece, but SA game both was and was not a discipline outlier for Ireland
I didn’t tell you so, but also didn’t not tell you so…
I didn’t tell you so, but also didn’t not tell you so…
Saturday morning pre-game analysis
From the start of World Rugby's head contact clampdown in 2019, Ireland have been among the game's best behaved.
Since 2024, though, Ireland have been among the worst offenders
Why are Ireland getting more and more cards?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
From the start of World Rugby's head contact clampdown in 2019, Ireland have been among the game's best behaved.
Since 2024, though, Ireland have been among the worst offenders
Why are Ireland getting more and more cards?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Ireland are receiving more cards than before – is it a problem and why is it happening?
Some may blame coaching or rule changes, but evidence suggests team behaviour is a factor, too
www.irishtimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Saturday morning pre-game analysis
From the start of World Rugby's head contact clampdown in 2019, Ireland have been among the game's best behaved.
Since 2024, though, Ireland have been among the worst offenders
Why are Ireland getting more and more cards?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
From the start of World Rugby's head contact clampdown in 2019, Ireland have been among the game's best behaved.
Since 2024, though, Ireland have been among the worst offenders
Why are Ireland getting more and more cards?
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
IT rugby pod recording soon with Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan. Any questions for the lads?
November 9, 2025 at 10:51 AM
IT rugby pod recording soon with Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan. Any questions for the lads?
A lot of chatter yesterday about Ireland making zero line breaks.
A lesson, perhaps, in the importance of two things.
A) Be careful with live stats
B) Be careful with where you get your stats
24 hours on, the numbers change...
A lesson, perhaps, in the importance of two things.
A) Be careful with live stats
B) Be careful with where you get your stats
24 hours on, the numbers change...
November 2, 2025 at 6:26 PM
A lot of chatter yesterday about Ireland making zero line breaks.
A lesson, perhaps, in the importance of two things.
A) Be careful with live stats
B) Be careful with where you get your stats
24 hours on, the numbers change...
A lesson, perhaps, in the importance of two things.
A) Be careful with live stats
B) Be careful with where you get your stats
24 hours on, the numbers change...
Reposted by Nathan Johns
A lovely bit of analysis (as ever from Nathan) on the direction Ireland are going in, rather than some of the usual guff that's doing the rounds.
Ireland’s next attacking frontier? The counterattack
Why becoming a better transition team is imperative this November.
Analysis ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Why becoming a better transition team is imperative this November.
Analysis ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Why perfecting the counterattack is central to Ireland’s World Cup evolution
Only time will tell if Andy Farrell’s side can evolve the way they need to
www.irishtimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:54 AM
A lovely bit of analysis (as ever from Nathan) on the direction Ireland are going in, rather than some of the usual guff that's doing the rounds.
Ireland’s next attacking frontier? The counterattack
Why becoming a better transition team is imperative this November.
Analysis ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Why becoming a better transition team is imperative this November.
Analysis ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Why perfecting the counterattack is central to Ireland’s World Cup evolution
Only time will tell if Andy Farrell’s side can evolve the way they need to
www.irishtimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Ireland’s next attacking frontier? The counterattack
Why becoming a better transition team is imperative this November.
Analysis ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Why becoming a better transition team is imperative this November.
Analysis ⬇️
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon will miss the 2026 Six Nations after undergoing season-ending knee surgery
October 30, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon will miss the 2026 Six Nations after undergoing season-ending knee surgery