Hugh Cahill and Bernard Jackman dive deeper into the state of Irish rugby as the senior men's team face into a critical Six Nations clash with a resurgent Italy on Saturday.

Bernard has had a lot of correspondence in recent days from people who are very engaged and concerned about the future of Irish rugby (2:00), even if there is a feeling of disconnect among others. He cites the small crowd at the Ireland XV game in Limerick on Friday night.

Hugh asks Bernard for his take on the theory that Jacques Nienaber is to blame for Ireland's poor form... Spoiler alert, he isn't buying it (10:00).

Ireland are the only team in the world chasing a high phase count, believes Bernard, when the game now requires a different, less draining approach.

Has closing the foreign project player pathway impacted Ireland negatively (18:00)? The IRFU can't be surprised given the rule change so the onus is on the provinces to identify the talent.

Looking ahead to Italy, Bernard believes Andy Farrell will drop some frontliners this weekend (21:00), whatever the risks involved against an Azzurri unit who have their tails up.

Bryn Ward being promoted from the XV bench to the senior 23 at the Aviva would be a remarkable rise, with Bernard also making a case for Edwin Edogbo.

The loss of leadership from retirements of Cian Healy, Conor Murray and Peter O'Mahony is being felt but Bernard says that shortfall has to come from the new generation of players, rather than coach Johnny Sexton (25:00). But are the new generation cut from the same cloth?

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As Andy Farrell names his XV to play France Hugh Cahill is joined in studio by Bernard Jackman, with Neil Treacy dialling in from Paris.

The lads react to the Ireland head coach's personnel choices, as Cian Prendergast and Jacob Stockdale are rewarded for their recent form with starting positions for Thursday's Six Nations opener against France.

The younger Prendergast brother, Sam, gets the nod at out-half. It's no real surprise, even if his defence remains a talking point - particularly given France's lightning quick back three.

With the team and matchday squad now named, focus must turn to Ireland's discipline and how they can remain on the right side of the officials in the Stade de France.

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Neil Treacy and Bernard Jackman are joined on this week's RTÉ Rugby podcast by journalist Simon Thomas, as we take a deep dive into the latest controversy in Welsh rugby.

Simon, one of the most respected rugby writers in Wales, brings us up to speed on the WRU's plans to reduce their professional programme from four teams to three, with the Ospreys looking most likely to be disbanded after their current owners were revealed to be the preferred bidders to take over Cardiff.

As well as looking at what this means for the Ospreys in the immediate future, we also find out how it has come to this, and the wider implications in both Welsh rugby and the URC.

Later in the podcast (31:50), we react to the latest injury setback for Ireland ahead of the Six Nations, with Jack Boyle ruled out with an achilles injury, and Connacht's 20-year-old loosehead Billy Bohan called up.

And we also discuss the concerns Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will have around his players' relationships with referees, who appear to be losing patience with the amount of backchat in games.

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