‘A good one for Jack to miss’ – Ronan O’Gara addresses Crowley’s form as Ireland fly-half battle with Sam Prendergast set to intensify
Munster fly-half Jack Crowley and Ireland legend Ronan O'Gara.
Ireland legend Ronan O’Gara believes that Jack Crowley could actually benefit from missing Munster’s United Rugby Championship defeat to Leinster last weekend.
The fly-half was a surprise absentee for the huge derby against their arch-rivals, depriving those watching of a duel between Ireland’s playmaking options.
Many were looking forward to seeing Crowley and Sam Prendergast battle ahead of the Six Nations, which starts at the end of this month.
Champions Cup priority
However, Munster decided to rest the 24-year-old, instead choosing to prioritise the Champions Cup with games against Saracens and Northampton Saints to come.
Due to the agreement with the Irish Rugby Football Union, Crowley was unable to play in all three matches and O’Gara insisted that it could prove to be a help rather than a hindrance ahead of the upcoming international tournament.
“With the way the game went, and the performance went, it was probably a good one for Jack to miss,” he told Off The Ball.
Some would argue that Crowley actually lost ground on Prendergast due to the Leinsterman’s man of the match display, but O’Gara evidently disagrees.
The Munster star now has an opportunity to put in two stellar displays in the Champions Cup to show interim head coach Simon Easterby that he is the one who should be starting in the Six Nations.
He was usurped in November by the 21-year-old, who started Ireland’s final two Autumn Nations Series encounters, but it is a tight battle ahead of the Six Nations.
Crowley has struggled for form since the end-of-year series, however, although he has not been helped by Munster’s struggles this season.
But O’Gara reckons that the playmaker is desperate to shine in Europe, particularly after missing the game against Leinster.
Crowley’s form
“I can only speak if it was me as the player when I have had that situation. I think he probably needs to refine and go back to what he knows works for himself,” he said.
“I wouldn’t have any questions over his temperament, I think he’s very, very strong in that department. He’s not in the best of form and then he doesn’t play the key game.
“Is it the key game for him? Probably not in the bigger picture of things, but it’s still a big game. I would assume that Jack Crowley is absolutely itching to put in a big performance.”
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