Jack Crowley ‘has to be number one’ as ex-Ireland stars laud ‘world-class’ display in Sam Prendergast duel
Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast in action for Munster and Leinster respectively.
Jack Crowley has received widespread praise after the Munster star put himself in prime position to take the Ireland fly-half shirt for the All Blacks Test.
In a much-anticipated duel between Crowley and his rival for the 10 jersey, Sam Prendergast, it was the former who very much came out on top.
He was awarded the man of the match award in Munster’s stunning 31-14 victory over Leinster at Croke Park in Dublin.
The duo will now head into Ireland camp and prepare for the match against New Zealand in Chicago.
Crowley v Prendergast for All Blacks
It is a game which takes place almost exactly nine years after their last clash in the American city, which saw the Irishmen secure their first-ever triumph over the All Blacks.
And Crowley is now surely the favourite to be in the key decision-making role for the encounter after he starred on Saturday.
“He (Crowley) talks about the plan and sticking to the plan, there’s a clear focus on getting other players on board with what he’s doing. There were moments of brilliance in this game from Jack,” ex-Ireland and Leinster fly-half Ian Madigan told Premier Sports.
“Leinster thought they had Munster trapped, he finds a way to get out and drops it onto his left foot and relieves pressure for his team – that’s what he was able to do.
“His penalty was so crucial. They had 10 minutes of intense pressure, managed to get into the Leinster half, win a penalty and he goes and kicks it.”
Madigan was joined on the panel by one of Munster’s favourite sons, Simon Zebo, who revelled in Crowley’s performance against their arch-rivals.
There were so many impressive moments from the 25-year-old as the playmaker outshone Prendergast to send a message to Ireland boss Andy Farrell.
‘Cut above the rest’
“That screams class. He was doing left foot, right foot all day, it was no issue to him – he’s ambidextrous that fella. He was just world class out there, a cut above the rest,” Zebo said.
“It’s not just his run threat with the ball or his ability to sidestep oncoming defenders, now it’s proper game-management and it’s gone through the roof.
“He’s picking corners, he’s playing conditions, he’s becoming a world class 10. If he keeps going on this trajectory, he has to be number one.”
Should Crowley indeed get that role for the All Blacks clash, Madigan believes that it will be testament to the hard work he put in prior to the 2025/26 campaign starting.
“When you don’t take your summer holidays and you train through it when your friends are off sunning themselves, it’s worth it for a night like that and full credit to him, he deserves every bit of it,” he added.
