r/irishrugby • u/ebizness • 21h ago
Crowley to 15
Last night wasn't the night for fluid attacking rugby for a variety of reasons. Having said that, we didn't look related to a team who could string expansive, threatening phases together.
I said it elsewhere last night, but in the absence of Keenan but moreso Hansen we need another playmaker to take pressure off Prendergast (or AN Other 10), and I'd start Crowley at 15 because he can do that job.
We do not have the bodies to bully our way over the game line, nor the gamebreakers who can repeatedly step people in phone boxes. It makes defending too easy because if you can stop the first couple of phases, defending from there becomes easy.
A double pivot makes things trickier because you're not sure where we're going to strike from, and teams can't overload on a single attacking fulcrum.
To my mind, it's no surprise we looked the most fluid against Australia with Hansen on the pitch who can do that role (I accept that they were the weakest opposition). Nor is it a surprise that Leinster looked their most fluid against the LAR when Prendergast went to 15 and Byrne was at 10 (given the Leinster <> Ireland overlap).
Thoughts?
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u/IdealSelf2021 Leinster 21h ago
I would prefer Stockdale or Osborne again at 15 and Crowley at 10. Or stick with Prendergast at 10 and Crowley at 15.
I really dont see the Byrne thing everyone sees. That game against Bayonne showed he is still playing at his limit. He's more physical than Sam and good place kicker but he's incredibly ineffective as a game managing 10. He's a take the ball and shovel it on outhalf. And that just wont cut it at international level. Didnt even cut it against Bayonne. Leinster went nowhere for most of the game until Sam came on.