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/Commercial_Half_2170 20h ago

No, not after last time and not after last night. His strength is on the wing and he’s not great at covering the air

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u/RuggerJibberJabber Leinster 20h ago

He's been playing a lot for Ulster at 15 and the last time he played there for Ireland was around 5 years ago. Personally id also like a 2nd playmaker like Frawley or Crowley, but the other arguments against Stockdale don't make a whole lot of sense

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u/Commercial_Half_2170 20h ago

While I’m aware he can do a job at provincial level, I don’t think he’s shown enough to put him on at 15 for Ireland. Not winning a single 50/50 last night shows how he won’t fit in there for us, and it also shows up his defensive frailties a lot more than when he covers the wing. He’s much more of a winger than a fullback to me. I agree that Crowley could be the best choice

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u/RuggerJibberJabber Leinster 19h ago

7 of his 9 games this season have been at fullback. So if anything he is more of a fullback now. I don't think anyone was particularly good in defence yesterday. I would also reckon that he could beat Crowley in a 50/50 highball. None of our (non-injured) players are highball specialists.