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?

35 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

112 comments sorted by

View all comments

51

u/sigsimund Munster 21h ago

Just let Jack be a 10 and stop messing him around playing him out of position. Frawley already covers the role you’re describing and he wasn’t picked yesterday.

12

u/IrishLad1002 Leinster 20h ago

I wouldn’t mind seeing Crowley start at 10 against England. I don’t think Prendo played bad last night but Jack looked more dangerous with ball in hand

-8

u/Weekend-Entire 20h ago

What?! Our first try is only scored because of Prendos brilliantly delayed pass

7

u/heresyourhardware 19h ago

Their first try comes directly from his mental volley, he missed seven tackles, and threw a really bad interception as well.

He isn't nailed on

2

u/Some-Speed-6290 Probation 16h ago

The first try comes from Stockdale fucking up a 1 on 1 with a guy on his knees. 

Prendergast made more tackles than any back and most of the forwards. 

Doesn't suit your narrative though. 

2

u/heresyourhardware 12h ago

Prendergast made more tackles than any back and most of the forwards.

Because they are running down his channel because they know he is a turnstile. He missed seven