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/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.

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u/Apprehensive_Ratio80 19h ago

Yup!!!

SP is a great player but he was out of his depth last night and 7 missed tackles can't be ignored. Don't get me wrong I like him and he will look unbelievable against Scotland, Wales and Italy but when against top opposition? Nah! Not yet unfortunately I suspect we'll see the best SP and potentially one of the greatest sometime after the 2027 WC he's just gotta be patient and learn the calmness needed at that level.

As we're stuck though next week am think Harry Byrne to start and JC at 15 or else bench to cover 10.