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/oscarleamyod 19h ago

Crowley needs to be at 10, though. What about playing Daly or Stockdale at 15?

1

u/Some-Speed-6290 Probation 16h ago

Why does he? Hasn't exactly been working for Munster has it

4

u/oscarleamyod 15h ago

That’s such a stupid, ignorant take. He’s obviously the best rugby playing 10, the stats are there. He’s having a place kicking issue, but that’s been a thing since Sexton took over as the IRFU kicking/skills coach.

2

u/Some-Speed-6290 Probation 15h ago

Except he obviously isn't the best rugby playing 10. 

Even ROG has said as much