Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Going 6-2 really put Crowley, and the team overall, in a **** spot. He never got a chance to come at 10 to try and have an impact. I would've liked to have seen him given a chance to take the game by scruff and show he what he could do.

Sam's defence

What a whinge fest! Crowley has a few more caps under his belt, came on and played very well and is still very much part of the picture for Ireland. As for Prendergast, if he is paying attention to social media he needs his head examined. Like any pro athlete not allowing social media bs intrude is part of your responsibility and there are plenty of lads around the camp to let him know that along with sports psychologists and general team policies. He is playing for his country ffs, that comes with a lot of pressure and he is seemingly well up for it. If Crowley bails over this then good riddance. But everything I hear in media about his attitude tells me he is a balls to the wall competitor and understands what he signed up for. I hope he shoots the lights out for Munster and Im looking forward to interpros.

Munster fans need to stop being so precious about Crowley, its embarrassing

Who is embarrassed by it, are you? Are you also embarrassed how the Leinster fans are reacting to any bit of criticism of Sam, they're reaction to posts on match threads must leave you scarlet.

Yeah, its a bit embarrassing when people can't understand reasonable criticism of players, no matter who they are.

I'm absolutely delighted they were optimising team performance, if they weren't I could well be heading to Rome to a dead rubber.

Well, as it turns out they weren't but they thought they were.

The IRFU would be mad to let Crowley go (obviously they can't match the rumoured Leicester salary) I know Farrell & Co put their eggs in one basket with Sam but for Humpreys to follow suit would be a bit mad, especially as it seems provinces aren't allowed sign a NIQ outhalf so his view must be that we need more than Sam for the foreseeable future

Honest insightful thoughts from Brian O’Driscoll on the obsessed subject of 10 in Off the Ball. Balanced journalism a rare on this one

https://x.com/offtheball/status/1899573548995453204?s=46&t=-2Z2jGr2LnMXZ48GxvT46w

Rumour has it Crowley was offered 600k to move to Leicester. Irish contracts started at 400k a few years ago if I'm not mistaken. Not sure what they start at now but I assume they're a little higher

The 6N was sold to us as an opportunity to train 2 out halves but the coaches have only given one of them any real chance

Eh no - Pollard bang average? He's a total test beast.

If you judge him on his short stint in Leicester then what about being top points scorer in the WC in 2019 etc etc…

We were told this Six Nations was about developing depth at 10, but in reality, it’s been the same old story, one guy gets all the meaningful minutes while the other is left twiddling his thumbs. Crowley has barely been given a proper shot, and when he has, it’s been in short, meaningless cameos or out of position. How’s that supposed to build depth? If the plan was genuinely to develop two out-halves, you’d expect a fair split in game time, or at least a real opportunity for both to prove themselves. Instead, one guy has been handed the keys, even when the attack has looked lifeless, while the other is left wondering what he did wrong.

If the Irish management don’t fancy Crowley that’s fine. That’s their choice. I think Pendergast should start against Italy as to not do so would be wrong. The Management have gone all in on him and should continue to back him now.

Crowley also has to make a decision, Farrell is not going anywhere, does he want to stick around as a back up or open a new chapter in his life.

it’s not the end of the world if he does move and any move should not be used to attack Crowley, prendergast or Farrell.

That’s my take.