The World Cup clock is ticking. Can Harry Byrne force his way into Ireland 10 jersey?

As the debate rages around Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast, Harry Byrne’s resurgence is quietly turning Ireland’s out-half conversation from a two-horse race into something far more complicated.

Harry Byrne's passing can be sublime and a strong kicking game from hand is paired with consistency off the tee. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Teams are either brilliant or brutal. Same for players and coaches. Same for referees and their decisions. Same for entire competitions and seasons. You stand either in Column A or Column B. Doesn’t matter which, just pick one.

It shouldn’t be this way. Sport is layered. It’s laced with millions of component parts, each of which can propel a perception, game or a career in a wildly different direction, but modern life tends to squeeze nuance and favour a dumbed-down simplicity.