Jack Crowley and the anatomy of a drop goal

Jack Crowley had practised kicking drop goals alongside starting fly-half Ben Healy at Aviva Stadium the day before the game against Leinster

FOLLOW-THROUGH: Jack Crowley during Munster kicking practice. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

As Jack Crowley sat back in the pocket and readied himself to kick Munster into Saturday’s BKT URC Grand Final, his mind momentarily spun back to a summer evening in Cork and a similar opportunity he failed to take.

It may seem an unusual thought to process in the white heat of a semi-final, two points down against your fiercest rivals, with time almost up and a season on the line, but that August night in 2019 and the game-winning drop goal he did not kick for Munster A would serve the 23-year-old and his province extremely well against Leinster at Aviva Stadium as he lined up his first attempt as a professional rugby player.