Jamison Gibson-Park: 'It's awesome for Irish rugby, we'll still see these guys duelling it out for years to come'

BATTLE FOR TEN: Sam Prendergast, Ciaran Frawley and Jack Crowley urged to push each other and grow together.

Do not be fooled into thinking Jack Crowley spent the last week sulking after losing the Ireland number 10 jersey to Sam Prendergast.

Andy Farrell has insisted the Munster fly-half has been the perfect team player since handing the reins to the 21-year-old for the final November Test against Australia on Saturday and his selection decision was rewarded by sterling performances from both in the 22-19 victory at Aviva Stadium.

The reaction, on social media at least, to Leinster prodigy Prendergast’s rise and the assumed ousting of Crowley after nine consecutive starts since the 2023 World Cup has been vitriolic in places following the former’s debut off the bench to replace the latter early in the second half against Argentina. A first start the following week against Fiji might have been expected as Ciaran Frawley was handed the bench role, but when Farrell opted for Prendergast to start against the Wallabies, many took it that this was the beginning of the end for the Corkman at the age of 24.

“Justice for Jack” read a sign in the crowd on Saturday, while the cheers that greeted his entrance alongside half-back partner Craig Casey on 65 minutes felt pointed.

He, Casey and outside back replacement Garry Ringrose injected fresh impetus to Ireland’s victory bid, with Crowley’s deft grubber kick into the left-hand corner forced full-back Tom Wright to run the ball into touch, it was the spark the home side needed, scoring from the ensuing lineout and drive.

A tough pill for Crowley to swallow?

“It’s not, honestly,” Farrell said. “I know you guys think so because you’re not in it. I appreciate that you feel that he is like that but Jack has just been himself within the squad. He gets it like, you know? People need a chance to try and kick on to show what they’ve got. He’s had that.

“So, when you guys feel like he’s been dropped, he’s not. And when you guys feel like he’s pissed off, he’s not. He’s a team player, he’s a team player and he gets the bigger picture himself and my conversations with the three fly-halves is that I wanted Sam to play unbelievably well, so that Jack responds and play unbelievably well, and so does ‘Frawls’. And everyone keeps growing together. It’s part of the squad.” 

Farrell’s man management skills have set him apart during his tenure as head coach and his coaxing of his three relatively inexperienced fly-halves as Ireland emerge into the post-Johnny Sexton era has the makings of a textbook case study and scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park is understandably a big fan.

"Hundred per cent, I'm loving playing with these guys full of youth and enthusiasm,” the starting number nine said. “It's awesome for Irish rugby, we'll still see these guys duelling it out for years to come.

"It's pretty crazy with the youth, but they take in their stride and it's impressive. I wish I was at that stage when I was at that age."

There was also a dispassionate review of the two 10s from Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt, whose Ireland tenure between 2013 and 2019 was dominated by Sexton’s presence. The New Zealander likes what has followed.

“I would still be good friends with Richie Murphy and he was talking about him two years ago as a real talent so it was no surprise to me,” Schmidt said of Prendergast.

“He’s got a great short kicking game but his long kicking game was exceptional tonight.

“A couple of times they got penalties and he put us deep in our own 22 and when that’s happening its difficult because there’s not a lot of oxygen there. I have seen him kick goals exceptional well and he obviously missed that first one which would have been something he would knock over easily.

“When that happens a young man he can be put off his game very easily but I didn’t notice it unfortunately. He still looked still on his game. Playing in the Ireland system you always have options inside and out and that takes a bit of the pressure off.

“I felt we did isolate him a few times tonight and put some pressure on him and he did look a little bit flustered which is unusual for him. He’s usually very calm. He’s got great potential.

“I’ve got to say, I would be a fan of Jack Crowley as well, he is a super player. And a very brave one, he is a very good defender with a good kicking game.”