A little TLC all part of the balancing act as Easterby assures Crowley of his role

The Munster out-half has had to bide his time to regain the No.10 jersey but the interim Ireland coach insists Crowley is appreciated 

BACK IN GREEN: Jack Crowley during an Ireland Rugby captain's run at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

It may be anathema to old-school rugby heads but today’s professional players need to be loved. Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby has done his best to understand the dynamics at play in handling the selection debate surrounding his two gifted fly-halves.

Jack Crowley will start against Italy in Rome on Saturday as Ireland aim to finish their Guinness Six Nations by restoring pride bruised by a French mauling seven days earlier. The Munster star is back in the number 10 jersey for the first time in seven Tests having appeared to be in for a lengthy occupation of his nation’s most-discussed position after being handed the reins in all nine of the Tests which followed Johnny Sexton’s retirement after the 2023 World Cup.