O'Mahony sure of student of the game Crowley's international standards

'Himself and Craig (Casey), I don’t know what they’d be doing but they’d be at the HPC for hours on end, be it recovering, on laptops, doing extras in the gym. They’re just unbelievable professionals,' O'Mahony said.

CORK, LIKE: Peter O'Mahony and Jack Crowley. Pic: Dan Sheridan, Inpho

Peter O’Mahony cannot remember shaking a 12-year-old Jack Crowley’s hand but the Ireland captain has learned an awful lot since about the young fly-half and a dozen years on he is backing him to put in a huge performance against France tonight.

The first meeting between the future Munster and Ireland team-mates came at a Bandon Rugby Club awards presentation when O’Mahony and provincial teammates Simon Zebo and Scott Deasy dished out the awards and the future Test number 10 (and Cork Constitution clubmate) was among the recipients.

This evening at Stade Velodrome, Crowley, 24, will step into the cauldron of a Six Nations game in France as the successor to Johnny Sexton and his captain has total faith in his ability to deliver the required performance for such an occasion.

“Yeah, I don’t remember back that far at the time but I remember him playing for Con and getting reports he was the real deal,” O’Mahony said following his first captain’s run press conference since succeeding Sexton as national team skipper.

“Fast forward a few years and here we are. He’s obviously grown and learned a huge amount. What a way to start off your career, under Johnny, and others as well, under guys like Joey (Carbery) and Ross (Byrne), like loads of guys I’m sure he’s learned a huge amount from.

“An unbelievable man to learn the game, watch the game. Himself and Craig (Casey), I don’t know what they’d be doing but they’d be at the HPC for hours on end, be it recovering, on laptops, doing extras in the gym. They’re just unbelievable professionals.

“He had a bit to learn and he’s done that and he’s plenty to go as well but he knows that better than anyone and that’s a good sign of a professional. I’m delighted for him and I’m sure he’ll put in a huge performance for us tomorrow as well.

“It’s a big occasion and we need big players and he’s certainly one of them.” Another is lock Joe McCarthy, the 22-year-old set to make his Six Nations debut in his sixth Ireland appearance following a first cap against Australia in November 2022, a week after Crowley’s against Fiji.

The pair are two of four new faces from the side which started last time out in the World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand on October 14 with Calvin Nash on the right wing and Robbie Henshaw in at outside centre to replace injured duo Mack Hansen and Garry Ringrose.

O’Mahony has been impressed by McCarthy’s energy and work ethic.

"Obviously the performances that you've seen is the energy he's bringing. Big, athletic, what a man to do extras, to learn.

"He's been in a bit now and you can see every camp he's been to you can see he's picking stuff up and he's learning, he's a young man eager to learn and perform and play well and impress and that's exactly what he's done.

"Destructive would be a word I'd use for him but loves the game, is a great man to have around, is great craic and has really added to the squad in more ways than just rugby.”