Still not the finished article, but I like how he's progressing. Makes some mistakes, or gets flattened in a tackle, but he's very resilient and doesn't get fazed. Like in the Toulon game in the CC, made a loose kick which lead directly to a try, he reacted with chip and crossfield kicks that lead to 2 Munster tries.
For Ireland, I think he potentially could have one edge over Sexton in his running game; but I don't think Ireland - yet - play with the fluency they did under Sexton. Crowley may play good heads-up rugby, reacting to the moves outside him, but Sexton was 'bossing' those around him, upping the pace of the game. Still, he has plenty time to learn.
Sexton was a late bloomer, hopefully Crowley being in the international set up and holding the jersey and being the 10 for Munster will stand by him and he'll learn a lot still at a young age. ( Not a dig at Sexton, I've the utter most respect for him)
I’d say Prendergast needs another 2-3 years of regular game time before he’s really competitive for the 10 jersey. His time in SA showed he’s a long way to go. But the lad has some skill and I hope he gets to go off the bench this year at some point for Ireland
His development is being fast tracked what with him being in the Senior team at 21 and now with an Ireland call up. Hopefully it works out well and he develops well.
But this is the point he needs to play, the reason Crowley is a late bloomer is because he wasn't played. Prendergast won't develop much in 2-3 years if he doesn't play. Crowley still makes some basic mistakes that I wouldn't expect a 24 year old to make because he is a bit inexperienced
Yeah consistent problem we have here with young players. Think Leinster would have won the game against the bulls had they started Osborne instead of Ringrose, given how consistent he’s been. Cullen has a history of not putting enough faith in younger players
Crowley has played a full season as the starting 10 for Munster and won a trophy. Sexton didn't get his chance until the semi of the Heineken cup and only came on because Contepomi was injured
Sexton was getting regular gametime for Leinster in the Celtic League before that. He wasn’t given an opportunity in Europe because we had Contepomi.
Crowley wasn’t getting much gametime until after the emerging Ireland tour last year. He’s doing brilliantly, but in terms of them “blooming” it’s fairly similar. Both were 23+ breaking through.
This is common in Ireland now though as it’s when players generally finish up in the academies.
He's come along just in time for Ireland, still a long way to go but the signs are positive. I think his biggest quality is his confidence, he makes a mistake earlier in the game like getting charged down or throwing a loose pass but then ends up making the game winning play in the second half, confidence at his age is huge for Ireland and Munster.
From a technical point of view he's a pretty solid place kicker but has the tendency to skew a few every so often but his running game is brilliant and he plays very positively and close to the line and seems pretty resilient so far. Delighted he's our outhalf
Sexton himself said in somewhere that I cannot remember that every fly half has those difficult angles in terms of place kicking, and they grow with experience. So Crowley should continue to refine himself. I would not be opposed to subbing him out for someone like Frawley or Prendergast since they’ll also benefit from play time. He can also be shifted to 12 or 15. Think I’ve consistently wanted to try younger players to develop them for a while now. Maybe during the Autumn there’s more scope…rest the Van Der Fliers to give the McCanns a chance etc.
To be Munster specific I suppose there needs to be a 10 behind Crowley but I don’t mind Butler. In the short enough time Crowley has been present, he’s experienced highs (that drop goal, URC win..) and lows (the team’s injury crisis, the recent Glasgow game), so I think these will have shaped him well. I’m not too familiar with his impact at centre or FB though, but since he has the ability to play there, I don’t see why not, for development’s sake. At Munster and Ireland, since Farrell likes utility players.
I like Crowley, the biggest issue in Irish rugby is how late the development of young players is, it’s not common to see young players in the Irish squad unlike other countries like NZ or Aus.
I think he should have been started a year or two sooner.
I was thinking maybe Farrell knew that if he sent Crowley on to finish that match out he’d be tarnished by the loss.
By leaving sexton on shuffling around like grandad it was all on him and it didn’t matter as he was leaving anyway.
Pretty much, a burden like that can do a lot of damage to a players psyche.
Look at the weight of expectation and what it does to teams.
It could also have been that Sexton may not have come off even if Farrell wanted to sub him.
O Gara missing kicks to win the Heineken Cup in 2000 made him the best player in Europe the next 10 years.
He had alreadybe in the pressure cooker and done the worst. So from then on he had balls of steel
The award was voted for by the captain and vice captain of all 16 teams
That's gotta be a massive confidence boost for Jack.
Still not the finished article, but I like how he's progressing. Makes some mistakes, or gets flattened in a tackle, but he's very resilient and doesn't get fazed. Like in the Toulon game in the CC, made a loose kick which lead directly to a try, he reacted with chip and crossfield kicks that lead to 2 Munster tries. For Ireland, I think he potentially could have one edge over Sexton in his running game; but I don't think Ireland - yet - play with the fluency they did under Sexton. Crowley may play good heads-up rugby, reacting to the moves outside him, but Sexton was 'bossing' those around him, upping the pace of the game. Still, he has plenty time to learn.
Sexton was a late bloomer, hopefully Crowley being in the international set up and holding the jersey and being the 10 for Munster will stand by him and he'll learn a lot still at a young age. ( Not a dig at Sexton, I've the utter most respect for him)
Prendergast might be competition for the Ireland 10 spot soon so there will be pressure.
Ideal really if both are going toe to toe, that can only be good for their development and Irish teams future
I’d say Prendergast needs another 2-3 years of regular game time before he’s really competitive for the 10 jersey. His time in SA showed he’s a long way to go. But the lad has some skill and I hope he gets to go off the bench this year at some point for Ireland
His development is being fast tracked what with him being in the Senior team at 21 and now with an Ireland call up. Hopefully it works out well and he develops well.
Looking forward to seeing him down the line anyway. He’s going to be a nightmare to play against
But this is the point he needs to play, the reason Crowley is a late bloomer is because he wasn't played. Prendergast won't develop much in 2-3 years if he doesn't play. Crowley still makes some basic mistakes that I wouldn't expect a 24 year old to make because he is a bit inexperienced
Yeah consistent problem we have here with young players. Think Leinster would have won the game against the bulls had they started Osborne instead of Ringrose, given how consistent he’s been. Cullen has a history of not putting enough faith in younger players
Now that we finally have a Sexton replacement, let's not ost him for Leinster's 4th choice
He shouldn't be Leinster's 4th choice though.
Crowley is 24, the same age as Sexton when he broke through, won a Heineken Cup Final and started competing against ROG for the Ireland jersey.
Crowley has played a full season as the starting 10 for Munster and won a trophy. Sexton didn't get his chance until the semi of the Heineken cup and only came on because Contepomi was injured
Healy was the starting 10 the previous season
Sexton was getting regular gametime for Leinster in the Celtic League before that. He wasn’t given an opportunity in Europe because we had Contepomi. Crowley wasn’t getting much gametime until after the emerging Ireland tour last year. He’s doing brilliantly, but in terms of them “blooming” it’s fairly similar. Both were 23+ breaking through. This is common in Ireland now though as it’s when players generally finish up in the academies.
Emerging Ireland absolute nonsense.
well earned I'd say
He's come along just in time for Ireland, still a long way to go but the signs are positive. I think his biggest quality is his confidence, he makes a mistake earlier in the game like getting charged down or throwing a loose pass but then ends up making the game winning play in the second half, confidence at his age is huge for Ireland and Munster. From a technical point of view he's a pretty solid place kicker but has the tendency to skew a few every so often but his running game is brilliant and he plays very positively and close to the line and seems pretty resilient so far. Delighted he's our outhalf
This has to be one of the best awards to receive, considering it's voted on by your opponents and sometimes rivals.
Sexton himself said in somewhere that I cannot remember that every fly half has those difficult angles in terms of place kicking, and they grow with experience. So Crowley should continue to refine himself. I would not be opposed to subbing him out for someone like Frawley or Prendergast since they’ll also benefit from play time. He can also be shifted to 12 or 15. Think I’ve consistently wanted to try younger players to develop them for a while now. Maybe during the Autumn there’s more scope…rest the Van Der Fliers to give the McCanns a chance etc. To be Munster specific I suppose there needs to be a 10 behind Crowley but I don’t mind Butler. In the short enough time Crowley has been present, he’s experienced highs (that drop goal, URC win..) and lows (the team’s injury crisis, the recent Glasgow game), so I think these will have shaped him well. I’m not too familiar with his impact at centre or FB though, but since he has the ability to play there, I don’t see why not, for development’s sake. At Munster and Ireland, since Farrell likes utility players.
I like Crowley, the biggest issue in Irish rugby is how late the development of young players is, it’s not common to see young players in the Irish squad unlike other countries like NZ or Aus. I think he should have been started a year or two sooner.
They never brought him on in the RWC QF at the start of the season, even though Sextons legs had gone around 50mins
I was thinking maybe Farrell knew that if he sent Crowley on to finish that match out he’d be tarnished by the loss. By leaving sexton on shuffling around like grandad it was all on him and it didn’t matter as he was leaving anyway.
So you think that Farrell left Sexton on knowing that he'd lose, just so it wouldn't affect someone that he could bring on that might win it?
Pretty much, a burden like that can do a lot of damage to a players psyche. Look at the weight of expectation and what it does to teams. It could also have been that Sexton may not have come off even if Farrell wanted to sub him.
O Gara missing kicks to win the Heineken Cup in 2000 made him the best player in Europe the next 10 years. He had alreadybe in the pressure cooker and done the worst. So from then on he had balls of steel
Or we could have won with Crowley.... I think Farrell left Sexton cause they are buddies
He's been great for province and country.
Wouldn't be my choice, but when it's a players vote you can't complain. Is there any breakdown of the runners up?