WHATEVER happens on Saturday against Scotland, this has been an excellent Six Nations for Ireland and their enlightened head coach Andy Farrell.
Maybe Ireland are ‘there for the taking’ as suggested, unwisely, by Scotland winger Darcy Graham but, given the broader progress made over the last few weeks, defeat by Gregor Townsend’s talented side is not the end of the world — far from it.
There has been a tendency with rugby in this country to get entrenched in the immediate rather than take a step back for overview purposes.
In-depth breakdowns of nervy wins over Italy and Wales are largely a waste of time because the game could have changed hugely again by the time the World Cup rolls around in the autumn of next year.
Too easy: Ireland were comfortable winners over an England side that have lost their way
Just ask England. A few weeks ago, Steve Borthwick’s side were being widely tipped as tournament winners on the back of an impressive November window and a run of victories where they seemed entirely in control of their own destiny.
Now, the very fabric of rugby in England appears to have been ripped asunder with Borthwick wandering about in a daze like the donkey in that ‘Father Ted’ scene when Dougal is allowed to say mass — all burnt-out cars and broken dreams.
Because what worked for England a few months ago — with mind-numbing regularity — has been blown out of the water by a collective desire to keep the ball alive in what has been the most entertaining Six Nations in living memory.
So, rather than pore over the stats and graphs relating to Ireland’s tactical approach, the focus should all be on the jigsaw pieces Farrell is putting in place for down the road.
And, on that basis, he has done superbly — far exceeding expectations from a coach who, up until this tournament, had been defined by his pivoting towards the tried and trusted.
Injuries, although never welcome, have undoubtedly helped but should not take away from the credit Farrell deserves for putting his long-term vision into action.
Sample size: Farrell has done brilliantly given chances to players like Robert Baloucoune
Sampling well over 30 players can only strengthen his hand for the future and when you go through the names of those who have stepped up and delivered — Osbourne, Baloucoune, O’Brien, Stockdale, Doak, O’Toole, Milne, Loughman, Stewart, Edogbo, Cian Prendergast, Timoney, Izuchukwu — there is no way to look upon this tournament through anything other that a positive prism, regardless of how the final round pans out.
Except for one area… out-half. Cue sound of scratching record…
The situation at 10 has not worked itself out. First it was Sam Prendergast (right), then it was Jack Crowley, and neither has nailed it down, to the point where four games into the Six Nations and 13 games from the World Cup, we are none the wiser as to who should steer the ship.
Needs must: Gibson-Park has taken on more of a playmaking role due to uncertainty at No10
Jamison Gibson-Park has taken on more playmaking responsibility at scrum-half but that model is better suited to France than Ireland, where the national team has always been at its most effective with a dominant presence at 10.
The one upside to the uncertainty is that it has taken the sting out of the toxic online debate that has been swirling around Crowley (Munster) and Prendergast (Leinster) along provincial lines, as neither side can justify vicious attacks on the other with the situation in such flux.
Small mercies.
But Farrell needs clarity now and, to our mind, there is a way out of this mess.
Johnny Sexton left massive boots to fill and, when he retired after the 2023 World Cup, Crowley stepped into those boots and did extremely well.
Big shoes to fill: Crowley did superbly for Ireland when Sexton retired and he was the go-to 10
Knowing he was the designated successor (at that time) to such an iconic figure as Sexton, seemed to imbue the Corkman with tremendous confidence and he exerted impressive authority steering Ireland to the 2024 Six Nations title.
Things started to unravel for Crowley when, not helped by disruption in his day job with Munster, his unconvincing opening displays in the autumn of 2024 saw Prendergast parachuted in to the No10 jersey ahead of him.
That process could have been handled better and Crowley’s confidence clearly took a serious dunt to the point where he has not looked the same player since in a green jersey.
Prendergast was largely the go-to choice up until the third round of this year’s Six Nations and now his confidence is also in the wringer since Crowley’s reinstatement as starter — while both have undoubtedly been affected psychologically by those horrendous and sustained social media attacks.
So, where are we now with the out-half situation?
Well, there is a clear solution — let Crowley know he will be the frontline starter from here to the World Cup because, based on all the evidence, he is the best candidate.
Between Tyler Bleyendaal, Ian Keatley, JJ Hanrahan and various others, Munster have been searching for a 10 to come close to replicating what Ronan O’Gara did since the great man retired in 2013 and Crowley has been by far the closest.
We saw O’Gara-esque leadership in the way he faced down the Sharks when they tried to target him in that memorable penalty shootout last year, and in the way he masterfully drove Munster to victory against Leinster in Croke Park earlier this season.
Impact: Sam Prendergast’s skills could be a game-changer coming off the bench for Ireland
What Crowley needs now is confidence. He needs to feel the love again — like he did in the 2024 Six Nations. Give him back his mojo, tell him he is the man, and he will respond.
But that does not mean Prendergast is not part of the solution. He remains a hugely talented youngster who can play a pivotal role in an extended World Cup campaign.
He just needs to be protected. Prendergast’s defensive game is not up to the pressures of a frontline starting role —he will be ruthlessly targeted — and there is not enough time to fix it.
However, coming off the bench to try to mix things up with his range of passing and kicking skills would be an ideal role for Prendergast — he has instinctive skills that could make all the difference in a tight knockout match.
After that, it is a case of looking at Harry Byrne and Ciaran Frawley and assessing who offers the most sweeping up behind.
Confidence trick: If Crowley feels trhe love from Ireland, his game will grow as a result
Ireland may not have access to a Sexton or O’Gara but they do have talent at 10, what they need now is clarity.
Crowley to start, Prendergast off the bench with Frawley and Byrne offering back-up.
Show Crowley the love and see what happens.