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Ciaran Frawley's career now hanging 'in the balance'
By Ian Cameron
Former Ireland winger Luke Fitzgerald says that he thinks Ireland utility Ciaran Frawley needs to ‘move on’ if he isn’t selected as a starting flyhalf at Leinster.
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The 26-year-old Leinsterman was the star of the second Test against South Africa after he kicked two drop-goals to secure a 25-24 win for Ireland over the Springboks in Durban on the weekend.
Many in Irish rugby are now questioning why Frawley is still being played off the bench for both Leinster and Ireland, given his obvious talents and need for game time at stand-off.
“I look at the time he [Frawley] was on the pitch in its totality… my first thought was ‘God, that game management was pretty poor’,” Fitzgerald told The Left Wing podcast. “The key kick, he doesn’t execute the crossfield kick. He’s not strong enough to say take the penalty. They go to the corner and then end up taking the drop goal with less time on the clock.
“There’s all these things that happen. He plays off the scrum and does the grubber, that’s not a good percentage play. I guarantee every Irish supporter is having the Caelan Doris moment and going: ‘That’s madness’. My first reaction was ‘No! You gobshite.’ That was the first reaction of Doris and I guarantee you that was the reaction of pretty much everyone on the pitch bar James Lowe who chases it like it was Ireland’s last chance.
“The other part of me, which I think is more correct, is that a lot of those decisions are probably because he hasn’t been given the opportunity to flourish on a weekly basis in his best position for Leinster. And that’s why you can’t treat those decisions too harshly.
“Look at it from a positive skew: The guy is trying things and he’s backing himself in the pressure moments. He believes in himself in the big moments. I think if he is given more chances and more opportunity, he can flourish in that position.
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“Now for a variety of reasons [he hasn’t been selected]. Some injury troubles didn’t allow him to be selected at different points when he was looking good.
“He did turn the game for Leinster [against Toulouse in the Champions Cup final] towards the end and looked pretty good. He’s quite clearly their best option at ten. If they’re not going to select him there… if this tour didn’t confirm for him that this is his best position and pretty much the only position he can play great rugby at, at international level, given his physical capabilities.
“That’s a harsh reality for people to swallow. You need to be a spectacular athlete in each position and very specialist. Ten is only place he can be a great international rugby player in my opinion. He showed that on the weekend, he needs to be playing ten, week in, week out. [He] Can not have a bit part anymore.
“The Leinster system of having four guys there that are very good, doesn’t allow anyone to be great. That’s their big issue.
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“They need to sort their minds out about what they are going to do and they need to move one guy on I think. It’s very clear to me.
“Frawley needs to move on if they’re not going to pick him there. It’s never been clearer. His career is now in the balance.
“He’s never to be a great international player if he doesn’t play ten week in, week out.
“Crowley is miles ahead in the pecking order, even if they did take him off for the key part of the game at the end. He’s miles ahead, but Frawley could close the gap.”