Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Ronan O'Gara weighs in on Jack Crowley selection controversy

Jack Crowley during Munster rugby squad training at University of Limerick in Limerick. (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara believes Jack Crowley might actually benefit from missing Munster’s recent United Rugby Championship defeat to Leinster.

ADVERTISEMENT

Crowley’s absence in the interprovincial derby on December 27th in Thomond certainly raised eyebrows and it’s been a talking point since.

The decision to rest the 24-year-old came down to player management protocols agreed with the Irish Rugby Football Union. Crowley was held back to ensure his availability for upcoming Champions Cup matches against Saracens and Northampton Saints.

Video Spacer

Stormers boss John Dobson on his team’s win over Lions – The good old days

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Stormers boss John Dobson on his team’s win over Lions – The good old days

      Critics believe it deprived fans of a much-anticipated head-to-head with Leinster’s Sam Prendergast. Many had viewed the game as an ideal platform for the two fly-halves to showcase their credentials with the Six Nations around the corner.

      Leinster secured a convincing 28-7 victory in Crowley’s absence, with Prendergast putting in a man-of-the-match display.

      Speaking on Off The Ball, O’Gara suggested that the decision could even work to Crowley’s advantage: “With the way the game went, and the performance went, it was probably a good one for Jack to miss.

      “I can only speak if it was me as the player when I have had that situation. I think he probably needs to refine and go back to what he knows works for himself,” said O’Gara of Crowley’s middling form of late.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “I wouldn’t have any questions over his temperament, I think he’s very, very strong in that department. He’s not in the best of form and then he doesn’t play the key game,” said O’Gara, who has attempted to lure Crowley to La Rochelle in the past.

      “Is it the key game for him? Probably not in the bigger picture of things, but it’s still a big game. I would assume that Jack [Crowley] is absolutely itching to put in a big performance.”

      Crowley now has a chance to stake his claim in Europe. The fly-half has struggled for form since the Autumn Nations Series, where he appeared to lose his starting position to Prendergast, but a strong showing in the Champions Cup could help turn the tide in his favour ahead of the Six Nations.

      Former Ireland international Gordon D’Arcy also weighed in on the issue earlier in the week, calling for a review of the IRFU’s player management system. Writing in the Irish Times, D’Arcy suggested that exceptions could be made in cases like Crowley’s, where key provincial matches align with national selection battles.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      ‘The URC is doing everything right to promote the best matches and the Irish player management system is envied around the world. However, it was designed 20 years ago, when I was playing, and hasn’t evolved much since then.’ D’Arcy wrote. “No doubt, the festive fixtures still have great energy and are arguably becoming more important than some of the Champions Cup fixtures. Because of that, we deserve to see the best players like Crowley playing.”

      Related

       


      To be first in line for Rugby World Cup 2027 Australia tickets, register your interest here 

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

      Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

      New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

      Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

      The Rise of Kenya | The Report

      New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

      The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      E
      Elizabeth M Joshua 1 hour ago
      What Newcastle 'can’t legislate for' as they face fellow basement dwellers

      ## A Remarkable Recovery

      I'm Elizabeth Joshua from Mississippi, and my journey to recovering my stolen USDT coins was nothing short of miraculous. It began with a devastating loss of $267,400 to a cunning scammer. The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming, and I thought my money was gone forever. Website: Brunoequickhack.COM

      However, my luck changed when I stumbled upon Brunoe Quick Hack's services online. Their reputation for being reliable and efficient in recovering stolen cryptocurrency caught my attention. I decided to take a chance and reached out to them.

      To my surprise, Brunoe Quick Hack's team was professional, responsive, and transparent throughout the entire process. They worked tirelessly to track down the scammer and recover my stolen USDT coins. Their expertise and dedication were truly impressive.

      In a remarkable turn of events, Brunoe Quick Hack successfully recovered my stolen funds. I was overjoyed and relieved to see the money safely returned to my account. WhatsApp: +1705-784-(2635)

      My experience with Brunoe Quick Hack has been nothing short of exceptional. Their service is top-notch, and I highly recommend them to anyone who has fallen victim to cryptocurrency scams. If you're looking for a reliable and efficient solution to recover your stolen funds, look no further than Brunoe Quick Hack.

      ## A Testimonial to Excellence

      I'm thrilled to refer Brunoe Quick Hack's services to the globe. Their professionalism, expertise, and commitment to customer satisfaction are truly remarkable. If you need help recovering stolen cryptocurrency, don't hesitate to reach out to Brunoe Quick Hack. They are the real deal. Email: BrunoequickhackATgmail.com

      0 Go to comments
      d
      dimitrirassam299 1 hour ago
      Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

      For months, I had been diving deep into the world of cryptocurrency, excited by the opportunities and promises of financial freedom. Like many others, I had heard of people making life changing gains overnight, and I wanted my share of the success. Unfortunately, in my eagerness, I fell victim to a well disguised scam that drained my Ethereum ETH holdings. It started when I stumbled upon an investment platform that seemed too good to be true but in my greed and hope, I ignored the warning signs. The website had polished testimonials, a smooth interface, and a community that appeared legitimate. I transferred a significant amount of Ethereum, expecting high returns in a matter of weeks. Days turned into weeks, then months, and soon  I realized I had been scammed,I was devastated. That money was not just a financial asset; it was my hard earned savings, my dreams of financial security. I reached out to the so-called support team of the platform, but my emails went unanswered, and the website eventually vanished. I was left with nothing but regret.Just when I was about to give up, a friend told me about Washington Recovery Pro a specialized asset recovery service that had helped victims like me retrieve lost funds from fraudulent schemes. Skeptical but desperate, I decided to reach out. Their response was swift and professional. They assured me that while many scams are sophisticated, their team had the expertise to trace and recover stolen digital asset one day, I woke up to an email notification that your funds had been successfully recovered. I logged into my crypto wallet, and there it was my ETH, safely returned. I could hardly believe it.For anyone who has lost money in crypto scams, I say that there is still hope. Washington Recovery Pro proved that with the right team, justice can prevail.their handles.

      WhatsApp-‪  +1 (903) 249‑8633‬

      4 Go to comments
      TRENDING
      TRENDING Sale Sharks refuse to give up on new stadium dream Sale Sharks refuse to give up on new stadium dream
      Search