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'We’ve seen it coming up against them in the URC': Ireland familiar with Boks
Jack Crowley believes Johnny Sexton’s remarkable longevity has blazed a trail for Ireland’s aspiring fly-halves rather than impeded their international opportunities.
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Captain Sexton has been his country’s first-choice number 10 for more than a decade and begun his Rugby World Cup swansong in record-breaking fashion.
The influential 38-year-old has already surpassed Ronan O’Gara as Ireland’s all-time leading points scorer and John Hayes as the nation’s oldest international since arriving in France as he heads towards retirement.
Crowley is among the pretenders to the throne and feels Sexton continues to show his positional rivals what is possible as opposed to obstructing the path to Test caps.
“I think he’s not blocked it but opened it up to show the possibilities,” said the 23-year-old, who is in line to provide back-up from the bench in Saturday’s Pool B showdown with South Africa.
“Even at 38, to show to youngsters his skills and the dedication he puts into his game, it can go a long way and he’s showing the youngsters in Ireland what’s possible if you apply yourself to your prep and put everything into the game.
“I think for every youngster around Ireland he’s really carving the way, particularly for young out-halves. He’s the fella that’s leading the way.”
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Crowley has leapfrogged Munster team-mate Joey Carbery in the pecking order at Test level to become one of Sexton’s World Cup understudies, alongside Ross Byrne.
He only made his international debut last autumn and has kicked 27 points across seven caps, including eight in Ireland’s tournament opener against Romania.
Crowley hopes to follow in the footsteps of Sexton and O’Gara but concedes he has plenty to do to be held in similar esteem.
“Look, they’re sporting greats for Ireland and for a reason because of the many years they put into the Irish jersey,” he said.
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“So, for me I’ve a long way to go to reach that level.
“But they’re great people to have around and I’m sure any youngster would be looking up and trying to aspire to be them.”
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
2
Draws
0
Wins
3
Average Points scored
16
22
First try wins
60%
Home team wins
80%
Ireland can secure progression to the World Cup quarter-finals with victory over the Springboks in Paris following bonus-point wins over Romania and Tonga.
Crowley is well aware of the dangers posed by the reigning world champions, having faced South Africa’s leading club sides in the United Rugby Championship.
He helped his province claim the URC title in May with a 19-14 Cape Town success over a Stormers team containing the likes of Damian Willemse, Manie Libbok, Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff.
“First of all getting the opportunity to play in those games and getting exposed to that type of situation is something every player wants to be able to grow,” he said.
“A world-class side like them, their front five is massive for scrum and maul, but the pace and the footwork that they have out wide and the passing and kicking ability, we’ve seen it coming up against them in the URC.
“You can see the quality they have across the back line in terms of individual skill. That’s going to be a challenge in one way and also it’s going to be a bonus for them.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Great piece Nick, plenty to chew on. Loved this ‘biases’ line from Geoff, shows he is a thinker - “If you asked me for a shortlist of coaches who appealed to my biases, he would be on it.” I think Schmidt is towing a similar line to Rennie in regards to OS players, he is publicly saying he prefers local talent, but almost certainly will be fighting to have the likes of skelton in the team. Interesting to hear the backroom on the rebels and what a cockup that is, just when you think RA admin has hit rock bottom it digs deeper. Other bit that caught my eye was his skills focus on things like passing from 7s at the base of the lineout, great little details. but also scary that a SR level 8 didn’t know how to operate within a lineout - telling!
20 Go to commentsThoroughly enjoyed this thanks Nick. ‘The lineout starts on the ground…’ wish I’d thought of that line when discussing Will’s place in the Wallabies.
20 Go to commentsShannon Frizell’s second year is optional is how I heard it. Given nothing has been confirmed yet it gets more and more likely he signs to return next year. Cant wait to see Finau doing more work on Internal players.
29 Go to commentsBlindside flankers should be hard hitting defenders, good lineout jumper with height, and a hard worker who hits and cleans rucks. If he can be a destructive ball carrier it’s a bonus but not a necessity. Samipeni Fineau and Cullen Grace are excellent at those core skills and my choice at blindside. Brad Shields is dismissed because he is 33 but not sure why that should be a consideration for this season. Shields too does these core roles well. Just don’t pick an 8 and shift him to 6 like the wingers on The Breakdown suggest, as if 6 and 8 are interchangeable. They are not. An 8 is first and foremost a dynamic ball carrier, not necessarily a destructive defender as a 6 should be. Devon Flanders and Akira Ioane are #8 s forced to play blindside because their teams have better options at 8 than them. Do not pick them at blindside
29 Go to commentsSaints obviously didn’t get the memo, or needed an ego boost?
1 Go to commentsReturning to the Chiefs would be another good change that could only put him into a better position to succeed in black
6 Go to commentsSimply outrageous and demonstrably false to say Finau’s tackle on Lynagh was “2 seconds late” In reality it was probably 0.5 seconds after he passed the ball. If you carry the ball at speed to within 5m of the defensive line you can expect to get tackled. Finau could have pulled out of it and not absolutely flattened him for sure, but there was going to be contact either way. He seems like a high risk selection at the moment, but there is no one else like him in NZ at the moment. His big tackles make the highlight reels but he is also a great athlete, very fast for such a big man, spent most of his days at lock so also very strong in the line out.
29 Go to commentsYes, Finau looks like the best option. Blackadder is not big enough for an international 6 - he should join the queue at 7. Frizzell had the power and heft and line-out height to play lock, so maybe that is where the ABs should be looking, not at a 7 who’s not big enough for 6, but at a lock who might have the agility to play 6, like Scott Barrett, or… Natai Ah Kuoi, who absolutely fits that bill, but seldom gets to play 6 because the Chiefs have so many loosies.
29 Go to commentsPaul Quinn was a National MP.
6 Go to commentsNo need to worry about losers’ mentality hysteria from Australia. Finau has all the attributes, I don't recall a high or no arms tackle from him, and his timing has been controlled very well since the round 3 Lynagh tackle. It's an easy decision for Razor, the only question is who should back him up from the bench. He can't be overworked like Squire was in his first full season.
29 Go to comments“Reds coach Les Kiss saying later: “I think every player has the right to feel safe.” Maybe Rugby is the wrong sport for people who want to feel safe..?
29 Go to commentsNot sure what the context was, but the highlights showed one scrum against Aussie where the baby Blacks were going backwards at a pace. The pack has been the issue since 2017, so they might be in for another reality check soon. This tournament should really have been two rounds, would have learned a lot more.
1 Go to commentsPeter Lakai has a ‘lot of size’? Since when? To Kirifi maybe. I think Laidlaw clearly saw he’s too small for 6 or 8, so plonked him at 7. Has potential to be Ardies understudy in black for 7.
6 Go to commentsDalton for skipper?
16 Go to commentsOh he's ‘Irish qualified’ isn't that convenient. If Ireland get any more Kiwis (and Aussie) in their backline they might need to run out in green and black kit soon. How is the supposed best rugby system in the world in need of trawling for journeyman Kiwi players?
2 Go to commentsCallum Grace is playing well now that he's finally back in his best position. But given it was Razor who somehow thought Grace was dynamic enough to be a No8 when he's clearly not, Im not sure he’d backtrack on that. Finau is risky with his style, and there's almost no point picking Blackadder when he can’t stay on the field more than five minutes.
29 Go to commentsThe team on paper has more supposed ‘stars’ than a lot of the sides they’re losing to. They’ve got the Razor-blues and aren't playing for Penney. He should jump before he's pushed.
1 Go to commentsProof. That if you lay dramatic instrumental hip hop music over a video of a skinny pale white kid running an unopposed zig zag on a training ground filled with rookies - it’ll look next-level epic!
13 Go to commentsIf they win the challenge Cup then it will have all been worth it. If they don’t, then maybe he should go. Lots of ppl seem to think very highly of him as a coach, but maybe he would be better working under someone. Any top sides looking for forwards coaches rn?
1 Go to commentsJason Ryan knows his craft as forwards coach and I'm sure he’ll hold sway with Scott Robertson of who he feels worthy of selection…his credentials validated when he put a 7xcaps between them front row...Ethan, Samisoni and Lomax on Ellis Park…Go the AB's…
29 Go to comments