Former Ireland forward and respected pundit Bernard Jackman believes that Jack Crowley’s form has been impaired by Munster’s struggles and that he is very much in the conversation for the fly-half jersey.

The 25-year-old took on the playmaking responsibility from the retired Johnny Sexton during the 2024 Six Nations and impressed before starting both games against the Springboks in the July series.

However, the emergence of Sam Prendergast has provided him with a challenger to the throne and the Leinster youngster usurped him at the end of the Autumn Nations Series.

Prendergast then built on his Test debut when returning to his Irish province while Crowley, after losing his place in the Ireland XV, wilted.

Return to form

He noticeably struggled throughout December, raising doubts about his Six Nations chances, but a couple of promising displays, including a superb effort in Munster‘s 34-32 defeat to Northampton Saints, has boosted his hopes.

“He’s a super talent. He’s got unbelievable mental toughness, fight, and it was great to see,” Jackman told the RTE Rugby podcast.

“In fairness to him, he suffered with Munster’s lack of energy and injuries and all that stuff. I actually felt when I looked back on some of the games before the end of Graham [Rowntree left], and a lot of the errors that Jack made were often errors made with really good intent.

“He could sense the team was struggling and tried to be the hero by making things happen. You’d much prefer that to someone who just goes missing.

“He definitely wasn’t firing to the level he has in the past. That’s difficult for an out-half when the team aren’t firing.

“What you saw against the Saints was Munster in a good place. I know they conceded a lot of points, but he was in a good place and pulling the strings and showing the attacking threat that he is.

“He’s a brilliant footballer, he attacks the line, he’s got footwork, he’s brave, he’s got vision. It was a really good performance from him.”

Northampton Saints v Munster: Winners and losers as Jack Crowley ‘sends Ireland message’

Who will start in the Six Nations?

Some believe that after the recent Champions Cup displays, where Crowley outshone Prendergast, the Munsterman has nailed down the 10 shirt for the England clash.

Jackman does not believe it is as simple as that, however, and reckons Prendergast may have the edge, although he is unable to truly predict who will be Simon Easterby’s preferred option for the start of the Six Nations.

“The amount of people who messaged me – that game was on before Leinster – saying ‘that’s it now, Crowley starts for Ireland’. I don’t think it’s as simple as that,” he said.

“That’s not saying he hasn’t put himself forward in a meaningful way, but I don’t think Easterby or [Andy] Farrell went in last Saturday saying ‘right, whoever plays better between Crowley or Prendergast [starts]’, but fans seem to want that.”

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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/bernard-jackmans-view-on-the-ireland-fly-half-battle-after-super-talent-jack-crowley-became-victim-of-munsters-struggles