Andy Farrell confident Munster woes won't impact Ireland out-half Jack Crowley

Jack Crowley has "credit" in the bank, says Andy Farrell, who is confident that Munster's current troubles won't impact on the out-half's performance with Ireland.

For the eighth game running, Farrell has selected 24-year-old Crowley to start at 10 for Friday's Autumn Nations Series clash against New Zealand at Aviva Stadium (8.10pm).

That streak, every game since Johnny Sexton retired at the end of the World Cup last October, consists of five wins from seven games, and includes a Six Nations title and a series draw with South Africa.

He hasn't looked out of place replacing the former Ireland skipper, who won 124 Test caps.

However, Crowley is part of a Munster set-up that has just lost four of six URC games and are on the look-out for a new head coach after Graham Rowntree departed the 2023 champions.

Leinster out-half Ciarán Frawley, who scored two late dropgoals in the win over the Springboks, is named on the bench for Friday's game and Farrell pointed to Crowley's performances last season for his decision to stick.

"There's a bit of credit there, isn’t there, with Jack," said Farrell.

"Like a few players, not just at Munster but at other provinces where I’m sure form is something they’d like to be pushing a bit further, etc.

"But I suppose when they come into camp there’s a new start and we judge them on being able to perform in front of each other and Jack’s been great as far as that’s concerned.

"Having said that, the competition in that position and in others is where you’d want it to be and where we want it developing as it should do."

Farrell also spoke about the influence of Sexton on new captain Caelan Doris, who was brought on board as a mentor for the out-halves initially, but given free rein to help wherever and