Bernard Jackman: Jack Crowley-Sam Prendergast dilemma is only good for Ireland

Bernard Jackman believes Sam Prendergast may still have the edge over Jack Crowley to start for Ireland in the opening round of the Guinness Six Nations, despite Crowley's impressive display against Northampton Saints on Saturday.

The Munster out-half produced his best performance of the season in the 34-32 defeat at Franklin's Gardens, while his break from deep in his own half put the province in a position to even win the game, only for the Saints win a turnover later in the play.

The 25-year-old fell behind Leinster’s Prendergast in the starting role for Ireland during the second half of the Autumn Nations Series, and the pair are expected to be contesting the 10 shirt again for the Six Nations opener against England on 1 February.

But while Jackman believes Crowley delivered a timely reminder that he’s not going to give up the starting role without a fight, he believes interim coach Simon Easterby would be unlikely to change his mind on one game.

"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 told the RTÉ Rugby podcast.

"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."

Having started Ireland’s opening two games of the November window, Crowley saw his starting place taken Prendergast for the win against Fiji, and the 21-yer-old retained that spot a week later for the final match of the block against Australia.

And while Crowley endured inconsistent form for Munster earlier in the season, Jackman believes the