Darren Cave: Jack Crowley 'deserves to be given the nod' against Scotland

Jack Crowley should start at out-half for Ireland against Scotland, according to Darren Cave.

The Munster man replaced Leinster's Sam Prendergast with 21 minutes to play in the team’s opening Guinness Six Nation's win over England on Saturday.

Prendergast had helped Ireland into a 13-10 lead before he departed, including kicking a long-range penalty having missed his two conversion attempts.

Crowley had a fine cameo, kicking well out of hand and nailing his two conversions after Ireland’s last two tries.

Having started all nine games following Johnny Sexton’s retirement, Crowley, 25, lost his grip on the 10 shirt for the second two November internationals with 21-year-old Prendergast retaining his position for the clash against England.

It’s a debate that is set to continue for years to come.

"After the game, Jack will have been the happier of the two, no doubt," former Ireland and Ulster centre Cave told RTÉ’s Against the Head.

"Sam Prendergast, I didn’t think he was dreadful, but he would have wanted to perform better than that.

.@darrencave13 on the difference in styles between Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast and why Crowley may be better to start games, though "the reverse worked really well against England" #GuinnessM6N @IrishRugby #rtesport #againstthehead pic.twitter.com/V5WJExlxIt

"At 10, I could see it going either way. I’d probably just go with Jack.

"When you come in and you influence a game like that, you deserve to be given the nod.

"But I fully expect arm around Prendergast [and Simon Easterby saying], 'this is not a change, this is just horses for courses, this is the way this is this week' and we’ll probably give both of them game-time.

"A few of those players coming off the bench, [back row] Jack Conan made a big