Deputy out-half picture no clearer for Andy Farrell as Ross Byrne and Jack Crowley vie for position

Andy Farrell may have hoped to get more clarity on who is his back-up out-half, but Ross Byrne's outing against England is unlikely to have swayed the head coach one way or the other.

With captain Johnny Sexton suspended, his Leinster team-mate Byrne earned just his second start in three years in the 29-10 win at the Aviva Stadium in their second Summer Nations Series game.

A fit Sexton is certain to start for Ireland in crucial World Cup games but the battle to back up the 2018 World Rugby Player of the Year - between Byrne and Jack Crowley - still has to fully play out.

"He did well, he's very clear," was Farrell’s immediate post-game take on 28-year-old Byrne's game.

"He's very good at running the week and very clear of what he wants from the players around him so therefore there's good clarity.

"There's people who can fit in around that, that can play their game around that. So, his control is very good."

Byrne, winning his 20th cap, provided two direct assists from perfect long passes for second-half tries for James Lowe and Mack Hansen and was involved in the opening two tries for Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose.

He made 26 passes and kicked seven times in play, one going over Jamison Gibson-Park's head on the wing, and was a solid presence in defence, making six of seven tackle attempts.

Munster’s Crowley started in the win over Italy two weeks ago and his late-season form – where he helped his club claim a first United Rugby Championship in 12 years – has raised the real possibility that Byrne could be again usurped in the pecking order after fighting off competition from brother Harry, Jack Carty and Billy Burns over the last few seasons.

"Obviously with Johnny not kind of involved in the matchday, he's pretty good at