Fast-tracked Crowley on course for World Cup shot

Few have come further faster than Jack Crowley.

Uncapped this time last year, the West Cork man has shot to the top of the queue to back up Ireland out-half Johnny Sexton.

In direct contrast to Joey Carbery, who you'll remember kicked the ball off the pitch at the end of both winning Tests against New Zealand as Ireland began their record winning run in July 2022, Crowley has usurped a handful of Irish 10s to become a frontrunner should Sexton's body succumb to the rigours of savage World Cup demands.

Name-checked by Andy Farrell as one squad member who had made up the most ground, Crowley could play a major role in Ireland's Webb Ellis tilt.

Carbery, Billy Burns and Jack Carty had the experience, Harry Byrne and Ciarán Frawley had hopes but it was Crowley, and Ross Byrne, who have impressed the head coach most in the last 12 months.

It's worth looking back over the last year to see how exactly he rose up the ranks.

Wary that many of Crowley's peers had missed out on important rugby game time due to pandemic restrictions, the IRFU resurrected the 'A' team in 2022, with Emerging Ireland playing a three-match tour in South Africa and Ireland 'A' taking on an All Blacks XV at the RDS.

Crowley, who prior to that run of games, had played 16 times for Munster, starting just five of those following a senior debut in January 2021.

Then under Johann van Graan, the southern province were flush in the position. Carbery, JJ Hanrahan and Ben Healy were established, while Jake Flannery was also in the mix.

But what Farrell and the rest of the Irish management saw in those 'A' matches propelled the Innishannon man on an incredible journey.

The 23-year-old started twice and kicked nine conversions from nine as Ireland won all three games in South