Jack Crowley lays down mark as Jacob Stockdale steps up in attack

As Caelan Doris dived over the line to score Ireland's fifth and final try in Saturday's 33-17 win against Italy, Jack Crowley lay in a crumpled pile on the floor.

The out-half took a heavy, late tackle as he shipped the ball out to Keith Earls in the build-up to the score, and missed out on the chance at kicking a fourth conversion as Ciarán Frawley tapped over the extras while the Munster man received treatment.

Thankfully, it was nothing but a rib-tickler, and Crowley was able to dust himself off and play out the final minutes of the win as Ireland got their World Cup preparations up and running with a comfortable, if at times 'clunky', win, to quote head coach Andy Farrell.

That passage of play summed up the 22-year-old's performance on his fourth cap, and second start.

On a number of occasions throughout the game he felt the brunt of tacklers in the split-seconds after a pass, showing real bravery to hold onto the ball for as long as possible before delivering the pass.

"Jack did well, certainly in the first-half he controlled the game very well," head coach Andy Farrell said of the out-half's display.

It was Crowley's (above) second start for Ireland but the circumstances around it were in stark contrast to his first outing in the 10 shirt, when he was drafted in as a late replacement for Johnny Sexton in the November win against Australia.

And Farrell believes he benefitted from being able to run the team's attacking plans at training during the week.

"I didn't think he overplayed too much and looked composed enough. There's a few things we'll chat about in the week that'll help his performance but he'll be glad to get that done.

"It's another experience where he's started at 10, and this time he's been able to run the