Simon Easterby expects fly-half duo to be long-term rivals for Ireland spot

Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby expects Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley to be long-term rivals for the team’s number 10 jersey but insists the former is the “right man” to start against England.

In Easterby’s maiden selection since taking over from head coach Andy Farrell on a temporary basis, 21-year-old Prendergast has been given the nod for Saturday evening’s Guinness Six Nations opener in Dublin.

Munster fly-half Crowley, 25, played every minute of lreland’s championship-winning campaign last year before slipping behind Prendergast during the autumn.

Easterby, who revealed lock Joe McCarthy was ruled out of this weekend’s match after suffering a “nasty” head knock in training on Wednesday, said the decision at fly-half was “tough” and feels the competition will prove beneficial for the team.

“They are going to play a lot of rugby and compete for a long time, I think,” Easterby said of Prendergast and Crowley.

“This decision has gone Sam’s way. We felt like he did really well in November, he got a taste for international rugby.

“He went away and played really well for Leinster in a good period for them, he was a big part of the successes across the December window and into the new year.

“We feel like he’s the right man this weekend to lead the team. He’s a lot of experience around him.

“The way Jack has trained and played coming into the Six Nations means that Sam knows he’s got to keep raising his game and keep getting better.”

Crowley appeared to be the natural successor to the retired Johnny Sexton following the 2023 World Cup.

Yet Prendergast has jumped ahead in the pecking order, having made his Test debut as a replacement in Ireland’s win over Argentina in November before starting the subsequent victories