Ireland loves No 10 needle but it’s a Six Nations soap Farrell could do without

Ireland loves No 10 needle but it’s a Six Nations soap Farrell could do without In the latest in a long line of Irish tussles at fly-half, Jack Crowley takes over from Sam Prendergast at Twickenham I n the summer of 1979 Irish rugby jumped off a lower shelf in the nation’s sports shopand landed front and centre. This wasn’t prompted by a dramatic development on the field, rather it was a selection decision. Tony Ward, voted the first European Player of the Year two months earlier, was dropped. He had won the award largely for his dazzling form in that season’s Five Nations Championship. Then, ahead of the First Test on Ireland’s tour of Australia, he was canned. It made the six o’clock news. Ward was a gifted footballer. He would go on to play in the League of Ireland for Limerick United FC, starring for them against Southampton in the Uefa Cup. He looked the part: stocky, sallow, not only could he shoot the lights out but he could step off either foot, leaving opponents on their rear end. If Ireland had a catwalk then Wardy would have been a model. Then he was gazumped by the frail-looking Ollie Campbell: the holder of just one Ireland cap from three years earlier. After which he had been dropped. The nation struggled to catch its breath. So, that was the start of Ireland’s fascination with No 10. We’ve had a few compelling, extended episodes in the drama since then. As the IRFU slowly unpacked their kit in the professional era, David Humphreys and Ronan O’Gara were going toe-to-toe for the playmaker’s shirt. Next came O’Gara v Johnny Sexton. By the time Sexton signed off after the 2023 World Cup we were long overdue a fresh ding-dong. Enter Jack Crowley. The Corkman started for Ireland in the 2024 Six Nations opener in Marseille . He had nine caps by then, but with Sexton off the premises it felt like his first. No bother. The successor played a key role in a statement of takeover. So next we focused on who would fill in when he was injured, or needed a rest. Howe...