Jack Crowley should start at out-half for Ireland against Scotland, according to Darren Cave.
The Munster man replaced Leinster's Sam Prendergast with 21 minutes to play in the team’s opening Guinness Six Nation's win over England on Saturday.
Prendergast had helped Ireland into a 13-10 lead before he departed, including kicking a long-range penalty having missed his two conversion attempts.
Crowley had a fine cameo, kicking well out of hand and nailing his two conversions after Ireland’s last two tries.
Having started all nine games following Johnny Sexton’s retirement, Crowley, 25, lost his grip on the 10 shirt for the second two November internationals with 21-year-old Prendergast retaining his position for the clash against England.
It’s a debate that is set to continue for years to come.
"After the game, Jack will have been the happier of the two, no doubt," former Ireland and Ulster centre Cave told RTÉ’s Against the Head.
"Sam Prendergast, I didn’t think he was dreadful, but he would have wanted to perform better than that.
.@darrencave13 on the difference in styles between Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast and why Crowley may be better to start games, though "the reverse worked really well against England" #GuinnessM6N @IrishRugby #rtesport #againstthehead pic.twitter.com/V5WJExlxIt
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 3, 2025
"At 10, I could see it going either way. I’d probably just go with Jack.
"When you come in and you influence a game like that, you deserve to be given the nod.
"But I fully expect arm around Prendergast [and Simon Easterby saying], 'this is not a change, this is just horses for courses, this is the way this is this week' and we’ll probably give both of them game-time.
"A few of those players coming off the bench, [back row] Jack Conan made a big impact, he has to be in the mix."
Meanwhile, Donal Lenihan believes Easterby should resist any temptation to move Tadhg Beirne (above) to the back row.
The versatile Munster forward scored Ireland’s third against England from the second row.
A decision on whether Leinster lock Joe McCarthy will be available will be made later this week and that could force a rejig.
Beirne started the four 2024 Six Nations games he played in in the second row, but three of four Autumn Nations Series games at 6.
"Up front, we have Joe McCarthy and [prop] Tadhg Furlong, they haven’t been ruled out yet," said former Ireland captain Lenihan.
"There’s a headache now for someone, do you shift Tadhg Beirne back to the back row?
"Joe McCarthy would have been a nailed-on starter, you’d certainly want him there against France [in round four] but I think Beirne is operating better now in the second row.
"His work-rate is phenomenal so I wouldn’t like to take him out of the second row."
Watch Scotland v Ireland in the Guinness Six Nations on Sunday from 2pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch Scotland U20s v Ireland U20s in the Six Nations on Saturday from 7.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
