Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast says the best is yet to come from Jack Crowley, after the out-half played a starring role in Munster's BKT United Rugby Championship success.
The 23-year-old was one the standout players in Saturday's 19-14 Grand Final win away to the Stormers, with his crucial late conversion ensuring the South Africans would have to chase a try rather than a penalty in Cape Town.
It's been a breakthrough season for the Cork native, who played 20 games for the province over the campaign, moving ahead of Joey Carbery as the starting out-half for Graham Rowntree's side.
The Ireland international now looks a safe bet to be included in Andy Farrell's World Cup squad, having been named in the provisional 45-man training group on Tuesday.
Crowley appears to be battling it out with Leinster's Ross Byrne in the pecking order to be Johnny Sexton's successor, with his recent performances seeing his stock price rise higher and higher.
"Jack is an outstanding player, just has a brilliant temperament," Prendergast said.
The Munster assistant says there's still scope for the Bandon native to get even better.
"The good thing is that there's a high ceiling and still room for improvement.
"He's got the character, his mental attributes, and he's a tough boy as well. He's a good leader, a good footballer, and has a big future.
"Something that's been quite positive is he's played in a couple of positions, playing 12 gives you an appreciation of what's needed as a 10. He's been excellent everywhere we've asked him to play."
Prendergast was speaking at Munster's official homecoming, as they welcomed 10,000 supporters to Thomond Park to show off their new silverware after returning from South Africa on Monday.
The title win capped off a remarkable first season in charge for Rowntree and his assistants Prendergast, Denis Leamy and Andi Kyriacou.
And Prendergast says while bringing a trophy to Thomond Park was always their aim, it's happened ahead of schedule.
"If I'm honest, I didn't see it happen as quick as this, but we'll take it.
"One thing I know is how hard it is to win a trophy. It's incredibly hard, I remember three seasons ago [with Racing 92] getting to a final of the Champions Cup against Exeter and losing. It's a tough one getting to a final and losing it, so we're just delighted.
"To get back to this is just special. It's a great evening, and just great to see smiles on peoples faces, brilliant to see. It's been a long time coming, I'm delighted for the likes of Keith [Earls], Peter [O'Mahony], Stevie Archer, Conor [Murray] and these lads, guys who've been giving everything for the cause for the last number of years.
"To come out on Saturday with that, in the manner and the year we had, to win the games over the last couple of months makes it quite special.
"For the supporters, a lot of the lads have been around, the likes of [performance analyst] George Murray has been here 20 years and has seen a lot, I'm just delighted for things like that," he added.
As is always the case, winning trophies can be very moreish, with thoughts already turning towards next season.
Those not involved in the Irish camp will return for pre-season in mid-July, and with the World Cup delaying the start of the URC until late October, Prendergast is excited by the extra time the coaches will have with the players before the start of the season.
"The one thing we have talked about is getting a good pre-season done. It's a difference challenge with the World Cup and everyone is in the same boat.
"We just can't start off like we did last year, albeit it was very new for everybody. We have the fundamentals put in, but we know we have something in terms of aiming, it's just about the start of the season.
"There'll be a couple [of friendlies], so you have to manage that as well. Again, the World Cup is on, it'll give young lads opportunities. We saw some lads like Ruadhan Quinn, Edwin Edogbo, the future is bright with those guys.
"Hopefully we'll have some lads in the World Cup squad that will open opportunities for young guys, and it gives us an opportunity to work with them and see how they are. Fortunately, we train as 50, in terms of our senior team and academy, so they touch the ball a lot through training, and we get a good visual on how they're doing and progressing.
"It's something that's been quite positive for us, having a very mixed group in terms of age and experience."
