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'We’ve seen it coming up against them in the URC': Ireland familiar with Boks

By PA
Tadhg Furlong of Ireland, Jack Crowley of Ireland celebrating the winning of the match during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Ireland and Romania at Stade de Bordeaux on September 9, 2023 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Hans van der Valk/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Jack Crowley believes Johnny Sexton’s remarkable longevity has blazed a trail for Ireland’s aspiring fly-halves rather than impeded their international opportunities.

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Captain Sexton has been his country’s first-choice number 10 for more than a decade and begun his Rugby World Cup swansong in record-breaking fashion.

The influential 38-year-old has already surpassed Ronan O’Gara as Ireland’s all-time leading points scorer and John Hayes as the nation’s oldest international since arriving in France as he heads towards retirement.

Crowley is among the pretenders to the throne and feels Sexton continues to show his positional rivals what is possible as opposed to obstructing the path to Test caps.

“I think he’s not blocked it but opened it up to show the possibilities,” said the 23-year-old, who is in line to provide back-up from the bench in Saturday’s Pool B showdown with South Africa.

“Even at 38, to show to youngsters his skills and the dedication he puts into his game, it can go a long way and he’s showing the youngsters in Ireland what’s possible if you apply yourself to your prep and put everything into the game.

“I think for every youngster around Ireland he’s really carving the way, particularly for young out-halves. He’s the fella that’s leading the way.”

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Crowley has leapfrogged Munster team-mate Joey Carbery in the pecking order at Test level to become one of Sexton’s World Cup understudies, alongside Ross Byrne.

He only made his international debut last autumn and has kicked 27 points across seven caps, including eight in Ireland’s tournament opener against Romania.

Crowley hopes to follow in the footsteps of Sexton and O’Gara but concedes he has plenty to do to be held in similar esteem.

“Look, they’re sporting greats for Ireland and for a reason because of the many years they put into the Irish jersey,” he said.

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“So, for me I’ve a long way to go to reach that level.

“But they’re great people to have around and I’m sure any youngster would be looking up and trying to aspire to be them.”

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Ireland can secure progression to the World Cup quarter-finals with victory over the Springboks in Paris following bonus-point wins over Romania and Tonga.

Crowley is well aware of the dangers posed by the reigning world champions, having faced South Africa’s leading club sides in the United Rugby Championship.

He helped his province claim the URC title in May with a 19-14 Cape Town success over a Stormers team containing the likes of Damian Willemse, Manie Libbok, Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff.

“First of all getting the opportunity to play in those games and getting exposed to that type of situation is something every player wants to be able to grow,” he said.

“A world-class side like them, their front five is massive for scrum and maul, but the pace and the footwork that they have out wide and the passing and kicking ability, we’ve seen it coming up against them in the URC.

“You can see the quality they have across the back line in terms of individual skill. That’s going to be a challenge in one way and also it’s going to be a bonus for them.”

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fl 2 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why do you downplay his later career, post 50? He won a treble less than two years ago, with a club who played more games and won more games than any other team that managed the same feat. His crowning achievement - by his own admission.”

He’s won many trebles in his career - why do you only care about one of them?

I think its unsurprising that he’d feel more emotional about his recent achievements, but its less clear why you do.


“Is it FA cups or League cups you’re forgetting in his English trophy haul? You haven’t made that clear…”

It actually was clear, if you knew the number he had won of each, but I was ignoring the league cup, because Germany and Spain only have one cup competition so it isn’t possible to compare league cup performance with City to his performance with Bayern and Barcelona.


“With Barcelona he won 14 trophies. With Bayern Munich he won 5 trophies. With City he has currently won 18 trophies…”

I can count, but clearly you can’t divide! He was at Barca for 4 years, so that’s 3.5 trophies per year. He was at Bayern for 3 years, and actually won 7 trophies so that’s 2.3 trophies per year. He has been at City for 8 completed seasons so that’s 2.25 trophies per year. If in his 9th season (this one) he wins both the FA cup and the FIFA club world cup that will take his total to 20 for an average of 2.22 trophies per year.


To be clear - you said that Pep had gotten better with age by every metric. In fact by most metrics he has gotten worse!

182 Go to comments
f
fl 5 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“He made history beyond the age of 50. History.”

He made history before the age of 50, why are you so keen to downplay Pep’s early career achievements? In 2009 he won the sextuple. No other manager in history had achieved that, and Pep hasn’t achieved it since, but here you are jizzing your pants over a couple of CL finals.


“If continuing to break records and achieve trophies isn't a metric for success”

Achieving trophies is a metric for success, and Pep wins fewer trophies as he gets older.


“He's still competing for a major trophy this year. Should he get it, it would be 8 consecutive seasons with a major trophy. Then the world club cup in the summer.”

You’re cherry picking some quite odd stats now. In Pep’s first 8 seasons as a manager he won 6 league titles, 2 CL titles, & 4 cup titles. In Pep’s last 8 seasons as a manager (including this one) he’s won 6 league titles, 1 CL title, & 2 (or possibly 3) cup titles. In his first 8 seasons he won the FIFA world club cup 3 times; in his last 8 seasons he’s won it 1 (or possibly soon to be 2) time(s). In his first 8 seasons he won the UEFA super cup 3 times; in his last 8 he won the UEFA super cup once. His record over the past 8 seasons has been amazing - but it is a step down from his record in his first 8 seasons, and winning the FA cup and FIFA club world cup this summer won’t change that.


Pep is still a brilliant manager. He will probably remain a brilliant manager for many years to come, but you seem to want to forget how incredible he was when he first broke through. To be clear - you said that Pep had gotten better with age by every metric. That was false!

182 Go to comments
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