Sam Prendergast has first shot at Australia but Jack Crowley is waiting for his chance from the bench

Jack Crowley began the month as Ireland's incumbent no10, Ciaran Frawley came in as the second test-winning hero of South Africa and Sam Prendergast was uncapped.

But three games in and with one to come - against Australia today - Andy Farrell had decided to bet the farm on the last named.

Prendergast will start against the Wallabies with Crowley on the bench and Frawley out of the picture for now - and while the Leinster player has first shot, Crowley is not dispirited.

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“Selection is not a 100 percent up to me - this is 1-15, 1-23, 1-35 when it’s a squad,” says the Munster no10.

“I know that you hear that a lot but it is genuine because you saw injuries whatever, it’s the next man up and everybody has got to be ready.

“If we are continuously focusing on ourselves or that position then, you know, we also have to keep the entire group as important and that’s the theme for us.

“The tests have been increasingly harder in difficulty and this one against Australia is obviously one we have to put massive respect in.”

Crowley accepts wearing no22 is not the end of the world. Quite right too as, at the age of 24, he remains one of the youngest in the match-day squad.

Had he been selected ahead of Prendergast he would have been the youngest of the backs and the second youngest in the team to Joe McCarthy!

“I have to try and build consistency and continue to work on the areas of my game that I know I can.

“For me it’s continuing to grow in areas I have highlighted in the past, try and be as accurate as you can in every moment.

“Some moments you win and some you lose, that’s the nature of the sport and you have to roll with the punches. You can either let it affect you or get on to the next.”

Crowley accepts that while out-half slot is in the limelight, there is outside noise, media and fan pressure.

“If you ask any of the three of us we would all ask and want the same and I’m sure there’s many other lads around the country who would be very eager to bite your hand off for that question.

“So there is a massive amount of competition around the place. It’s a sign of a good thing. It means Ireland rugby is going in the right way if there is that turbulence and resistance around it.

“It means we are going to places that require that level of noise and that’s something that we, as a group, are very respectful of. It all becomes part of it and hopefully it will push us to become better.”

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