Bryan Keane

Nov 30, 2023 | the42.ie | Ross Byrne |Bryan Keane |Murray Kinsella

IT’S GOING TO be different and it might not be totally smooth at the start, but the new era at out-half for Ireland will certainly be intriguing. Gone is 119 Ireland caps worth of experience in Johnny Sexton, whose class was key in two Grand Slam wins and helped him to the World Rugby player of the year award in 2018. Maybe his successor or successors won’t reach the same heights but there is clearly talent in this position in Irish rugby.

Oct 28, 2023 | the42.ie | Ross Byrne |Ben Brady |Harry Byrne |Bryan Keane |Murray Kinsella

The Munster man finished this World Cup as Johnny Sexton’s back-up, coming off the bench for him three times, including in the big pool-stage game against South Africa. However, Crowley was an unused replacement in the quarter-final defeat to New Zealand. Now capped nine times, he made his Ireland debut in the autumn of 2022 and has started just three Tests. 23-year-old Crowley has also only made 35 appearances for Munster, so he is not yet an experienced out-half.