Irish flyhalves ‘haven’t stamped their mark’

Ireland’s bid for Six Nations history are hindered by flyhalf options that are “a distance away from being Grand Slam-winning playmakers”, says Irish rugby great Hugo MacNeill.

MacNeill’s concern mirrors that of many Irish fans who mourn the retirement of icon Johnny Sexton after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The Irish begin their charge for an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title at home against England on Saturday the only side to beat them in last year’s championship.

The hosts had a mixed series of November Tests, losing to New Zealand before winning the next three, and save against Fiji not with any great conviction.

This for MacNeill highlights the lack of authority at flyhalf and the inability as yet for anyone to be regarded as the heir to Sexton.

Jack Crowley, 25, looked to be the first-choice pick after playing in all five of their Six Nations matches and in the drawn series with world champions South Africa.

However, Sam Prendergast at just 21 forced his way into the reckoning and started their last Test against Australia, although Crowley came on later and guided the Irish to victory.

“The options at flyhalf are for the moment a distance away from being Grand Slam winning playmakers,” MacNeill told AFP.

“Crowley has not come on as much as I would have hoped and Prendergast is still a young player.

“None of the flyhalves we have talked about, and I am sorry to sound like a broken record as this was my concern last year, have stamped their mark on the position.”

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Much has been made of Prendergast’s ability to see openings where others do not but MacNeill is not yet convinced.

“Sam Prendergast had an average game for Leinster against Bath earlier this month, he was just not in control of the game,” the 66-year-old former fullback said.

“There was a very strong Leinster pack but we were not seeing any coherent backplay.”

MacNeill says it is perhaps expecting too much of the young generation as both Sexton and his predecessor Ronan O’Gara were “one in a generation players”.

However, MacNeill, a key member of two Triple Crown-winning sides in 1982 and 1985, said by being so it spurred on their teammates, who “did not want to let them down”.

MacNeill, who as he spoke to AFP was waiting to see whether it was third time lucky and he had been elected to the Irish Senate, said he was sure captain Caelan Doris will fill the leadership vacuum that Sexton had left.

“Doris will develop into that leadership role,” he said. “However, he also needs others to fill the role too, to be there when he needs advice.

“Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki are very good players but they are not leaders in the mould of Johnny Sexton.”

England may have had a tough 2024 they won just five of their 12 Tests but MacNeill says Irish fans should not be complacent.

“People got spoilt here by seeing Ireland and Leinster winning the vast majority of their games,” he said. “It is a bit crazy the crowd going along thinking Ireland are guaranteed to win.

“If England can start well, get a couple of scores that will mute the crowd and their travelling supporters will be in full voice. It could get very tricky.”

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images

The post Irish flyhalves ‘haven’t stamped their mark’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Ireland’s bid for Six Nations history are hindered by flyhalf options that are “a distance away from being Grand Slam-winning playmakers”, says Irish rugby great Hugo MacNeill.
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