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Simon Easterby. Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

'Because Faz isn’t around we’ve all had to step up in certain areas'

Farrell’s influence evident as Easterby moves into top job.

THE DOOR OPENED, the cameras clicked and Simon Easterby entered to take his seat at the top table.

The former Ireland flanker has spent plenty of time in the Aviva Stadium press conference room, but this was his first taste of doing it as Ireland’s head coach. That meant more seats occupied in the benches, and more weight behind every answer Easterby supplied. And there were plenty of those, with his pre-match press conference yesterday pushing close to 30 minutes.

Much of that time, predictably, was focused around Sam Prendergast. The 21-year-old’s selection at out-half for tomorrow’s Six Nations opener against England formed part of the first question put to Easterby, and four more would follow. 

None of that would have surprised Easterby and his responses were thoughtful and detailed, outlining how he hoped to see his out-halves push each hard across the championship. After all, Saturday will be just Prendergast’s fourth Test cap, so the Leinster player’s story will have plenty of twists and turns yet.

sam-prendergast Prendergast worked with Easterby on the Emerging Ireland tour last year. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

Ireland’s interim head coach also spoke about his own promotion, detailing how working closely with Andy Farrell over the years has informed his approach. Farrell may be sitting out this Six Nations as he prepares to lead the Lions in Australia, but his influence looms large.

Easterby – who has spent over a decade on the Ireland coaching ticket – explained how Farrell’s interpersonal skills have helped him manage the two young players at the centre of the selection battle between Prendergast and Munster’s Jack Crowley.

“As a young head coach, as I was at a club (Scarlets), you’re trying to do everything and you’re trying to look at every part of the game and you end up not being able to see the wood from the trees,” Easterby said.

“It’s all-consuming, but over a period of time you realise what you can do, what you can share with other coaches. But I think over time you develop a feel for players and what they’re going through, and how you can support that and impact that.

“Yes, there’s always tactical and technical things that you want to keep strong in your side, but I think it’s those conversations that you have with players, the chats that you have over a period of time that allows you to get a feel for that player.

“Then you hopefully get the best out of them, whether they’re starting, whether they’re on the bench, whether they’re not involved at all. I think all those micro-conversations are really important for the feel of the team and the feel of the group.

And I think when Faz came in, in 2019 he just shifted the emphasis a little bit in the group, and I think the players and us as coaches have all benefited from that.”

Farrell’s absence has had a knock-on effect across the coaching team. The Wigan native usually oversees Ireland’s attack but now backs coach Andrew Goodman will take on more responsibility, while Johnny Sexton has also been sharing his thoughts after joining the camp on a part-time basis in November.

“Goody has been excellent,” said Easterby.

“I guess he was first in in the summer when helping out Catty (Mike Catt) and Faz. He came in in the autumn and he has some great ideas around us continuing to do what we do well but also pushing on as a team as well, evolving. He feels right now that we are seeing that come through more in the dressing-room, in some of the provincial performances in areas which we are trying to develop, and that helps that.

“Goody has certainly stepped up to take on more responsibility. Johnny being around has given us his input into the game in attack. Those little chats and experiences that he and Goody have and imparted to the players have been invaluable. That’s just an extension to some of the work that he has been doing with Leinster the last couple of seasons as well. It’s been an exciting period.

“Because Faz isn’t around we’ve all had to step up in certain areas and make sure that the team is going the right way.”

andrew-goodman-with-simon-easterby Easterby chats with backs coach Andrew Goodman. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

And this weekend that team is led by Prendergast at 10. Easterby was head coach on the Emerging Ireland tour last October which set the out-half up for his rise to Test rugby. 

“The Emerging (tour) was great for us as coaches to get to work with him, and get to know him more importantly as a person, and he’s laid back in a sense that he’s pretty chilled in how he goes about his business. But I think any 10 that really wants to progress and kick on has to grab hold of weeks like this and say, ‘This is my team; I’m going to go out and have no grey (areas) about who’s in charge and what the point of the week is’, and I think he’s done that really well.

“Jack’s been brilliant as well, to be fair to him, and having Ciarán Frawley. So I think there’s a degree of competitiveness in Sam which you guys might not see. I think having Cian as a brother probably helps. He’s kind of grown up having to fight himself through a few situations.

But in terms of him as a person he’s grown massively. Over the last six-eight months he’s had massive experiences.

“We had him on the Emerging Ireland tour and he played two games in five days and I had a conversation with him about playing another game, which was three games in eight days, and I said: ‘How are you feeling?’ And he said: ‘I’m good. I want to play.’ And that was his attitude.

“He has that youthful inexperience which is a nice thing because he doesn’t let many things faze him. He moves on from something that’s maybe not gone quite as well as he would have liked. He kicks on and he doesn’t let those things get to him, and that’s a real strong trait in good 10s.

“They’re demanding of themselves and players around them but also has a very nice way about him and deals with stuff and moves on quickly, and I think we’ve seen all of that over the last few months.”

Prendergast takes another big step tomorrow. So does his head coach. For the next two months, the pair will spend plenty of time in the limelight.

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    Mute Patrick O'Sullivan
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    Nov 26th 2024, 9:40 AM

    Nice article, Murray,
    I don’t think any of us who believe crowley is #1 for now, would say crowley is the finished product. He’s got a long way to go yet in his career. And being a poor defensive set off lineout away for winning a grand slam on his first attempt is really promising even though he had ups and down during the tournament.

    Wanna be careful saying things like crowley being ahead of sexton at this age.

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:28 AM

    @Patrick O’Sullivan: I don’t think Murray has to be careful about anything he says. It is rarely controversial, always balanced and very well researched.

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    Mute Patrick O'Sullivan
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    Nov 26th 2024, 3:41 PM

    @Paul Ennis: it has been said in the comments section of an article previously that crowley is ahead of where sexton was at this stage. Unsurprisingly, it drew negative replies.

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Nov 26th 2024, 7:05 PM

    @Patrick O’Sullivan: There will always be negative comments. Murray doesn’t need to worry about that & I don’t think he does. Murray’s opinion will carry more weight than some of us mere mortals expressing our tuppence worth.

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Nov 26th 2024, 9:37 AM

    Great article Murray (as always). I think there is a supreme inner belief and self confidence that Jack has that cannot be taught or learned. He has had it since day one. When I think about Ireland’s other 10s since ROG, maybe the only other with the same trait would have been Paddy Jackson. Johnny had to fight his demons and succeeded despite his early doubts and issues with self esteem. Sam might just have the same trait as Jack and explains why many of us have high expectations of him.

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    Mute Dolores Scully
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:25 AM

    A good balanced and objective article. All three 10′s bring different attributes to the game ( i.e muti position play, better defensive tackles, kicking etc). Perhaps the era of a dominant 10 holding that position for a long number of years as seen in the past is now over…In any event great to have such an abundance of young talent.

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:26 AM

    @Dolores Scully: Definitely

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    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
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    Nov 26th 2024, 11:35 AM

    @Dolores Scully: Exactly, well said! I really don’t buy this perceived anti-Crowley guff that is going around, “he’s not being backed.” He has to fight and earn his place like everyone else. All the other big sides don’t have a really set in stone option at 10. Look at the world champions! You can’t say who is first choice between Libbok, Pollard, Feinberg-Mgomezelu and most recently Hendrikse at the weekend. Ramos has been starting ahead of Ntamack. England have several options there. Why should Ireland be any different. Our 10 has to earn his place, just like every other position.

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Nov 26th 2024, 1:14 PM

    @Carmine Lorenzo: very good point. Fin will soon be putting pressure on Marcus in England. Mo’unga / Barret t / McKenzie in NZ. It seems to be Ireland where we make a big deal of the OH and the need to have 1 single option. You can see it on this site already, the need to find faults with the other player as an argument for your own favorite. The thing I hate the most is when the TV camera goes to the sub OH on the bench during the game to see what the reaction is to a good / bad bit of play from the guy on the pitch. That really gets on my nerves.

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    Mute Cormac McCarthy
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    Nov 26th 2024, 2:59 PM

    @Carmine Lorenzo: Agree 100% let Harry Byrne, I mean Ciarain Frawley, I mean Sam Pendergast fight and earn his place like Crowley did. Playing the full 160 minutes in a URC South African tour, and on turning 22 start and play the full 80 in France against the team that topped the French Pro 14 the previous year. Never getting near Irish camp until he forced his way into the reckoning. This article from Murray is better balanced than some of his previous attempts. Take for example his analysis of Pendergast Fiji performance. The overcooked penalty, refs fault, the pass to the wing, Casey’s fault, the kick out in the full Osbourne (shock a Leinster players fault), the yellow card etc. etc.
    .

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    Mute Petter Sellberg
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    Nov 26th 2024, 7:03 PM

    @Cormac McCarthy: how can someone with an unbalanced perspective recognise a balanced article? I think we’re just going to have to accept that it’s not very likely

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    Mute David Lynch
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:47 PM

    @Michael Corkery: Great point. I agree 100%. They did it with Frawley last week. Pure shit.

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    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
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    Nov 26th 2024, 11:21 PM

    @Michael Corkery: yeah I don’t get it why it seems that only Ireland have to have a lone option at 10. I don’t understand it personally. And you’re right the cameras planning to Frawley every 2 mins the other week was infuriating. Crowley is the current incumbent. I’d start him at the weekend, and barring a massive dip or injury, I’d probably be starting him in the first 6N game. However if Leinster continue going well and Frawley and Prendergast are playing well at 10, then surely they deserve to be in the reckoning too come the 6N. No player has a divine right to the 10 jersey now.

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    Mute Kevin Ryan
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:00 AM

    Regrettably the Munster/Leinster relationship is now so toxic that what used to be seen as entirely conventional – bringing on the 22 for the last 20 minutes of a game – has now become a huge sleight on the starter and which has to treated as an existential threat

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:25 AM

    @Kevin Ryan: it was always thus – but it just gets acerbated in the social media age. Ward v Campbell, Humphries v ROG, ROG v Sexton. Thé unlucky one is Frawley really, no one is even talking about him as a starter anymore

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:26 AM

    @Kevin Ryan: Hopefully it will all settle down when 6N comes around. Johnny was only ever taken off with 10 or 15 mins to go if the game was won or if he was injured. It is not the way we want the next 10 years to be. Hopefully these 2 boys can battle it out for the 10 jersey and the head coach can pick the 10 based on the opposition. For example, Jack offers a running threat that might be suited to playing v Scotland or England and Sam offers a kicking threat that will break down France (not saying that is the case, just as an example). Wouldn’t that be wonderful? If we know the replacement can be trusted, the starter can push himself to the limit for 55 / 60 mins and the finisher closes the game out with a bit of variation. What is not to like?

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    Mute Keno
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    Nov 26th 2024, 11:19 AM

    @Michael Corkery: couldn’t agree more – that sort of competition for the starting slot was good for both sets of players keeping them on their toes unfortunately there was a ‘twin’ for Sexton.

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    Mute Keno
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    Nov 26th 2024, 11:20 AM

    @Keno: wasn’t

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    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
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    Nov 26th 2024, 11:37 AM

    @Kevin Ryan: Exactly! The same cohort who were crying and moaning about Sexton not being taken off in the WC vs NZ are now moaning that Crowley is being taken off with an hour gone. Is that not what they wanted in the World Cup? What’s the point in having a sub 10 if you’re not going to use it? Competition for places is good. We’re in a different era now, we’re going to get another Sexton who will make the position his own for 15 years.

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    Mute Con Cussed
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    Nov 26th 2024, 12:52 PM

    @Michael Corkery: Frawley is a super replacement option and no problem to start at 10 or 15. His versatility is what keeps him in the 23, which I think he’d prefer than being outside of it. Lots of potential still. S Prendergast and Crowley most likely to back up each other at 10 when the other starts. Frawley for 12-15 realistically.

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    Mute Dolores Scully
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    Nov 26th 2024, 3:37 PM

    @Carmine Lorenzo: I agree. But I was/am of the opinion that Sexton should have been replaced in the WC v NZ. It was clear he was out on his feet for the last 10 – 15 mins ( understandably) and felt Crowley was well up for it. Perhaps AF feared a backlash if we lost ( which we did anyway) but at that stage, a drop goal was not gonna win us the match and the imho dubious decisions to kick to the corner earlier rather than take what seemed achievable penalty kicks ( unlike NZ) seemed to be a feature of our game. Anyway, hindsight is a great thing and as Leo says we’ll take the ” learnings”. Having such young quality 10′s should negate that happening in the future.

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    Mute Adrian Breen
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    Nov 26th 2024, 9:57 AM

    Interesting stats:

    Sam Prendergast had 59 touches in 70 minutes v Fiji

    Jack Crowley had just 12 vs New Zealand and 30 vs Argentina

    Ireland have played off 9 with JGP, off 10 with Casey

    Love to see Crowley get that service

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:21 AM

    @Adrian Breen: What were the possession stats? How many times did Ireland kick the ball downfield v NZ & Argentina compared to Fiji. Ireland dominated the ball versus Fiji and kicking was more dinks and chips than territorial. Your 9 & 10 will always touch the ball more against Fiji or even Italy than NZ, SA or France.

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    Mute Mark O'Keeffe
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    Nov 26th 2024, 4:52 PM

    @Paul Ennis: yeah the Fiji game was much ‘wider’ if I can put it like that. We didn’t see as much of Izzy on the ball as I would have liked as a result

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    Mute PatN
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    Nov 26th 2024, 10:54 AM

    With the Osbourne injury, you would have to expect that Frawley will be picked to back up Crowley on Saturday. He covers outhalf, centre and full back. I think the biggest question about selection is not OH – Crowley will definitely be picked – but who will be left out in the centre.

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    Mute Con Cussed
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    Nov 26th 2024, 12:48 PM

    @PatN: There’s no reason all three cannot be in the match 23. The best cover from 10-15 is Frawley, however, there’s no reason that either Crowley or S Prendergast cannot back each other up. If recent history is anything to go on there’s a higher likelihood that Frawley will be needed across the back three than at 10. So there’s still an option to have all three.

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    Mute Owen ODonoghue
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    Nov 26th 2024, 3:47 PM

    I’ve a feeling Murray knows who has been selected at 10 and is putting out a Crowley article to soften the blow for certain fans when he doesn’t start this weekend …

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    Mute Johny doyle
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    Nov 27th 2024, 8:03 PM

    Hm

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