Ronan O’Gara changes tune on Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast takes

"As good as I’ve seen him in a red or a green jersey and I just thought he was decisive."

Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley are battling hard for the jersey, with the former starting the last three games.

In recent weeks, La Rochelle head coach O'Gara has been full of praise for the 21-year-old, particularly following his side's defeat to Leinster, after which he admitted that they had targeted the young out-half but had not gotten much change out of him.

Ahead of Ireland's victory over England in the opening round of the Six Nations on Saturday, O'Gara criticised Crowley's inconsistent, 'yo-yo' form for Munster.

However, after an assured 20-minute cameo against the English, O'Gara changed his tune.

Speaking on the Off The Ball, he said: "He had a big game. As good as I’ve seen him in a red or a green jersey and I just thought he was decisive. As a ten that does wonders and it spreads to every one else.

"He had conceded his position and maybe I was probably a bit blunt on that on the show last week on the fact that he has got to accept being the number two now.

"To do that under pressure is a huge sign of mental strength but also shows that the kid has balls.

"He wants this and he is going to fight for it because I thought he looked shaper, he looked fast, he looked strong, he looked powerful.

"There was just this aura about him where that is the Jack Crowley that I tried to sign a few years ago.

In contrast, after a shaky day with the boot, O'Gara said of Prendergast: "It was a perfect example, of a young player getting spooked at the highest level."