Munster suffered a catastrophic 31-29 defeat at home to Castres on Saturday evening.
A victory over their familiar French foes would have meant a place in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup. The loss means Munster’s Champions Cup hopes are gone. It’s their fourth straight loss and if Gloucester beat Toulon on Saturday night, Munster will be out of the Challenge Cup as well.
It’s the first time in 15 years that Munster will not play in the Champions Cup knockout stages.
There were plenty of individual errors to go around for Munster. But in a game decided by such a fine margin, they’ll especially rue the three missed conversions from Jack Crowley, considering Castres kicker Enzo Hervé finished with a 100% conversion rate.
Ireland are less than three weeks from their Six Nations opener against France, and unfortunately for Crowley, his place in the Ireland twenty-three will be under serious pressure because of Harry Byrne’s brilliant form.
Kearney on Jack Crowley: ‘goalkicking can make or break a game’
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The Premier Sports panel of Rob Kearney, Stephen Ferris and Simon Zebo discussed Crowley’s performance after the defeat, with Kearney highlighting how placekicking effectively decided the result.
Their goalkicker was phenomenal off the tee tonight. Jack Crowley not so much. And those are the fine little margins that make a big difference in a knockout game of rugby.
Kearney was also critical of Crowley’s role in Castres’ 51st minute try, which was struck off for a forward pass in the build-up. Crowley had given away possession as Munster attacked after a low-percentage chip-and-chase ended up in a turnover.
I would look back at that and say ‘that’s Crowley’s fault.’ Munster could have made up some tackles and they could have fought a little bit harder for each other in defence, but you can’t give the ball away like that cheaply in big games.
Kearney then discussed Crowley’s kicking – including the missed conversion after Edwin Edogbo’s second half try that sailed far wide – and worried about the consequences for the upcoming Six Nations.
Unfortunately, as well for him, as Fez [Stephen Ferris] said on commentary, it’s not like that kick’s close. It’s a fair bit off.
You’re looking at going to Paris, away to France, You know that goalkicking can make or break a game.
For that, you’re going to want a number ten who has far greater percentages than Jack has at the moment.
The number ten with the greater percentages in an Irish context who Kearney did not mention is Harry Byrne, the guy who kicked the winning penalty against La Rochelle last week.
It leaves Andy Farrell with a selection quandary for Paris on February 5. On form, Byrne is the best out-half in Ireland this season. He is certainly the most reliable off the tee. In Bayonne today, Sam Prendergast again provided glimpses of the X-factor he possesses.
Based purely on current form, Crowley looks like the odd man out.
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