David Corkery on rugby: Jack Crowley has been treated terribly and deserves IRFU central contract

This bitter-sweet Six Nations must be examined in great detail.

Finishing third is nothing to be ashamed about but when the goal was the title, it is essential to learn where it all went wrong.

I know we won four out of the five games but have Ireland gone backward or has everyone else just caught up?

Maybe we should be celebrating the retirement of Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray on this occasion, but the small cracks visible during the last World Cup and the Autumn internationals are unquestionably starting to get a little bit wider. Apart from in Scotland, Ireland could have easily lost the three other games.

Considering what transpired when the French gave a very harsh and clinical lesson in how to execute a ruthless game plan, Ireland were always going to be vulnerable in Italy, who took full advantage. As expected the fearless and reckless Azzurri were never going to turn up to have their bellies scratched but I thought Ireland would have been mentally prepared for the physical and aggressive onslaught.

OK we won and got the four-try bonus point, but there is something just not right about how Ireland are playing. 

If things don’t improve, it won’t be too long before those narrow victorious scorelines start to swing against us.

Gone seems to be the fluency that allowed Jamison Gibson-Park to distribute the ball with little or no pressure on and in its place is a slow, messy and panicky pass that allows ample time for the opposition to rush up and keep Ireland’s receivers pinned back well behind the all-important gain line.

Also gone is the assurance that Ireland are going to win their first phase balls from the scrum and line-out. When this happens, confusion can very quickly creep in.

On Saturday nearly all of Ireland's strike plays were a good 25% off the level of precision top-flight rugby now demands. Executing at this standard means the likes of New Zealand, South Africa and France will chew you up and spit you out.

The debate over Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley is also not helping matters either; it's imperative your chief playmaker is recognised and depicted as so.

The decision to start Prendergast at the beginning of this competition was wrong and just because Leinster were playing well and Munster were struggling, Prendergast should not have been given the nod.

Maybe things have changed since my day, but before you were handed a green jersey you had to be tested at all levels and you had to earn the right, which Crowley had.

I can 100% assure you if Crowley was playing with the same quality of player Leinster have at their disposal, he too would look like a rugby God. 

IDIOTIC

As for the situation regarding Crowley’s contract negotiations... 

To have this hanging over one of the country’s most influential players during the IRFU’s bread-and-butter competition is nothing short of idiotic. 

If the sums of money that are been bandied about are believable, Crowley should be seriously considering his options to move abroad. 

Just look at what happened to Antoine Dupont. God willing he will make a successful and full recovery, but no one can guarantee he'll return as the same player who was able to toy with opposing teams.

One player who has returned effectively after a very similar problem is Irish hooker Dan Sheehan and if injury doesn’t continue to darken his door, he will one day captain his country.

Some folk might be happy with Ireland winning a Triple Crown but more concerning over the last few weeks is the U20s displays. On Friday night, Italy beat them for the first time and consigned them to the bottom of the table.

These players are the national team's future and it is not acceptable for them to finish last.

The last few words must go to Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy. All I can say is, thank you for your sacrifices.