“All the criticism from previous cycles is that we didn’t develop guys” – Sexton on Crowley vs Prendergast
- “All the criticism from previous cycles is that we didn’t develop guys” – Sexton on Crowley vs Prendergast - February 17, 2026
- “That’s on the head coach” – Andy Farrell to blame for Sam Prendergast situation - February 16, 2026
- IRFU release statement following “cowardly” Edwin Edogbo racial abuse - February 16, 2026
Trained well.
The debate around Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast has spilt well beyond selection chat and into something far more toxic in recent weeks, with head coach Andy Farrell condemning the damaging social media narrative surrounding the pair.
Johnny Sexton knows better than anyone what it’s like to be in the hot seat for Ireland – and be in a tug-of-war for it.
And when he was asked about the pair today, Sexton struck a calm and measured tone in his response, just like in his playing days.
“(Prendergast and Crowley) both trained really well today,” he said.
And that, in many ways, was the point.
The former Ireland captain widened the lens beyond the headline rivalry, reminding everyone that succession planning isn’t a two-man race. And succession planning is something that Ireland have overlooked in the past.
“It’s important, not only those two, but Harry Byrne and Ciarán Frawley too, that they keep developing and getting game-time,” he said.
“There are four guys, and all the criticism from previous cycles is that we didn’t develop guys, that we have relied too heavily on one (player) in some positions.
“We’re doing it a different way now and whether that’s right or wrong, everyone judges it by the outcome. But I know that in games to come, they’re going to hit their best form and they’ll be in a good place.”
It was a pointed reminder of Ireland’s recent past — and the weight that once sat on Sexton’s own shoulders.
Rather than inflaming the conversation, Sexton outlined the process behind the scenes. There are no knee-jerk reactions, no public pile-ons.
“We wouldn’t say too much straight after the game. We let things die down, then review it,” he explained.
“We review it together, very much. Those guys feed back to us as much as we feed back to them.
“Ultimately, we want to know why. Why some things went well, what can we do differently in our prep? As coaches, what do we need to do more of? All those types of things.”
In other words, development — not drama.
“Both of them did some really good things, some work-ons, and some things they need to improve. It’ll be like that for the rest of their careers right until the last day. It’s always like that,” Sexton said.
Drawing on over 100 caps for Ireland, Sexton admitted even the best days aren’t always what they seem.
“Even if I go back to some of my experiences, you come off the pitch and you think you’ve had a great game, but you get into a Monday review and the coaches have a few other ideas in terms of how things have gone,” he said.
“They’ll learn from it and keep developing, like they have been.”
