HREE YEARS ago, Ronan O’Gara picked up the phone to Jack Crowley and made him an offer he thought he couldn’t refuse. In his bid to lure the young man to La Rochelle, he felt he was holding a few aces: same position, same club (Cork Con), same province.
“I thought there’s no chance this guy is going to turn me down,” said O’Gara on the Irish radio show OTB AM. “Then, BANG, it was crushing. I wanted him big time but my calling card wasn’t strong enough and I was back in my box.”
Forward-wind to last February. The Six Nations, Marseille, Crowley at ten. All eyes on Johnny Sexton’s heir apparent. He was magnificent in a record win.
With Ireland three from three, O’Gara revisited the Crowley question. “The debate over who plays ten for Ireland is over. You talk about someone opening the door – he’s kicked the door down.”
