Ian Costello hints Jack Crowley Munster deal not far away

The 25-year-old, the subject of recent speculation surrounding a big-money offer from Leicester Tigers for his services in the English Premiership next season, scored a try, two conversions and two penalties at MacHale Park on his impressive return from an IRFU-mandated post-Six Nations break.

Costello, speaking after the game, was asked if whether he was concerned Crowley may be on the verge of quitting his home province or confident the fly-half would stay at Munster.

“Confident but until things are official and done… yeah,” the Munster boss said.

Asked again if he was confident, Costello offered the slightest nod of confirmation and added: “Yeah.” 

Crowley looked to be relishing the opportunity to lead from the front on his return to Munster colours after a two-month absence on Six Nations duty with Ireland which saw him used as bench cover for new first-choice fly-half Sam Prendergast in all but the fifth and final round. Irish interim head coach Simon Easterby had kept Prendergast, 21, on the field for the full 80 minutes against Scotland, Wales and France, reducing his Munster rival to late walk-on roles at full-back and in midfield before he was reinstated as the starting 10 against Italy in Rome a fortnight ago.

The Corkman’s 65 minutes as a starter in the 22-17 victory at Stadio Olimpico was only two shy of his total time as a replacement in the previous four rounds and Costello added: “To be fair to Jack, he would have come back and played in the middle (of the Six Nations), he would have played against Edinburgh (on February 28) and he would have loved to have played but he understands the game management side of it and he understands that his focus was on the Six Nations. But Jack always wants to play.

“There was a big difference in leading the team for the week and he led the preparations really, really well and today you saw a guy, I’d say, who was very confident in the prep he had and very confident in himself.

“And I thought there was a lot of self-belief out there, wasn’t there, the way he played the game.” 

Crowley had been reunited with regular half-back partner Craig Casey on the scrum-half’s return from a three-month, knee-injury absence and the pair dovetailed brilliantly to keep Munster on course both before and after centre Alex Nankivell’s 25th-minute red card.

Casey had scored Munster’s second try on 23 minutes and he supplied the bullet skip pass across the posts for his partner’s try 29 minutes later. Costello saw much more good in their partnership than that, before the scrum-half made way for Conor Murray on his 200th Munster appearance 13 minutes from time.

“It’s just control and composure. Jack was just so composed the whole way through in terms of line breaks, his passing range, his kicking range, but he just brings confidence to everyone around him.

“And then Craig had that balance of energy and composure as well. I think we’ve all seen enough games to know how important your game drivers are. I thought our game drivers were excellent today.” 

It added to Costello’s satisfaction on a day when Oli Jager started at tighthead prop after a month out with a foot injury and Jean Kleyn made his first appearance for the province since October following a thigh injury, the South Africa lock making a crucial lineout steal late on as Connacht threatened to complete a stirring fightback having trailed 18-5 at the break.

“Yeah, and I think Craig is back ahead of schedule, so is Jean Kleyn and massive credit to our medical department and our S&C staff.

“JK took the turnover, probably the highest I ever saw him jump, but he got the turnover at the end and Craig could have played 80, which is a massive credit to his rehab and his mentality and mindset as well.

“And hopefully we’ve a couple more coming back next week and we’ll probably have to adapt again with a few bumps and bruises.” 

With a Champions Cup Round of 16 clash with La Rochelle at Stade Marcel-Deflandre coming up this Saturday, the Munster boss said he hoped to have Jack O’Donoghue, Thaakir Abrahams and Peter O’Mahony back in the selection mix following injuries.

Veteran flanker O’Mahony was a more than interested spectator at MacHale Park on Saturday, as Costello explained.

“Peter sat with us for the experience today, up with the coaches and it was good to have his perspective up there as well but yeah, hopefully he’s good to go next week.” 

O’Mahony is on his last lap as a Munster player before retirement this summer but Costello hopes to see the 35-year-old returning to the coaches’ box, eventually.

“Long-term, not the short-term anyway. I think he’ll keep away from it for a little while but he’s got so much to give.

“Whether it’s as a mentor, or as a technical coach, he’s just a giant of the game and at some point I’d hope he’ll give something back to the game, particularly back at Munster and I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t.

“But I think he definitely needs some time away.”