Jack Crowley is by far Ireland’s best bet at number 10

This was never going to be easy, but it wasn’t meant to be that hard either.

Ireland were favourites, which isn’t to say Andy Farrell and his charges underestimated the visitors. Competing well below your accepted standards and still managing to find a way to win is a great sign though.

Cian Healy celebrates his side’s victory at the final whistle over Australia. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

However in saying that their error-rate must improve because when they come up against the better sides they will be ruthlessly exposed. The margins at this level are so small that one dropped ball or one missed tackle can all too often be the difference.

The best analogy I could use is an F1 pit stop where there are more than 20 crew members all with very specific jobs to do when the car comes in off the track and screeches to a halt. If even one crew member messes up, it means that all the other jobs that have been accomplished successfully are a complete waste of time.

Last weekend as Ireland dismantled a brave but very limited Fijian side, Australia were having the same done to them by a Scottish team that are starting to find their feet again after a very difficult few years.

The Scots’ 27-13 win meant many thought Ireland just needed to turn up and the Aussie challenge would fall away just as it did in Murrayfield seven days earlier. This was not to be the case.

And if any of the Irish players were to have panicked and looked to go off-piste the IRFU’s 150th birthday celebrations, Cian Healy’s record-breaking 134th appearance and Andy Farrell’s departing party before he takes up his B&I Lions coaching role would have been somewhat tainted.

For long periods, you would easily be forgiven for thinking it was Australia ranked number two in the world and Ireland eight.

From the off the birthday boys found it incredibly difficult to establish any kind of flow and at times looked muddled in what they were trying to achieve, albeit credit must go to how the visitors went about their business in limiting Ireland’s attacking threat.

Finlay Bealham was knocking on balls and giving away penalties as if it was going out of fashion, the lineout was once again operating on a hit-or-miss basis and it looked like Australia were winning most if not all the gain line collisions courtesy of their immense back-row trinity.

Robbie Henshaw of Ireland is tackled by Max Jorgensen of Australia. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

I don’t think anyone would suggest that the now Joe Schmidt-coached Wallabies were not full value for their halftime lead, and that if Ireland didn’t emerge from the team talk with a fire lit under their arse the visitors would be returning home with a very valuable scalp.

DISTRACTION

The re-selection of Sam Prendergast over Jack Crowley after his average showing against Fiji in the all-important number 10 jersey dominated much of the headlines in the build-up to this game.

I think everyone who follows Irish rugby would have thought that Crowley would have started, but maybe Farrell had it in his head that this was always going to happen and that both players would start two games apiece in this series.

Without setting the world alight Prendergast did a solid job on Saturday, but he has a very long way to go in becoming the true successor to Sexton.

I can also guarantee you that Crowley will have a very big say in this process and that right now after watching the last four games, Crowley is top of the list.

A big mention must also go to Craig Casey on this occasion because after he replaced Jamison Gibson-Park for the last 15 minutes he made an immediate impact on the tempo and put the Australian defence under all kinds of pressure.

I thought Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw played well however, moving forward they are just too similar in how they go about their business and this is why we need a ball player like Gary Ringrose in the starting 15.

Looking forward to the Six Nations, evolution is now the key for Ireland because other teams are slowly working out how to play against them and it won’t be long before the likes of England get their act together.

A win is a win, but there are now questions where once there were none.