Ireland and New Zealand are set to renew one of world rugby's newest rivalries this evening when they meet under the Friday night lights in the Aviva Stadium.
Tonight's edition of the fixture will be the tenth time these two sides have met since 2016, with Ireland one the better with five wins in the last nine games.
While 2022 saw Ireland take the All Blacks by storm with a tour win in the previously impenetrable New Zealand, it was tonight's visitors who had the last laugh when they dumped Andy Farrell's men out of the 2023 RWC quarter-final.
However, it's not just the New Zealand Ireland rivalry which has been brewing, deep in the bowels of the Irish camp an in-form Ciaran Frawley and current first choice Jack Crowley are battling to stake their claim on Johnny Sexton's old jersey.
As Jack Crowley tries to rid his provincial woes and prove that he's the man to lead Ireland's attack, he'll undoubtedly be leaning on his predecessor Sexton who recently joined up with the squad in a part-time coaching role helping Crowley, Frawley and Prendergast.
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9 March 2024; Jack Crowley of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium in London, England. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Simon Zebo on what Jack Crowley stands to learn from Johnny Sexton
Speaking on TNT Sports ahead of tonight's clash, Munster legend Simon Zebo who played with both Sexton and Crowley revealed just how much the Munster man stands to gain from Sexton's new role.
Johnny has a wealth of knowledge playing at this level and playing fantastically well.
Where I feel he might have an impact on Jack is potentially around the game management side of things. Johnny was a master tactician, knowing when to kick, knowing when to run with the ball, when to feed the backs on the outside, and it was huge you could see the impact he could have on games without necessarily carrying the ball.
When to kick to corners and how to read backfield coverages, these little areas of detail around being in that number ten jersey is where I feel Johnny could have a big impact on Jack.
While on the field Sexton may not be able to have the same impact he did the last time these sides met, if Zebo's words are anything to go by, off the field he'll be as influential as ever.
An influence Jack Crowley will need if he's to hold onto his starting place in the face of a surging Ciaran Frawley who sensationally scored two drop goals to beat South Africa in the last international test window.
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