Paul O’Connell on what he wants from Jack Crowley

Ireland interim head coach Paul O’Connell has challenged Jack Crowley to respond to an impressive display from fly-half rival Sam Prendergast.

Munster number 10 Crowley will start Saturday evening’s match against Portugal in Lisbon as part of six changes to the team who began last weekend’s 34-5 win over Georgia.

Leinster playmaker Prendergast, who became his country’s first-choice out-half last autumn, kicked 14 points in tricky conditions in Tbilisi but has been given this weekend off.

World Rugby U20 Championship Promo | RPTV

Watch the future stars of our game in action with the World Rugby U20 Championship, available on RugbyPass TV and the RugbyPass App.

Watch Now

World Rugby U20 Championship Promo | RPTV

Watch the future stars of our game in action with the World Rugby U20 Championship, available on RugbyPass TV and the RugbyPass App.

Watch Now

With Ciaran Frawley providing back up from the bench, Crowley will partner Ireland captain and Munster team-mate Craig Casey at Estadio Nacional.

“It’s a very important position, out-half, I think more and more important in the game than it’s ever been,” O’Connell told reporters on Thursday.

“They probably don’t touch the ball as much as the nines, but they probably make more decisions than anyone else on the field and they really decide how we play the game.

“Having two guys that are confident, that we believe in, that get to get in and play our way and make mistakes and learn and get it right and learn from that as well is really important.

“It’s an opportunity for Jack to own the week and run it and get after it, and it’s great for us, the two of them are quite supportive of each other. They learn a lot from each other, so it’s just a brilliant opportunity for us to give more experience to Jack.

“I thought Sam was excellent last week, not just in how he played, but his kicking off the tee made a big difference for us.

“We were delighted with him and it’s a great opportunity now for Jack to follow up.”

Alex Kendellen, Shayne Bolton and Hugh Gavin are poised to make Test debuts in Ireland’s second and final match of the summer.

Munster back-row Kendellen, who led Emerging Ireland on last year’s victorious tour to South Africa, lines up at openside flanker, while Connacht wing Bolton replaces the injured Jacob Stockdale on the left flank.

Connacht back Gavin was initially named on the bench before being elevated to outside centre following Jamie Osborne’s call up by the British and Irish Lions.

In the other two changes, Cian Prendergast has been selected at number eight after recovering from illness, while Munster lock Tom Ahern will make his first international start following his debut as a replacement in Georgia.