Since Johnny Sexton had the Ireland shirt no 10 under lock and key for more than a decade, the process of moving from the creator of Talismán Games always seemed to have been.
A fierce tactical teacher and competitor, Sexton had guided Ireland five titles from the six nations, three of them being Grand Slams.
Add the four champions drinks that he won with Leinster, along with six national titles of Pro14, and became half the most decorated flight of his generation.
With 118 caps in his name, Sexton finally called Time in a brilliant race after Ireland lost to New Zealand in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in France in 2023.
And so a new chapter for the Irish rugby began. One step towards the unknown, they are still adjusted to life in the era after more than a year later.
Things started quite well. In the six nations of last year, Jack Crowley in Minster began the five games when Ireland achieved the championship. He also played well and was the apparent heir.
The brilliant Sexton was a constant spine on the Scotland side before retiring in 2023
Jack Crowley has the eye of taking permanent possession of the NO10 shirt for Ireland
Sam Purgast is the other contender who seeks to replace Sexton as half of the first option
It was a different story on the summer tour of Ireland in South Africa. Crowley found himself under the microscope and his performances against the Springboks were criticized.
When the autumn test series arrived a few months later, it was bank for the last two games against Fiji and Australia.
The young Leinster Hotshot Sam Prendergast had stolen a march on him and, after those victories about the sets and the Wallabies, it was Arresto who began against England last weekend in the first game of the six nations in Dublin.
Once again, however, Arrendast found himself at the end of criticism. It didn't matter if he was a 21 -year -old from his debut in the six nations.
There is no grace period in an Ireland shirt when the team competes to win a great year after year. There is no time to be gently accommodated. Players are judged equally, regardless of their age or experience.
When Crowley, four years of the old man at the age of 25, left the bank to replace it in 58 minutes, the tempo of the Ireland attack improved markedly.
It was the same story against Australia in autumn and, as Ireland goes to Murrayfield on Sunday, it seems that the balls are still very in the air with respect to their long -term plan in the middle of the flight.
Ireland is still looking for the magic formula after Sexton. The battle and the rivalry between Arrentgast and Crowley could define the T -shirt No. 10 during the next decade.
Jack Crowley kicks a penalty goal in the victory of the six nations last weekend over England in Dublin
Purgast considers his options as Tom Curry of England tries to stop him
Sexton made a point to obtain the best of Scotland in matches among Celtic nations
“I think it is a fairly healthy competition, Jack is a great boy and a great player,” said Prendentgast earlier this week.
'We both only work together, as much as people want to think we hate each other. I think he is playing very well right now and I thought he played very well when he met England.
Despite the fact that Crowley made a positive contribution from the bank last week and helped change the game, the sensation in Ireland is that Arrestast can get the approval against Scotland.
It was Andy Farrell's decision to promote Pometgast to the Ireland team, despite the fact that he only had a limited job at Leinster Club level.
Arndast is Farrell's man. It is true that it was not especially great against England, but the consensus in Ireland is that it would be a surprise if Farrell chose to cover him after a game.
For all that, Farrell is not there as a chief coach due to the duty of the lions, he can bet on his dollar lower than he is still calling the shots in terms of team selection.
Crowley's performances could still force his hand. If Ireland continues to cause the life of the bank, the calls to start only become stronger.
This is a new territory for Ireland. There was a natural cross between Sexton and his predecessor Ronan O'Gara.
Crowley prepares to kick a penalty during the 2023 World Cup clash with South Africa
Sam Purgast downloads the ball, observed by Marcus Smith, on the way to the Irish victory in Dublin
When O'Gara's career was finishing, Sexton was prepared and ready to take the reins. Although they were not especially amateur at that time, it was clear that Sexton was the coming man.
Now, the chief coach of La Rochelle in France, O'Gara, still prominently presents in the speech around the Irish rugby and spoke this week of the battle between Crowley and Prendergast.
Previously criticized with Crawley's exhibitions for the club and the country, O'Gara believes that his partner Munsterman proved to be a point with his performance from the bank against England.
“He had a great game,” O'Gara said. 'As good as I have seen in a red or green shirt and I only thought it was decisive. Like ten, that does wonders and extends to everyone else.
'He granted his position (in autumn) and perhaps he was a bit overwhelming with that, with the fact that he has to accept being number two now.
'But doing that under pressure is a great sign of mental strength. It also shows that the child has b *** s.
“He wants this and is going to fight for that because I thought it seemed out, it seemed fast, he looked strong, seemed powerful.
'There was only this aura on him. That is the Jack Crowley that I tried to sign a few years ago.
Regarding the performance of Pledge, and the fact that some kicks were lost, O'Gara added: “It was a perfect example of a young player scared at the highest level.”
O'Gara will surely become a chief coach of Ireland at some point in the future, so it was interesting to hear his opinion about the rivalry between the two players.
Brian O'Driscoll, the undisputed king of Irish rugby, feels that turbast will finally nail the shirt and do it his.
“I think Arrentgast will be 10 in the World Cup in 2027,” O'Driscoll said. “I think his roof is higher, I think he has a more natural skill than Crowley.”
As Ireland now addresses Murrayfield to continue his search for a third consecutive title of the six nations, the battle between Arrentgast and Crowley is an intriguing subtraction.
If they stay with Pledge, Scotland would be nonsense if they did not seek to point to someone with such a limited experience at the upper level.
If they return to Crowley, I would only confirm that the image after Sexton is not yet decidedly unclear.