A defining performance.
Jack Crowley produced an emphatic performance on Saturday, comfortably winning the much-publicised battle between himself and Sam Prendergast, his rival for the Ireland 10 jersey.
A couple of wayward cross-field kicks to start the game did not put him off in the slightest, as he stuck with the game plan, producing a stunning assist for Tom Farrell’s try, with numerous pressure-inducing kicks, all while racking up 18 tackles in a mighty defensive effort.
But perhaps the most most telling stat was 4/4 record from the tee.
Last season, Crowley’s goal kicking was a major Achilles heel, but a shift in mindset has clearly helped.
Key to his mental progress has been Munster great and Crowley’s former teammate, Andrew Conway, who retired in 2023.
The ex-winger works as a mental performance coach with his company, 5XFlow.
As he describes it, he delivers “bespoke consulting strategies”, helping clients with their “holistic performance and wellbeing.”
Following Munster’s 31-14 win over Leinster, Conway wrote on LinkedIn:
A picture paints a thousand words…
This is Jack in a deep state of Flow on Saturday evening.
Eyes dilated.
Aware, but in control of his surroundings.
Living moment to moment.
In control of his cognitive load.
Open to ‘seeing what happens’.
Competing with no one but himself.
Proving, “I am who I think I am”.
What a joy it is to be working with Jack in the pursuit of his potential.
It might sound strange to say, but it’s the truth:
This doesn’t feel like work.
It feels like the job I was put on this earth to do.
Another of Conway’s clients is Munster scrum-half Craig Casey, who has taken his own game to a new level over the past year.
On his work with Conway, Crowley said: “The work Andrew and I have done together has been of great aid to my mental game on and off the field.
“Andrew was has huge levels of experience within high performing environments and knows what it takes to achieve success at the highest level.
“Anyone that is looking to achieve their highest potential, would definetly benefit from the work Andrew does.”
