Simon Easterby has insisted the Irish system is the best route to success for ambitious players – as speculation continues to rage around Jack Crowley’s future. The Munster out-half will get his first start of this year’s Six Nations in Rome tomorrow,

Jack Crowley is set to return at outhalf when the Ireland team to face Italy is announced on Thursday morning, with Simon Easterby expected to make up to five other changes to the starting XV for Saturday’s Six Nations finale in the Stadio Olimpico (kick-off 3.15pm local time/2.15pm Irish).

Jack Crowley's Munster contract expires at the end of the season.

Simon Easterby has given his backing to Jack Crowley to make an impact at out-half this week, while he remains "confident" the Munster man will stay in Ireland next season.

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby is confident Jack Crowley will turn down a lucrative move to Leicester Tigers by remaining with Munster next season and will benefit as a player by not relocating to England.

Crowley’s selection for Ireland comes at the end of a week which has seen English media report a big-money offer from Leicester Tigers to lure him away from Munster.

IRELAND INTERIM HEAD coach Simon Easterby said they are “confident” that Jack Crowley will sign a new deal to stay in Irish rugby beyond the end of this season. Munster out-half Crowley’s current contract expires this summer and English club Leicester have made an approach for the 25-year-old.