Since the retirement of Johnny Sexton in 2023, the topic of who should be Ireland’s first-choice fly-half has been a never-ending discussion.

Sam Prendergast looked to have taken charge earlier this year but, after a shaky start to the Six Nations, Jack Crowley was handed the keys and impressed for the rest of the tournament.

When Crowley picked up a back injury at the end of last season, Prendergast slotted back in the 10 jersey for the summer’s Nations Championship matches against Australia and New Zealand.

Ciaran Frawley got his chance against Japan and put in a solid display but, with Crowley and Harry Byrne injured, can he now establish himself as first choice under Andy Farrell?

For former Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray, he is one to watch.

Murray said Prendergast played “really well” as he was named player of the match in Leinster’s Investec Champions Cup win over Clermont on Saturday, but Frawley has also caught his eye.

Fresh from a summer move which has taken him out of the shadows at Leinster, where he was rarely deployed at fly-half, to first choice at Connacht, the 28-year-old has settled in seamlessly under Stuart Lancaster.

In Dublin, he was often down the pecking order at fly-half, and often featured at full-back or at centre, and it felt like his versatility counted against him.

After moving west, Frawley scored twice on his debut against Benetton in the United Rugby Championship, and grabbed another two tries in Saturday’s thrilling Champions Cup win over Saracens in Galway.

“It is one to watch in terms of seeing how much say he’ll have [in November],” Murray told BBC Sport NI.

“I suspect that Sam is going in as number one choice, but Frawley is one to keep an eye on.”

Murray said the quality of Ireland’s goal kicking was still “the elephant in the room”, and pointed to that fact that Frawley has not been kicking from the tee for Connacht.

While it was against lower-ranked opposition than Ireland will face in November – with Argentina, Fiji and South Africa all to visit Dublin – Frawley did land three of his four attempts for Ireland in the victory over Japan in July.

He also delivered in clutch moments, when his last-gasp drop goal in South Africa in 2024 secured a second-ever Test win in Springbok territory and a series draw with the world champions.

Aside from a number of injuries to signifcant players – such as captain Caelan Doris – Farrell named a settled squad for November’s three Nations Championship matches.

Argentina come to the Aviva Stadium on 7 November, before matches against Fiji and South Africa and the inaugural finals weekend in London.

The Ulster duo of Jamie Benson and James McNabney, who Farrell described as a “specimen”, are the only two new faces for the autumn fixtures.

Murray added that the squad was “as expected” from Farrell, and he believes the new Nations Championship can help preparations for the World Cup in Australia next year.

“You’re obviously aware there’s a World Cup and you want to be on that squad,” said Murray, who won two Six Nations Grand Slams in a decorated career.

“They might use it as a building block and form it as a mini-tournament leading up to the World Cup, or try to replicate scenarios with the way the games are going to go, to lead up to a final.

“Does he treat the games as a last-16, a quarter-final, a semi-final and a final? It’s important.”