on the bench

In his first match as interim head coach, Simon Easterby handed a Six Nations debut to 21-year-old fly-half Sam Prendergast, with Jack Crowley - who played every minute of last year's tournament - starting on the bench.

Townsend has some terrific firepower on the bench.

Jack Crowley played every minute of Ireland's Six Nations title-winning campaign last year, but despite impressing for Munster in recent weeks, the 25-year-old must settle for a place on the bench.

With the shot clock about to expire and three of the Bruins’ top five scorers on the bench — Tyler Bilodeau with an injured ankle, Dylan Andrews with cramps and Kobe Johnson with five fouls — Mack rose for the three-pointer that quieted the roaring crowd inside the Galen Center.

There is an even split between backs and forwards on the bench, with Nicky Smith set to win his 50th cap.