At the height of the Ronan O’Gara-Johnny Sexton rivalry in 2009, the enmity between Ireland’s two great fly-halves of the 21st Century was such they could be found squaring up to each on the pitch and calling each other all sorts of names.

In one infamous clash at Thomond Park that year – recalled by Sexton in his recent autobiography – Leinster’s young tyro took great delight in causing O’Gara to flinch after shaping to throw a punch at him.

“I called him a coward,” Sexton recalled in his book. “That really set him off. ‘Call me a coward? ‘You’re nothing! You’re useless! A nobody!’ It soon broke up, but I stored his words in a place where they could fester.” After Leinster knocked Munster out of the Heineken Cup later that season, Sexton celebrated in O’Gara’s face. O’Gara told his young rival to “f--- off”.

It is fair to say the rivalry between Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley for possession of Ireland’s No 10 shirt is not quite at that level yet. And likely never will be. “Me and Jack get along very well,” Prendergast said on Saturday night when asked about his relationship with Crowley. “Like we all travel in the same car to kicking, travel home together. It would be a bit awkward if we didn’t get along.”

But there is just the hint of another great Leinster vs Munster divide brewing. Certainly judging by the reaction to Prendergast’s performance in Ireland’s win over England on Saturday.

Depending on who you listened to afterwards – and social media appeared divided along tribal lines – the 21-year-old Prendergast is either an overhyped, overpromoted charlatan. Or he is the new Messiah, a nerveless 6ft 5in phenom with ice in his veins and liquid hands.

Patchiness to be expected in one so young

The answer, of course, is he is neither one thing nor the other. Prendergast’s performance was certainly patchy as you would expect of a 21-year-old making only his fourth appearance for Ireland in a Six Nations opener against a fired-up England.

By his own admission, he kicked too long at times, missed two conversions he ought to have slotted, threw a pass on the five-metre line which was blocked when he might have gone himself, threw a long pass which was nearly intercepted, and was caught out defensively a couple of times.

But he also grew into the game, showing his full range of his passing, sending Bundee Aki clear for his try.

What was perhaps most impressive about him was that, despite the relentless pressure from England in the opening 20-30 minutes, he did not stop trying – the wraparounds, the miss-passes.

Yes, Crowley made a big difference when he came on in the second half, but by then Ireland were on the front foot, England were gassed, and the game had broken up.

Besides, Crowley had only himself to blame for losing his place in the autumn, showing what even O’Gara, his Munster forbear, described this week as “yo-yo” form for both country and province.

Who will get the nod against Scotland next weekend? It would be a major surprise if Ireland ditched Prendergast after this performance.

Dropping Prendergast for Scotland trip would be a major surprise

Simon Easterby, who is standing in for Farrell this year, backed his young fly-half afterwards. “I thought Sam Prendergast was excellent at times and created some really nice opportunities,” he argued. “And like the autumn, Jack Crowley came on, impacted the game and finished it well.”

The truth is it probably isn’t Easterby’s decision anyway. Farrell – who was in the stands at the Aviva on Saturday and got one of the biggest cheers of the afternoon when the cameras panned to him – appears to favour the Leinsterman and there is no way Easterby is going to cross his boss.

Either way, expect a week of bickering on social media regarding the two players’ respective supporters. Prendergast and Crowley might be friends (“there’s also Frawls as well!” pointed out the affable Prendergast, referring to provincial colleague Ciaran Frawley), but it appears Ireland itself is split on their merits.

Ireland are off to a winning start but the debate over the long-term heir to Johnny Sexton shows no sign of being resolved any time soon.