IRELAND HEAD COACH Andy Farrell said 21-year-old out-half Sam Prendergast deserves the chance to start against for Ireland against Australia on Saturday.
Farrell also said that Jack Crowley, who is on the bench, is a trusted part of the set-up and highlighted that the 24-year-old has played well for Ireland this year, although he indicated that Crowley and Ciarán Frawley have “a lot of improving” to do.
Prendergast made his first start for Ireland against Fiji last weekend and after an early yellow card, the Leinster playmaker showed his potential with an impressive performance that featured some excellent passing.
Crowley had been Ireland’s first-choice out-half this year, helping them to a Six Nations title, but has to be content with a bench role this weekend after starting the first two Tests of this autumn against New Zealand and Argentina.
Farrell is hoping to see Prendergast pick up where he left off against Fiji.
“I think he deserves it,” said Farrell. “I thought he played pretty well. He has trained pretty well over the course of this autumn series as well, so there’s another chance there to lead the week and grow in that manner.
“Obviously, the opportunity to play in a big game along with a good side behind him. For the likes of himself and Gus McCarthy [who is on the Irish bench] and a few others actually, hopefully you combine all of that together and it kicks them on for the future.”
Farrell’s message to Prendergast is to build on last weekend.
“I thought, and so did he, that his performance was good,” said Farrell.
“A few errors thrown in there, I thought he was nice and composed, how he controlled the game coming off the bench against Argentina as well. You can throw that into the mix, putting it all together in an 80-minute performance on a big occasion for everyone involved.”
Farrell was asked if he feels Prendergast has played better than Crowley this autumn or whether this selection in the number 10 shirt was with development in mind.
“Jack has played very well for us for a good while now, played in a lot of big games as well,” said Farrell.
“So we know as far as that’s concerned what we’ve got, although there’s a lot of improving to be had and to be seen with Jack and Ciarán Frawley, etc. but I suppose it’s pretty similar to Conor [Murray, who misses out on the matchday 23].
“Conor’s an unbelievably trusted member of our staff, as is Jack. Craig played well, he deserves his chance to play in a big game also, so it goes through the squad.”
Farrell said his conversation with Crowley about selection was no different to any other chat with a player about them not starting.
“I know it’s a good story for you guys but there’s no difference between telling a fly-half or a captain or whoever it may be or an experienced player that this is the way that you’re going to go this week in comparison to someone who you have that type of conversation most weeks with.
“There’s no difference at all, they’re the same people. We tend to be as honest as we possibly can.”
Saturday brings another big chance for 21-year-old hooker Gus McCarthy, who has been preferred to the more experienced Rob Herring on the Ireland bench.
The Leinster academy hooker enjoyed a try-scoring debut against the Fijians last weekend.
“Same again, really, him being himself,” said Farrell of what he wants to see.
“That’s exactly what he was. We’ve seen it through the age grades, he’s a composed young fella in a pressurised type position. How he managed that last week, we never throw anyone in at the weekend because they have to show their potential in training.
“But Gus being a development player, he’s been in and out of the squad, but we’ve brought him back and the trust has grown a little bit more.
“That must have been a whirlwind of a week for him, hopefully he’s settling down and understanding what a Test match week looks like and hopefully will help him be the best version of himself.”
Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw start in midfield again, with Garry Ringrose providing backline cover from the number 23 shirt.
Farrell said Stuart McCloskey was unlucky to miss out, while also referencing the fact that the injured Jamie Osborne is a strong option in midfield.
“They all came in at different stages in the autumn,” said Farrell. “Robbie hadn’t played much rugby at all, he’s up to speed there now, he’s fresh enough.
“Garry had a cut on his hand that got infected that took him out of training last week but he’s fine and back up to speed so he’s got fresh legs coming off the bench as well there. Plus I thought the two lads played pretty well as a partnership last week.”
With James Ryan returning in the second row alongside Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne moves back to blindside flanker where he has started three of his last four games for Ireland.
“The two second row lads haven’t been doing too bad neither, so the balance of the squad is probably the main thing,” said Farrell.
“We know that Tadhg can play very well in both positions.”
Interesting comment from Farrell about ‘a lot of improving to do’ for Crowley and Frawley. It sounds like certain expectations were not met during this window.
@Michael Corkery: no , it doesn’t.
@Michael Corkery: …well I agree with you…Jeez your a busy man…come across you everywhere…but all sensible and useful stuff!
@Michael Murray: cheers Michael – great name by the way. Was only joking about Elwood alright. Haha. Not that he was a bad player.
@Cian O: what does it mean then? They alluded to this in the 42 podcast too
Frawely had been thrown in the Andy farrell outhalf skip. Jack Carty, Ross byrne, Billy burns, joey carbury , Harry byrne and now frawely. I hope he knows what he’s doing.
@chris mcdonnell: I agree totally. My fear is Crowley’s confidence will be rocked, frawleys is gone already.
@chris mcdonnell: The cheek of him… rummaging around in the Chris McDonnell outhalf skip and moving Ross and Harry Byrne into the Andy Farrell outhalf skip!! Does his scheming know no bounds???
@chris mcdonnell: Frawley has shown little to suggest he is the future at 10 for
Ireland (drop goals aside). If his manager at Leinster, who sees him train day in day out, doesn’t fancy him at 10, it says a lot. Frawley is a decent player who’ll be in and around the squad as a utility back. I doubt ever more than that.
@Luke Guerin: Is this the same manager who has won nothing in the past 3 years, lost 4 Heineken Cup finals and a WYB a Pro 12 or 14 League final to Connacht, and whose first choice 10’s for past 2 years were totally dismissed by Andy Farrell ??
Yeh for sure Leo knows his stuff
@chris mcdonnell: AF seems to be a coach that chooses his outhalf and that’s it – it was Owen Farrell first, then Sexton and it appears he has it in his head Sam P is his guy for the cycle . I think it’s harsh on Crowley but he hasn’t made the jersey his own like ROG or JS did , he still could but there is doubt in AFs mind
@Sean Lenihan: Ross Byrne went to the RWC ahead of a good few other options. He was also the back up 10 in the Grand Slam winning 6Ns last year. He was injured for this years 6Ns where his brother was second choice in his place. But don’t mind facts. They’re not helpful at all.
@Chris Tobin: nonsense but everyone has an opinion
@Paul Ennis: you can happy clap all you want but each of those players were all part of his squads and than dumped without a trace.
@Luke Guerin: same manager has never picked pendergast in an important game?
@chris mcdonnell: he’s 21
Munster fan here, AF is making the correct decision, we know what Crowley can do, lets see a bit of Sam. No issue with it.
@Mistral: Agreed, good rotation, everyone knows where Crowley and Frawley need to work, lets see where Sam needs to tweak his game.
It’s mighty to see that Munster fans wanted the like of Coombes and Ahern to be in an Ireland team and drop players playing much better. But know a young player is given a chance and it’s not right because it’s not their young player. Talking about over hyped, Crowley is over hyped, it’s one of the weakest positions on the field for Ireland and we’re trying to add another option. If Crowley had legitimately made himself unstoppable, you’d say something differently. Munster fans are absolutely insufferable.
@Patrick Breen:
Yawn…… you really must try harder !
@Patrick Breen: jaysus you really have a big chip lad
@Chris Tobin: I think the Munster boys have the bigger chip. No talk of Peter O’Mahony robbing a place on the bench either, funny that.
@Patrick Breen: Why cant we all just get along
@Shanie: we need a bit of spice for the Christmas interpros, and that crowd in 12th in the table are well able to give it, so they may as well take a bit too.
@Shanie: Because Zues gave the Greeks freewill and ambition, and Man looked up at Zues and said someday that will be me up there in Olympus… so God decided to do the same when he created the Irishman and the Irishman looked up and said someday I will get that B@st@rd!!
@Paul Ennis: Fair enough so
@Patrick Breen: your back agian with your tripe talk , go and sit in a dark room and with a paper bag or go play in traffic
@damien reidy: intelligent response as always Damien. It’s only tripe talk when you don’t agree with it.
@Patrick Breen: the same logic should apply to Casey, he is Ireland best scrum half this series but the D4 media won’t write about that
@Patrick Breen: Harsh on Aherne, he will feature at some point, and would have by now if not for injury, we know AF deson’t like Coombes, (too slow imo). The article makes a good point “I know it’s a good story for you guys”… remember this is media, these lads all gotta eat, nothing does this better than ‘hype’ so remember that when you say a player is overhyped you mean the media ran off with their imaginings to sell content. Same exact thing will happen to Sam Prendergast. I don’t see the “munster fans” you refer to, perhaps the exist in your imagination?
I think Andy is playing a bit of mind games with Crowley and Frawley. IMO he is looking to see how they react to his comments ie. have they the mental strength to bounce back stronger. As a Leinster fan I’d still be surprised if Crowley is not the starting 10 in the 6Ns. He has much more experience both at provincial and International level and should have credit in the bank. However if Sam produces the goods week in week out with Leinster then you never know.
@Tom Reilly: you could be right!
He plays in Blue, he’s a shoe in. Nobody else need apply. Boycott this D4 team
@FoxyBoiiYT: You’ll be missed lol.
@FoxyBoiiYT: please and boycott the Internet too
I like Jack Crowley but it cant be denied that his form was poor coming into the Autumn series. Farrell gets to see him in training so something must have been noted there.
He could have included Frawley if he Ringrose & Henshaw started. No need to panic for either Crowley or Frawley. They’ll both be ok. I would rather start Sam and have the ability to bring on Crowley than the other way round if there is an injury. Still think Frawley is more versatile than Ringrose but the latter is still a great player.
@Con Cussed: i can see Crowley moving to 12 in the future.
@Con Cussed: You called it right Con. Maybe I had a small selection win for suggesting AF might use Crowley as the versatile sub, makes sense tho, surprise Casey gets the nod, was sure AF would go for a defensive option in Murray but seems like he really is rewarding momentum, which if it continues will be very entertaining. People will have the learn to take the ‘fails’ a bit better tho.
Campbell was much better than Ward?
@brian o’leary: …different type of players entirely. Ollie was an orchestrator par excellence, Tony was a make it up as he saw it and let everyone else 2nd guess him. Just ask any forward and particularly a backrower which they prefer and they will pick Ollie all day. Tony for all his near genius was hard on a pack.
@brian o’leary: neither were as good as ROG :)
@Michael Corkery: and Rog not as good as sexton :)
@Kevin: Éric Elwood was the GOAT
@Michael Corkery: Heavens man, you are taking the p1ss?
@Michael Corkery: ….agree with you but not by much re. Ollie…what shades it there for me is how good is a 10 behind a struggling pack and ROG was the best. Intrestingly, on the ROG vs Jonny debate I was in the ROG camp until ladt nigjy when I listened to Dan Biggar talking about JS as an opponent. So for me and those seen in my lifetime, It’s a photo finish for top 3 but 1) Jonny 2) ROG 3) Ollie…4)after that the rest.. Tony Ward, David Humphries, Brian Smith, Barry Mc Gann etc
@Michael Murray: Sexton is the greatest Irish flyhalf I’ve ever seen , him and O’Driscoll are the best there ever has been in green in my lifetime ..that my opinion ROG was an excellent flyhalf, Sexton was “special”, …
@Stuart: I’ve had the privilege of seeing Sexton live ..the way he took it to the line , the thinking of moves steps ahead , the visionary stuff that only special players have ..he was incredible …
@Stuart: ..
You obviously never saw Mike Gibson….look for video footage, even back to his Colours game where he played 10. In rugby context ….a thing of beauty. I’m 77 yrs older and a rugby fanatic for more than 60 of them and zI have never seen anything the likes of him.
@Michael Murray: …watched a video clip recently where BOD says that he would love to have played with him…you’ll find that on Facebook zi think.
@Michael Murray: I’ll try find some clips , am intrigued …thanks
@Stuart: Spot on right
@Michael Murray: of those I’ve seen, Gibson was the best. Too young to have seen Jack Kyle, but those who did rate him up with the very best
@Stuart: man, just Google a You Tube video ‘Pat Casey try vs England’ Gibson is your 10. Fabulous score that would do justice to the modern more expensive game. Appreciate feedback and will try to find more.
@Michael Murray: beautiful dummy and interplay that for the try. I’m also watching some of the other highlights in colour in other videos , certainly looked like a player …
@Stuart: delighted you took the time…
Thanks….my most cherished memories!!
@Michael Murray: remember Moss Finn’s try v Wales 1982, made by Campbell?
@Michael Murray: an absolute pleasure Michael. And what an education to give me, thank you
@brian o’leary: …was there……Actually sorta showing my age in terms of forgetfulness but in my previous posts I had No.4) the rest ….but I’ve just remembered Paul Dean (St Marys) who couldn’t kick for nuts but could run a three quarter line like silk. ….so 1)JS, 2) ROG, 3) OC, 4) PD, 5) the rest….and can I add Eric Ewood to the rest in case Michael Corkery takes offense!! Ha!
@Michael Murray: Who was the lad who tried to take his head off as he played on the wing in one of his last games for Ireland. Gibson would be a super star in any era. Imagine him as a professional!
@Stuart: …delighted….2 other players who wore the green with distinction( both backrow) that would be shoe ins today but probably not well known, Ken Goodall and Ronnie Lamont….so, do good.
@Stuart: thanks for that…Google an ESPN article….’ the most complete player I’ve ever seen’(quote the revered Bill Mc Laren)….a good pen picture of the man.
@Michael Murray: I think Gibson was a different era and hard to compare an amateur vs a professional. Gibson had to juggle between his job and his love of rugby. Sexton had the luck that the sport was professional and got paid for what he enjoyed doing. Just on this Sexton is ahead as he had the time to dedicate to his profession, imagine if Gibson had the same opportunity? We won’t know but whatever they were both wonderful players for Ireland.
@Michael Murray: that’s an outstanding article and the accolades of the man unreal, Colin meads , the great bill McLaren, I actually worked with Fergus slattery for a few years in Dublin on a job and knew he played rugby but didn’t really know to what extent until later in the relationship ( I see he was part of this group…plain to see how revered Gibson was reading that, thanks again
@Stuart: delighted to share!!
@Stuart: imo, Sexton had to work like a dog to discover his talent where with RoG it was more natural, same of BoD, seemingly effortless brilliance, no question he’s the most naturally gifted Irish player ever. So I suppose the question is does hard work beat talent?
The hype machine never sleeps, best of luck to SP in the media mud pile. Journalists will get to feed on this for a few years. A nice battle for the fans tho with these two going at it, both excellent players, time will tell.
Izzy is nearly 25. He’s started the grand total of 12 games of professional rugby, not including the Emerging Ireland exhibition matches. Why is another week of his career being wasted? Aren’t journalists supposed to call this kind of stuff out?