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Many Ireland fans have the same complaint about Sam Prendergast
By Ian Cameron at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Sam Prendergast has well and truly been cast as the fall guy following Ireland’s heavy, Grand Slam destroying loss to France at the Aviva Stadium.
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Late tries from Jack Conan and Cian Healy for Ireland put some gloss on the scoreboard [42-27], but in truth, this was a resounding and painful loss for the heretofore Six Nations favourites.
The performance of fly-half Prendergast has come in for some particularly heavy criticism online, with many bemoaning the “hype” around the player.
While he had a number of positive moments, landing a 50-plus metre penalty before half-time being one, overall it was a poor outing for the Leinster star, who looked fragile in defence and tried a little too hard to make things happen for Ireland in attack. An intercepted Prendergast pass on France’s line saw the visitors go the length of the pitch in the final throes of the game, capping off a day to forget for the former Ireland U20s star.
The standoff is now on the receiving end from an angry Irish rugby fanbase on social.
“Prendergast is clearly a very good player with a very, very high bar – but he’s getting away with murder with these missed kicks and tackles. I seriously doubt Crowley would get the same rope from the media,” said one irate fan.
Another fan queried: “Is Sam Prendergast the most overhyped player in any sport ever?,” while another posted: “The hype around Sam Prendergast is everything that’s wrong about Irish Rugby… in the words of Jimmy Sloyan simply not good enough.”
Other fans, mainly Munster ones, claim previous first choice Jack Crowley is being unfairly treated given the performance of the 21-year-old Prendergast against the French.
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“Can anyone really justify Sam Prendergast playing the full 80? The whole team were poor but for him to stay at 10 for the full 80 is just disgraceful. Crowley has been treated so, so poor [sic],” said another.
“We’re all clear now aren’t we?,” quipped another Munster fan. “The Prendergast experiment is an abject failure. As is the Leinsterfication of Ireland in the name of “cohesion”. This is the same team with Crowley at 10 went to Paris and won, btw.”
Another decried: “Commentator “Prendergast will learn more from this 60 minutes” Learn what? That he can’t tackle and chooses to kick when he doesn’t have to and that a spiral kick or long pass will have the media drooling despite this. Crowley won the Six Nations and dropped for a golden boy.”
Other fans came in to defend the Leinsterman, claiming the blame lies with Irish management.
“I want to say something in defence of Sam Prendergast. No 21-year-old, with only a dozen or so senior games, is ready to play outhalf at this level,” wrote an account. “The fault lies with the management team for anointing him and the rugby media for not questioning it.”
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With Italy in Rome on the immediate horizon and a Six Nations title on the line, who Simon Easterby selects at fly-half will certainly be the hot topic of debate in Irish rugby circles this weekend.
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It is not Sam Prendergast's fault Ireland lost. Ireland simply cannot win important games even with the ref on there side France beat them well. They must stop talking on how good and how they are number 1 in the world.They must start delivering and win big matches that matters..
He’ll turn into an exceptional player eventually. Being the starting 10 at test level at 21, along with having the playmaking duties that come with that (along with JGP) is a heavy burden. So when things go wrong, the brunt of it can generally fall on the flyhalf. A tough and unforgiving place to learn the trade. He’ll learn and be the better for it, he seems to take it in his stride and not leave the knock backs affect him , like top players should do.
In saying that Crowley has been hard done by and definitely offers a more attacking threat in attacking the line and giving that drift defensive when in motion more to think about, not closing the door on the gain line. The way we play at the moment i think he is more suited with the numerous strike moves, therefore i’d give him the jersey the next day against Italy. Not a bad problem to have going forward two potentially excellent flyhalfs.
Just an easy opportunity for the doubters to puff up their intelligence levels, nothing to see here.
Typical Home Nations media driven crap about how good a player or team is and when reality strikes home someone has to cop the blame. After a hundred years Ireland struck a purple patch and now it’s over!
Typical ‘Humble Heroes’ Kiwi supporter as thin skinned as the Saffers and just here to troll. Still hurting after the 2022 series whopping I guess?
He wasn't that bad. Looked composed ball in hand during the first half. In the second half they were under pressure and chasing the game. Ireland got overpowered by an excellent French team. People over hyped him when Ireland were on top in games and they're now overreacting when Ireland got beasted. He certainly wasn't one of the main reasons Ireland lost.
Such fair, balanced and sensible comments have no place on this site!
We got a lesson here, but its not on Prendergast. Thats just clickbait.
This French team is head and shoulders above anything else in the world right now.
Sh1t happens. No need to panic. Lets keep building during this transition.
If we are going to get hammerred. I prefer its to a fantastic rugby team like the French. More luck to them.
Keep telling yourself that for another few years bud, might as well make the most of it.
Sadly what some of us have foretold has come to pass, I gather……..have had no power overnight where we live due to ex Cyclone Alfred, so have not seen the game yet, To me, this high pressure game was one where Crowley was the man to start, even play the full 80 mins.
This is the same error, it woul dappear, that the coaching team made when the AB’s won that RWC QF in France…..keeping Crowley on the bench. Personally feel very acid over this.
It was really no different to any other game, other than Ireland’s attack couldn’t quite function, so he didn’t have that avenue of redemption. So yes, the evidence that’s been their to already say he’s not a fully fledged replacement for Sexton was again visible, but in no greater clarity. If I have to but a calculating mind to what i saw (great game), he was probably their most dangerous prospect from a backline perspective (no wing punch, midfield ferocity, counterattack, or JGP snipping present).
“Is Sam Prendergast the most overhyped player in any sport ever?”
No, that’s Marcus Smith
Jaysus, lads! Nobody died.
It's hardly 42 PTS all on big Sam.
Even the almighty BOD captained an Irish team that got done 60 - NIL. Happens to the best of them.
It must have been the bad draw.
Which is why they can’t make it past the quarters.
What an excellent point!