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Many Ireland fans have the same complaint about Sam Prendergast

By Ian Cameron at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Sam Prendergast of Ireland after the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and France at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

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.

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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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Comments

27 Comments
K
KI 122 days ago

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..

J
JC 123 days ago

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.

J
JW 123 days ago

Just an easy opportunity for the doubters to puff up their intelligence levels, nothing to see here.

t
thewizard 123 days ago

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!

R
RedWarrior 123 days ago

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?

T
Tom 123 days ago

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.

T
Teddy 123 days ago

Such fair, balanced and sensible comments have no place on this site!

R
RedWarrior 123 days ago

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.

J
JW 123 days ago

Keep telling yourself that for another few years bud, might as well make the most of it.

M
Mzilikazi 123 days ago

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.

J
JW 123 days ago

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).

f
fl 123 days ago

“Is Sam Prendergast the most overhyped player in any sport ever?”


No, that’s Marcus Smith

T
Teddy 123 days ago

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.

G
GrahamVF 123 days ago

It must have been the bad draw.

G
GrahamVF 123 days ago

Which is why they can’t make it past the quarters.

T
Teddy 123 days ago

What an excellent point!

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Hellhound 22 minutes ago
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The junior Bokkies is really doing very well, underlining the strength and depth in the SA rugby system. Who will snatch these players up? My worries is that there is just not enough professional teams that compete internationally, and most of these players might be lost to other leagues/countries in the future.

SARU needs to add more teams to the Currie Cup, maybe rebrand the competition. SA have as much, if not more talent than the French. We could easily supply about 14 teams, who could be very competitive with all the young talent coming through, others who might come back. The biggest problem SA rugby have, is money. The club's just don't have money and SARU holds the keys. SA needs investment, but that won't happen unless more teams, or a new system is brought forth. With the right investors, the club scene will make a lot of money. I would look towards the IPL franchise owners or the UAE. They have the money to grow the sport, build new stadiums etc. With 44 African countries, one or two teams per country could easily made up to 4 or 5 tiers of rugby competitions. Even if those countries play their national teams in the local club competition. It would help African rugby too, facing teams like the Bulls and Sharks etc. on a regular basis. Africa is untapped potential. There is big room for improvement. Currently SA is in a bubble or Island of their own on the African continent. Money is available from the right investors if they actually do proper marketing and get businesses or mine owners involved in sponsoring teams. Yes there is a lot of red tape, but creating a league the size of the French clubs scene could easily be achieved. There is more than enough very good players available, however no funds is available currently. There is certainly more than enough African billionaires around to be able to create a league like that. Many countries are currently diluting the SA talent, snapping them up young, offering what SA can't. Money. How many of these young stars will go on to represent a provincial team or the Boks? How many will find it so difficult to make a career of rugby and leave the sport? How many have been lost? With WR favouring the Northern Hemisphere, ignoring the Southern Hemisphere despite the South being the strongest throughout history (9 WC trophies compared to 1) they are pouring money into the NH leaving the SH to struggle for money and that's what you get. Weak local competitions like the Currie Cup. The attraction to watch the league? Same as playing rugby in your backyard.

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