The 'too small, physically out of his depth' Sam Prendergast verdict

Retired Scotland international Jim Hamilton doesn’t believe Sam Prendergast is ready for regular Test-level rugby with Ireland. The 21-year-old made his debut last Friday when Andy Farrell ushered him into the action versus Argentina on 62 minutes.

However, the match remained scoreless while he was on and the Irish were left clinging on defensively in the final moments as the 14-man Pumas relentlessly attacked and were close to the try line when a knock on eventually ended ended the match 22-19 in the home team’s favour.

In the aftermath, Farrell enthused about Prendergast: “I thought he was excellent. I thought he was really composed. Playing your first cap in that type of position in that type of situation, I thought he was really composed. Played at a nice tempo at the line and started to make things happen. That just shows what type of character he has got.”

Multiple platitudes have since followed in the Irish media about the rookie fly-half, but Hamilton has waded into the discussion with a very different take on what unfolded at Aviva Stadium after Prendergast replaced Jack Crowley.

Prendergast is listed at 91kgs on the Leinster website (neither the Ireland match day programme nor irishrugby.ie has this information), and ex-Scotland lock Hamilton believes this is five to six kgs too light for what the rookie needs to make his best impact at Test level.

Speaking on the latest episode of The Rugby Pod with co-host Andy Goode, Hamilton added that he didn’t understand the criticism levelled at Crowley, the 24-year-old who has become the regular Ireland No10 since last year’s retirement of the legendary Johnny Sexton. Here is how his on-show verdict unfolded:

Hamilton: Hmmm…

Goode: I thought he was alright. You not sure, Jim?

Hamilton: I thought he was alright, in attacking. He’s way too small at the minute.

Goode: I hear you.

Hamilton: I’m not trying to be harsh, I’m not trying to be negative as much as it sounds that way. Didn’t look like he wanted to tackle either. He’s got to put a bit of weight on. I say a bit of weight, it looks like he has got to put about five or six kgs. Great for Ireland to have another young 10 coming through.

Goode: He should come and live with me!

Hamilton: Different kind of weight, Andrew. At the minute, too small. And he’s playing against Argentina and he looked physically out of his depth. Attack-wise, looked great. I’m not liking the s*** that Jack Crowley is getting. He made a couple of errors in the game, kicked one out on the full. I think there was one more error that I saw in him but first half I thought he was brilliant. Sam Prendergast will come through at some point… Everyone is talking about him but he ain’t ready. Like, imagine him playing against South Africa or France at the minute. He’s definitely one for the future. So he is 21, which is youngish; he has got a lot of time. There’s part of me not happy that Frawley got bombed out as well for making two errors but it is a ruthless environment to be in, so I can see that. But from an Ireland point of view, looking in, they’re unsure on their 10. That’s what it feels like, it feels like they are trying to make something happen. Prendergast isn’t quite ready. Jack Crowley is first choice but it’s on a knife-edge. There was talk of Frawley starting before the Autumn Nations Series, and with that it becomes an issue because 10 has always been so important to Ireland because of Johnny Sexton. I heard Brian O’Driscoll talking about Johnny being in at training and there is still that maybe this shadow of the players around him because it is Johnny Sexton and they’ve maybe been not able to talk full lead on what they are doing. But I thought Jack Crowley started the game incredibly well. Physically how he was playing, his game management. I understand why Sam Pendergast came on. You see Crowley wasn’t happy when he came off, but that is just my opinion looking at it. He [Prendergast] didn’t score while he was on and physically he is too small at the minute.

Goode: Like, he is one for the future. I don’t think he is for the here and now, they have got to back Crowley. I’m with Jim. Frawley hasn’t done too much wrong. Made a couple of errors, of course, but when you talk about physicality Jim, Ireland-Fiji this weekend, you ain’t starting Prendergast, Jim? No??

Hamilton: Well, that would be interesting. But you know what, if you want to see if he is ready put him in to the most physical team and – no, in fact don’t! They shouldn’t do that. I’m not even trying to be a knob here. They shouldn’t. It would be ridiculous, so I don’t think he will. Andy Farrell is too smart.

Goode: But they have got a balance now. They have got Prendergast coming through. Crowley, you have got to back him. He has been very good for them and the worst thing teams can do and I really believe in this, the worst thing some teams can do is chop and change your 10 too much. Look at England with Marcus Smith. New Zealand have had that issue; it is (Damian) McKenzie, is it (Beauden) Barrett? And you can do the off game horses for courses but when you have got your best team, your starting XV; look at South Africa at the weekend – start Manie Libbok, need to change the game, rip him off and put (Handre) Pollard on, but you need to back a starter and I believe that’s Crowley.