Bulls slayer Prendergast to pull strings against Wallabies
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland coach Andy Farrell rewarded Sam Prendergast for his stellar club form by picking him as playmaker for their Nations Championship opener against Australia in a starting XV dominated by Leinster players.
The world’s third-ranked team enter the clash in Sydney on Saturday on the back of a strong Six Nations campaign, finishing runner-up to France.
But they have been beset by injuries with a host of no-shows for their three-match tour, which also includes Tests against Japan and New Zealand.
Skipper Caelan Doris (foot) is a key absentee, with hooker Dan Sheehan assuming the armband.
Others missing include looseheads Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle, along with flyhalf Jack Crowley, who finished the Six Nations as Ireland’s first-choice No.10.
Prendergast will start at flyhalf instead of Harry Byrne, and partner experienced scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park in one of five changes from their last match against Scotland in March.
Farrell, who recently signed a contract extension, pointed to Prendergast’s recent form for Leinster, capped by a masterclass in the United Rugby Championship Final last month.
“The way he’s handled the last month is a credit to him in regards to taking responsibility for the shirt and his chance to build through the last few [Leinster] games and finish with a big performance in the finals,” he said.
“So he’s one who earned the right.”
In a key positional switch, the versatile Jamie Osborne was moved to left wing in the absence of the discarded James Lowe to partner lightning-quick Rob Baloucoune.
That opened the door for Hugo Keenan to return from injury at fullback, while the ever-dependable Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey are the centres.
“Obviously, he’s been playing well,” Farrell said of Osborne. “He’s a bloody good rugby player in whatever position he’s playing. Pretty good in the air, good left boot, that all comes into the pot.”
In the pack, Tom O’Toole, Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong make up the front row, with Joe McCarthy and James Ryan in the second row.
Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan were named in the back row.
Leinster provide 11 of the starters and have three more players on the bench.
Ireland have won their last five matches against Australia dating back to 2018, most recently in Dublin last year when they stormed to a 46-19 victory.
But Farrell said the record meant little.
“They’ve got some good athletes all over the field, so I mean both teams have changed a little bit,” he said. “We’ll see how that develops on Saturday night.”
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jamie Osborne, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan (captain), 1 Tom O’Toole
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Nick Timoney, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki
Date: Saturday, July 4
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 20.10 (11.10 IST; 10.10 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
