As forecast, Sam Prendergast has been retained at outhalf for Ireland’s concluding Autumn Nations Series match against Australia at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3.10pm) having evidently usurped Jack Crowley as the first-choice 10 in this November window.
Crowley returns to the match-day squad but has to be content with a place on the bench having started the first nine games in the post-Johnny Sexton era since the World Cup prior to being rested last week. Prendergast made his debut as a replacement for Crowley in the final quarter of the win over Argentina before making his full Test debut in last week’s 52-17 win over Fiji.
Andy Farrell has made four other changes to his starting line-up from a week ago, with Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Ryan all returning after being rested completely last week, as does Ronan Kelleher after his replacement’s role against the Fijians.
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A positional switch sees Tadhg Beirne revert to blindside flanker, with the injured duo of Jamie Osborne and Jacob Stockdale dropping out of the matchday squad, as does one of last week’s debutants, Cormac Izuchukwu. However, it is a measure of Gus McCarthy’s progress this season that the 21-year-old hooker is named on the bench ahead of Rob Herring after making an eventful Test debut last week.
Cian Healy returns to the squad and should therefore eclipse Brian O’Driscoll’s record as Ireland’s most capped player by winning his 134th cap off the bench in the match marking the IRFU’s 150th anniversary. In the continuing absence of the hamstrung Tadhg Furlong, Tom O’Toole reverts to tighthead cover, with Thomas Clarkson missing out, while Peter O’Mahony returns to the 23 on the bench.
So too does Garry Ringrose as the Bundee Aki-Robbie Henshaw midfield partnership is retained, while Craig Casey, who started last week, is named ahead of Conor Murray.
“I think he deserves it,” said Farrell of Prendergast’s retention. “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, with the opportunity to play in a big game along with a good side behind him.
“For the likes of himself and Gus McCarthy and a few others actually, hopefully you combine all of that together and it kicks them on for the future.”
Specifically with regard to the call between Prendergast and Crowley, the head coach said: “Jack’s played very well for us for a good while now, played in a lot of big games as well. 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]. Conor’s an unbelievably trusted member of our staff, as is Jack. Craig [Casey] played well, he deserves his chance to play in a big game also. So, it goes through the squad.”
Farrell revealed that Ringrose suffered a cut hand which became infected and took him out of training during the 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 [Aki and Henshaw] played pretty well as a partnership last week,” said Farrell.
Of course, this game has been built as a meeting between Farrell and Joe Schmidt, which Farrell said was fine by him.
“I love it. It’s a great story, isn’t it? Joe deserves all the accolades and probably more so when he comes back to Ireland because what he did for Irish rugby, not just here at the IRFU but over the road there at the RDS, was phenomenal. He’s the most successful coach in Irish rugby when you look at his time overall in Dublin. We’ve got a lot to thank him about and I think it’s a nice story that we get to celebrate this game alongside him.
Schmidt first brought the Irish coach aboard the ticket as defence coach after the 2016 Six Nations and Farrell said: “”Firstly, I’m very grateful for that opportunity from Joe and David Nucifora bringing me over here.
“On top of that, that experience that I’ve gained under Joe, seeing how he does it on the inside is invaluable; not just to me, but to everyone who has coached by him. That’s a privilege.
“Then, obviously, coaching against him for New Zealand. It’s not as high profile because he wasn’t head coach, but it was because you could see his DNA all over that anyway.
“We’ve been here a little bit before, but when he comes back to these shores he should be celebrated for everything that he’s done to Irish rugby.”
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris. Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.
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