Former Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius has given his thoughts on why Sam Prendergast has to be the man to lead Ireland into the future.
Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley have been battling it out for the Ireland number ten shirt since the Leinster out-half made his international debut against Fiji last November.
It is the younger and so far lesser-tested Prendergast who was favoured for the two closing games of last year's Autumn Internationals, and more significantly for all bar the Italy clash in this year's Six Nations.
The 22-year-old had enjoyed largely positive outings in the opening three wins of the tournament but endured a trying experience in Ireland's loss to France, struggling to execute plays on the front foot and being shown up for his insufficient defensive work.
Off the back of Prendergast's unconvincing French foray, Jack Crowley was given the nod to start, but he too failed to seize the golden opportunity and coupled some very promising moments with errors.
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15 November 2024; Sam Prendergast of Ireland, left, makes his way onto the pitch to replace team-mate Jack Crowley during the Autumn Nations Series match between Ireland and Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Former Springbok flyhalf reveals major concern about Sam Prendergast's style
Weighing in on the controversy caused by Prendergast and Crowley's selection during the Six Nations, former South African fly-half Andre Pretorius was in little doubt about the Leinster man's ability.
Pretorius who made over 30 appearances for South Africa in the early 2000s was speaking on the HG Rugby Podcast when he backed Sam Prendergast to be the man to take Ireland into the future.
(Evolvement) is why we're seeing what we are, they're (Ireland) looking to find their feet and a mindset change in certain areas. You've got the battle-tested Crowley and the future general Prendergast. The Irish have always been masters of getting the young blood in coupled with older players around them, ensuring that he's looked after.
The ten position unfortunately, the only way you're going to get that experience is to play. You're going to have to make mistakes in big games and going to have to win and lose games to understand what it takes, especially in the Irish ten jersey because he runs everything.
Do Ireland keep bashing the door down or open up the space on the outside. They were willing to take that chance with Prendergast because they need him to be the man for the future.
Despite the glittering praise, Pretorius who is currently the defence coach for Japan outfit the Hino Red Dolphins had concerns that the much-talked-about ageing nature of the Irish squad wasn't compatible with Prendergast's style of play.
Explaining how Ireland and Leinster overload the centre of the field in the hope of creating space out wide, the former Springbok felt Ireland's back line may be getting too old to round people on the outside like Prendergast wants.
He (Prendergast) is the more creative of the two, physicality is definitely not his strength yet but that you can work on. There's some technique issues, the technique is what gets you out of sticky situations in defence.
The other problem is the personnel around him. Maybe (Ireland) are trying to play a certain type of game with the wrong tools, with the wrong equipment. If you look at the Munster and Leinster game you'll see a lot of similarities with the way (Ireland) play. They try narrow defences and conserve space on the outside, get those one-two quick balls close to the line and before you see it players are in space on the edge.
Prendergast he trusts his passing game, he trusts the engage and release game he's got, so he is definitely one that you can use there but if you look at the age factor in the Irish side, if you look at the pure pace factor in the Irish side, you're preserving space on the edge but is there really someone like a Bielle-Biarrey that can round three players in that space. I'm not sure about that.
By the end of this year, James Lowe, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park and Robbie Henshaw will all be 30 years of age or older.
While the debate over Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast could be muted in mere weeks if the latter decides on a reported move to Leicester, for the sake of Irish rugby here's hoping there'll be plenty more discussion to be had on the issue in the coming months and years.
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