Sam Prendergast impresses in his Six Nations debut, securing a bonus-point win for Ireland against England. Despite acknowledging areas for improvement, the 21-year-old is poised to start against Scotland, drawing praise from coach Simon Easterby. The young out-half shines with his attack skills and passing, setting the stage for a promising Six Nations campaign.
Rookie out-half Sam Prendergast admitted his performance wasn't perfect as Ireland opened the Six Nations with a bonus-point win over England . But given a massive seal of approval by Simon Easterby afterwards it's a certainty the 21 year-old will start again in Scotland next Sunday. 'I felt it was a big occasion but I tried not to think about it too much,' said the 21 year-old following his Six Nations debut.
'I suppose I was trying to think about the game and just to focus on my own game and the team’s game, READ MORE: Who is Ireland rugby coach Simon Easterby as he takes charge for Six Nations? READ MORE: Ireland unfairly 'handicapped in 2025 Six Nations - There is Only One F in Foley 'It was good in parts, not so good in parts. I’ve lots to improve on so I’ll be looking at going back in to see what I can improve on.' Having got the better of one of the two players, Marcus smith, being touted as Lions out-half this summer, Prendergast will meet the other, Finn Russell, in Edinburgh. 'I need to see if I get picked first to be honest with you. We’ve a lot of good no10s in our group - at the moment I’m just focused on that battle. 'I played against Finn a couple of weeks ago here for Bath and he was very good. He’s a very good player but I wouldn’t be thinking about that too much at the moment.' Prendergast rise and rise from U20s World Cup final out-half to Leinster first-choice and on to his Ireland debut last November has been whirlwind, the Ireland coaching staff injecting some urgency into the ascendancy by drafting Johnny Sexton to work with him in Portugal at pre-season camp. 'Johnny's been very good when he’s in, he’s exceptionally helpful. I didn’t get to spend a whole lot of time with him when we were both players. 'I didn’t know him too well so it's just great to be able to learn off different things he does. 'He’s got an unbelievable rugby brain, his mind was the most powerful asset a lot of the time when he played. That’s why he’s one of the best Ireland has ever had, one of the best the world has ever had. 'He’s been very good for me in terms of kicking or even general play. There is a lot to learn off him and I still have a lot to learn off him.' Ireland's attacking game plan for England, it transpired, was to give Prendergast free range to impose himself. Sign up for our Rugby service on WhatsApp to get Ireland Six Nations news Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest rugby news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. From where he duly demonstrated a variety skills with the most notable, almost trademark, that of taking the ball right to the line, switching his hips late to straighten, before launching long, accurate - often cut-out or skip - passes. 'I thought our attack was pretty good at times today, yeah. I’d say we can definitely be better but you can always be better. 'I think maybe we didn’t have as good an autumn at it as we would have liked. We’re trying to put a bit of an emphasis on it and trying to keep improving that area of our game like every other area of our game.' Meanwhile there was praise for his international rival, Jack Crowley, who came in for the last quarter. This is something expected to be a regular Ireland Six Nations feature, a 60/20 split. 'I think we have a quite healthy competition. Jack’s a great lad and a great player. I’ve seen how well he plays. I think we both just kind of work together. 'As much as people want to think we hate each other but we just work together. I think he’s playing very well at the moment as well and I thought that he played very well when he came on.' The Prendergast-Crowley, Leinster-Munster rivalry is not the pressure point some imagine. 'No, the only pressure I feel is what is inside the group and inside me. Obviously you want to be the starting no10 for Ireland and Leinster but I wouldn’t be listening to too much outside noise on the pressure of that. 'It’s internal pressure. You want to be starting but there is not too much of a rivalry between us. We work together quite well.' Thoughts about Murrayfield next week can wait, there is Monday's review to come and as he says himself, not everything was perfect, and there will be talk of some wayward tactical kicking. 'There were a couple in the first-half which weren’t accurate enough, gave them space and time and you cannot give them space and time at this high level. You cannot do that and that was disappointing. 'But then I thought I had a few good ones as well but you need to be more consistent with them if you want to be playing at this level. 'In terms of (the two missed) conversions, it‘s frustrating, shouldn’t have missed them. Especially that second one. You shouldn’t be missing them. 'But at the time you’re just focusing on trying to hit the next one and the next one was an important one and, lucky enoug
SAM PRENDERGAST IRELAND ENGLAND SIX NATIONS RUGBY OUT-HALF DEBUT PERFORMANCE SCOTLAND
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