Prendergast brothers help Ireland to victory
Brothers Sam and Cian Prendergast helped Ireland to victory over Fiji at the Aviva Stadium today Photo: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Suncroft brothers Sam and Cian Prendergast featured on the pitch together for the Ireland senior team for the first time today at the Aviva Stadium as Ireland trounced Fiji 52-17.
Sam, making his first start, almost had his day cut very short when was shown a yellow card and sent to the sin for a tackle with less than eight minutes on the clock, and was perhaps fortunate that it was not upgraded to a red, but he returned to the pitch to turn in an assured display.
He had already kicked one conversion before his stint off the pitch and upon his return added a further four as Ireland dominated the play, although he missed the conversions for Ireland’s last two tries.
He was joined on the pitch in the 47th minute by older brother Cian, who replaced Josh Van Der Flier as he earned his fourth cap.
The only black mark from a Kildare and Ireland point of view was Naas man Jamie Osborne, making his first test start appearance at the Aviva Stadium, forced out of the game through injury after 27 minutes.
Eadestown’s Tadhg Beirne turned in a typically hard working display during his 80 minutes on the pitch as he made his 55th Irish appearance.
Ireland complete their Autumn Series against Australia at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday.
