Prendergast to make Six Nations debut

Thu, 30 Jan, 2025 - 12:26

Sam Prendergast will make his Six Nations debut when England visit a sold-out Aviva Stadium for Saturday's opening Guinness Men's Six Nations clash against England (Kick-off 4.45pm).

It caps a meteoric rise for the Suncroft youngster who only made his international debut during last year's Autumn series. Since then he has established himself in the Leinster team has an turned in a string of impressive displays, enough for interim Head Coach Simon Easterby to give him the nod for his fourth cap ahead of Munster's Jack Crowley.

Prendergast is by the most inexperienced player in what is an otherwise experienced line up.

Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe are named in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki partnering Garry Ringrose in midfield. Jamison Gibson-Park starts at scrum-half alongside Prendergast at out-half.

In the pack, Eadestown's Tadgh Beirne is joined in the midfield engine room by James Ryan with Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Finlay Bealham are named in the front row. Ryan Baird is selected at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier at openside and captain Caelan Doris packing down at number eight.

Easterby has experienced options on the bench to call upon, with the fit-again Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Iain Henderson and Jack Conan providing the forward reinforcements, with backs Conor Murray, Jack Crowley and Robbie Henshaw competing Ireland's Match Day Squad.

Joe McCarthy is unavailable due to injury.

Speaking ahead of the game, Interim Head Coach Easterby said: "We've come off the back of a good week's training in Quinta do Lago and I have been hugely impressed by the effort of the squad. We've enjoyed some competitive sessions and it wasn't easy selecting a squad for this week's game given the quality of those who haven't made the final 23. Credit to those who missed out on selection for this game, there was obvious disappointment but they all stepped up brilliantly to help prepare the team this week.

"England are a talented squad with quality across their panel and we know that we will need to hit the ground running to deliver a winning performance.

"The atmosphere will be electric come kick off and I know how excited the Irish public will be to see their team perform. That opportunity to represent the Irish people is something that always motivates the players and there has been real intent in how they have approached this week's training. We're ready for the challenge and excited to get going."

Saturday's match is live on Virgin Media One in Republic of Ireland and ITV in the United Kingdom, while there is live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.

Ireland (v England)

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(42)

14. Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht)(25)

13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(63)

12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(60)

11. James Lowe (Leinster)(36)

10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(3)

9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(38)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(70)

2. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(37)

3. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(46)

4. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(67)