Latest news with #CianPrendergast
Extra.ie
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
The tactical tweak which can get Ireland back on track next season
From the moment you touch down at Lisbon Airport, there is a sense of urgency about this city. You won't have to wait long for a taxi either. There will be minimal delay getting to your onward destination. 'Drive it like you stole it' seems to be the mantra of the cab drivers in Portugal's vibrant capital. And that frantic pace continues when you walk the narrow, cobbled streets throughout Lisbon. The place is buzzing. It's a hive of activity. It's a fitting setting for Ireland's second and final game of this summer's development tour. Ireland's Calvin Nash Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady Last weekend's 34-5 win against Georgia was an impressive result, given the depleted nature of the Irish team on duty and the age profile of Paul O'Connell's young squad. It was a bit of a grind in the biblical downpours of Tbilisi, mind you. Saturday's clash with Portugal at Estádio Nacional do Jamor promises to be a more lively affair. The hosts, who are ranked 18th in the world, won't be able to offer the same resistance as the hardy Georgians. Instead, Os Lobos will look to play to their strengths. Portugal won plenty of admirers at the 2023 World Cup with their ambition and enterprise. Lisbon, Portugal. This youthful Irish team, featuring three debutants, looks born to run as well. When Andy Farrell's Ireland were at the peak in 2022 and 2023, they were market leaders with their savvy and punchy attacking blueprint. The mixture of Jamison Gibson-Park's breakneck tempo and Johnny Sexton's calm authority were the key components in a game-plan which hummed. Ireland were a potent team which could punch holes and outmanoeuvre teams. The one thing they did lack as a unit was out and out pace, however. And it's been a key issue during the national team's recent slump. This experimental Irish team has no such worries. In Tommy O'Brien, Ireland have a genuine speedster on the right wing while Jimmy O'Brien, Hugh Gavin and Shayne Bolton – the pair of uncapped Connacht outside backs – can shift as well. It doesn't stop there. Ryan Baird has top-end acceleration for a blindside flanker, while Munster openside Alex Kendellen, another uncapped rookie, and Connacht captain Cian Prendergast are pretty nimble backrowers, too. Cian Prendergast of Ireland during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Is there a more agile second row in the game than Tom Ahern at the moment? The Munster forward has earned his first Test start after making his Ireland debut from the bench against Georgia. Ahern has serious gas and the Waterford man should have plenty of road ahead of him here. There's more gas on the bench with Cormac Izuchukwu, Ben Murphy and Calvin Nash all very much in the fast-twitch muscle category. It's a been a turbulent season for Jack Crowley. There's rarely been a dull moment, for province or country. After a breakout season where the Corkman filled the post-Sexton void with admirable composure, he endured a dip in form. Graham Rowntree's shock exit from Thomond Park didn't help matters. Sam Prendergast seemingly surged ahead during a dramatic autumn international series. Suspicions were subsequently confirmed in the Six Nations when the Leinster No10 started four straight games before Crowley got the nod for the final-round clash with Italy in Rome. Jack Crowley Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile In between all of this drama, Crowley delivered a statement performance on a memorable day at Stade Marcel Michelin when Munster rolled back the years with one of those trademark backs-to-the-wall performances on foreign soil as Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle were downed in a memorable Champions Cup last-16 encounter. It was Crowley's clutch, long-range drop goal which ultimately secured a memorable win. There was a collective gasp from the fanbase when word spread that Leicester Tigers were tabling a big-money bid to lure Crowley to Welford Road. In the end, the Munster out-half chose to stay. Now, he can end this dramatic campaign on a positive note by guiding this young Irish team to a big win in Lisbon. A nice opportunity to remind the Irish management of his quality. The fledgling all-Leinster frontrow of Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy and Thomas Clarskson will get another spin this week. It makes a lot of sense. All three emerged from the sternest of examinations in Tbilisi with reputations very much enhanced. This is another big chance for this trio of young front-rowers to cement their status as viable Test options in the coming years. This extra layer of depth at hooker and prop will be vital at the next World Cup. This tour was a nice way of easing O'Connell into the front of house gig. The former Munster and Ireland captain has looked comfortable in this caretaker role with Farrell and Simon Easterby away on Lions duty. Ironically, there is a school of thought that the Lions backroom team are lacking a coach with the forensic eye of O'Connell on the current tour. Lest we forget, it was O'Connell who came on board in 2021 – when Farrell's Ireland were really struggling – and immediately brought some bite, purpose and accuracy to the breakdown. The Lions have been suffering with the same ruck issues throughout this stuttering campaign thus far. Paul O'Connell during an Ireland rugby media conference Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile O'Connell's coaching stock has risen even further on this low-key tour. He has blooded a host of new caps and, as expected, if he guides this new generation to a convincing win against Portugal, this summer expedition will be deemed a big success. O'Connell has enjoyed it clearly. It begs the question, would he fancy doing the gig on a long-term basis in the future when/if Farrell decides to step down after the next World Cup? 'I think maybe one of the reasons I enjoyed it is that it isn't anything I have my eyes on in the short or medium term,' Ireland's head coach said yesterday. 'I might wake up one day and decide I want to do it but it hasn't happened yet.' O'Connell is surely warming to the task now. He's always been a reluctant coach, but he looks made for the top gig down the line. He has plenty of momentum behind him now.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Stockdale out of Portugal game with shoulder injury
Jacob Stockdale has been ruled out of Ireland's match with Portugal after suffering a shoulder injury in Saturday's win in Ulster wing was forced off late in the first half of the 34-5 win with his left arm in a makeshift sling using his a squad update issued on Monday, Ireland confirmed that the 29-year-old will be absent for the final game of the summer tour in Portugal on Saturday and will see a specialist in Ireland next is the latest blow for Stockdale in an Ireland jersey, who was forced off with a hamstring injury in his previous international appearance against Fiji in Prendergast has recovered from illness and will be available for selection after missing the win against Ulster teammate Scott Wilson has also returned home after he was called up as O'Connell has no further injury concerns and will name his team for the game against Portugal on Thursday.
Belfast Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Ulster stars have done themselves no harm with displays against Georgia
This was an important game for Ireland players in the bubbling under category – albeit a few such as Cian Prendergast and Jack Crowley are hardly in that bracket – or for those who just get the occasional caps such as where we find the Ulster contingent these days. With so many of the front liners currently wearing the red of the British and Irish Lions, this Irish side naturally had a very different look about it and gave rare enough chances to Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey, Nick Timoney and Cormac Izuchukwu to be handed starts to take on Georgia, who had former Ulster assistant coach Roddy Grant in their backroom team.
Irish Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Georgia v Ireland LIVE stream info, score updates, kick-off time in rugby action
Ireland face Georgia in the first of their two test matches this month with Portugal follow after today's clash at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium. It's a more unfamiliar looking Ireland squad in Tbilisi with 16 regulars and head coach Andy Farrell involved in the Irish and British Lions set-up. Today's game begins at 6pm and you can watch it live on Virgin Media One, with coverage beginning at 5.33pm. You can also stream the game live on the Virgin Media Player. Paul O'Connell takes charge for the opening test game as he leads a number of interim coaches and there's also 13 uncapped players in the squad for both games. Wing Tommy O'Brien and lock Darragh Murray are set to earn their first caps against Georgia, with fellow uncapped players Michael Milne, Jack Aungier, Tom Ahern, and Ben Murphy named among the replacements. Speaking ahead of the game, stand-in head coach O'Connell said: "It won't be perfect," he admits of the forthcoming challenge. "We are aware of when we play, even with the most experienced internationals in the group, that it won't be perfect.' Connacht back-row forward Cian Prendergast (Gastro bug) is a late withdrawal for tonight's game and his place on the replacements will now be taken by Leinster's Max Deegan. IRELAND TEAM UPDATE: Connacht back-row forward Cian Prendergast (Gastro bug) is a late withdrawal for tonight's game and his place on the replacements will now be taken by Leinster's Max Deegan.#GEOVIRE #TeamOfUs Welcome to our live blog of Georgia against Ireland in international rugby action in Tbilisi. We'll have team news and more ahead of kick-off at 6pm.
Irish Times
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Late change for Ireland as Cian Prendergast misses Georgia game through illness
Ireland have been forced into a late change in the matchday 23 for tonight's Test match against Georgia at the Mikheil Meskhi stadium (6pm, Irish time) after Connacht flanker Cian Prendergast succumbed to a gastro bug on the morning of the match. He is replaced on the bench by Leinster's Max Deegan. Earlier this year Prendergast pulled out of an Ireland Six Nations game against Wales because of illness and on that occasion was replaced by Ryan Baird. Deegan (28) will win his third cap if called on from the bench. Georgia head coach Richard Cockerill has his team primed and looking forward to a brilliant occasion. 'It's great to get one of the biggest rugby countries in the world to come here. They're the third best team in the world, they have been number one for a long time, just to show what a great place this is and how we're not going away. 'To host Ireland is great for us as a nation to say, 'look, we're actually credible here'. Hopefully we will put in a decent performance. We want to walk away feeling good about how we played and the Irish boys going, 'Jeez, these Georgia boys are tough to beat'. READ MORE 'We're 18 months into this project, we have a way how we want to play. Players are getting more familiar with that. We've got a pretty cohesive squad. We want to win, that goes without saying, but what we need is a performance that develops this team.' IRELAND : Jimmy O'Brien (Leinster); Tommy O'Brien (Leinster); Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster); Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster, capt); Jack Boyle (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster); Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Darragh Murray (Connacht); Ryan Baird (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Gavin Coombes (Munster). Replacements : Tom Stewart (Ulster), Michael Milne (Munster), Jack Aungier (Connacht), Tom Ahern (Munster), Max Deegan (Leinster), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Jack Crowley (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster).
