Former Ireland player Stephen Ferris has claimed that comments about Leinster's young out-half, Sam Prendergast, on an Irish radio programme struck a nerve with him due to their biased nature.
Prendergast is considered one of the hottest up-and-coming rugby talents in Ireland, having already secured an U-20 Grand Slam with Ireland. The Kildare native has also featured for Leinster in the United Rugby Championship, most recently in last weekend's narrow loss to Ulster in the RDS.
Like many young talents in Ireland across various sports, there is often a willingness from the general public to thrust them into the limelight immediately.
Leinster's attack coach, Andrew Goodman, recently remarked that Prendergast reminded him of Ireland and Leinster legend Johnny Sexton.
“They’re always themselves, but there’s little bits you can see: ‘yeah, that’s the way Johnny would have done that’ or he would have delivered the message the same way,” he added last month.
“So they would have all picked up things from him, but they’ve all developed their own way of doing it as well, which is great and which is what you want—you want them to be themselves.
“That’s when you’re at your most confident.”
Backs coach Andrew Goodman and Sam Prendergast during a Leinster Rugby captain's run at the RDS Arena in Dublin. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Goodman is one of many who have praised the young outhalf for his talent. For example, a particular Irish radio station raised the subject of Prendergast potentially making the 2024 Six Nations squad in the spring.
However, Ferris, a former Ireland and Ulster player, believes that introducing a talent like Prendergast to the spring tournament would not be healthy for this stage of his career. The former Ulster player contends that Prendergast must develop and grow at his own pace before he is ready to compete with some of the best international teams in the world.
"I'm not naming the media outlet, but during the week there was all this chat about whether Sam Prendergast should be given the opportunity to play for Ireland in the Six Nations, and to be honest, I was listening to it go, 'This is so Leinster blue-tinted glasses sort of stuff I'm listening to.' It actually struck a nerve with me," he said.
"It was very annoying and frustrating to listen to. This is a young guy who undoubtedly has talent and potential, but he has to prove himself in big games and demonstrate that he can manage his team."
Leinster's next game will be against Stade Français on January 13.
