Brian O’Driscoll: The ‘potential headache’ Ireland ‘need’ amid increasing pressure on Sam Prendergast
Ireland fly-half Sam Prendergast and legendary centre Brian O'Driscoll.
Brian O’Driscoll insists that the emergence of Harry Byrne as a genuine starting option at Leinster will only benefit Ireland and Sam Prendergast.
The 26-year-old playmaker has enjoyed a fine opening to the season and started ahead of Prendergast in the Irish province’s Investec Champions Cup victory over Leicester Tigers.
That was after impressing off the bench in Leinster’s underwhelming success over Harlequins a week earlier, where his fly-half rival was handed the number 10 reins.
Duel with Crowley
Prendergast has been battling with Munster’s Jack Crowley for that role in the national team but he could now also have competition at the provincial level due to Byrne.
There has been plenty of debate around the 22-year-old since he burst onto the scene and this is another obstacle he will have to overcome.
O’Driscoll only sees positives in it, however, and reckons that competition will help push the Irish fly-halves to greater heights.
“Prendergast is very much still the guy in charge but I think it’s very, very healthy that he doesn’t have an armchair ride, that Harry Byrne is going to be putting pressure on him,” the Ireland legend told Off The Ball.
“The last thing you want is any level of complacency and certainty in that position. As a player, you will always encourage competition because I do think it makes you stay sharp and at the top of your game… because you realise the guy coming up behind you and trying to displace you is playing well.
“All of that feeds well into a team environment where competition is strong. I would even imagine Sam Prendergast would encourage that, rather than think he’s got a 10-year run at Leinster.
“That certainly won’t be the case and it shouldn’t be the case. I think it’s good that Harry’s back showing a little bit of form and looks like there’s a bit more control to his game. He’s staying fit, which was a big part of the struggles he did have.”
Three-way battle for Six Nations?
Byrne was once seen as the heir to Johnny Sexton but, as O’Driscoll intimated, injuries and a lack of form saw him drift down the pecking order.
Now back to his best and featuring regularly for Leinster, the playmaker could make it a three-way battle for the Ireland 10 shirt in 2026.
“There’s potentially a headache or two but the good thing is that there’s not an over-reliance on Sam going forward which you don’t want to have. I’m glad to see Harry back in the mix,” O’Driscoll added.
“Ireland need it as well. They ideally want three 10s for the starting spot or in the 23 because, again, it brings the best out of each of those individuals.”
READ MORE: Brian O’Driscoll claims Jack Crowley ‘less authoritative’ than ‘timid’ Sam Prendergast
