Ronan O’Gara apologises for being a Sam Prendergast ‘doubter’ and has message for Jack Crowley over ‘technical and tactical errors’
Leinster fly-half Sam Prendergast and Ireland legend Ronan O'Gara as head coach of La Rochelle.
Ronan O’Gara may have been a “doubter” before but the Ireland legend has very much bought into the hype surrounding fly-half Sam Prendergast.
The 21-year-old has been tipped as the long-term heir to Johnny Sexton after making an impression at age-grade level in 2022 and 2023.
Leinster have managed his progression, however, and not put too much pressure on the youngster as he makes his way in the professional game.
Given the Irish province’s fly-half struggles last season, Prendergast could have easily nailed down the jersey if handed more opportunities, but head coach Leo Cullen did not play him in the big games.
Test debut
That has changed in 2024/25, though, with Andy Farrell handing him an Ireland debut in the Autumn Nations Series and Cullen putting him in the 10 shirt for their Investec Champions Cup opener.
He duly impressed against Bristol Bears, scoring two tries in the 35-12 triumph to allay any fears O’Gara had about the youngster’s ability to step up.
“I now see where all the hot air about Sam Prendergast was coming from,” he wrote in his Irish Examiner column.
“I thought the Leinster lad was one of the best players of the Champions Cup opening round, and his best moment was a drilled spiral that went out on the full, albeit it landed about a metre too far. With that in the locker, it’s a big weapon to have.
“But there’s so much more to him, even now. I didn’t see what the Leinster fuss was, but I get it now even though the vibes coming from Irish camp for the autumn series were this guy has it.
“Well, I remained a doubter, even if my body of evidence was shallow.
“My bad. Those bearing witness have seen him Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and they clearly know what they know.
“The rest of us are beginning to see it now, how coaches get what we don’t. And he will only get better.
“He’s not 22 til February by which time he may have a couple of big Six Nations starts under his belt.”
Leinster coach gives candid view on working with Sam Prendergast who is ‘maturing beyond his years’
Jack Crowley battle
After starting against Fiji and Australia in the year-end series, Prendergast could well have usurped Jack Crowley ahead of the Six Nations.
However, performances between now and the start of that tournament at the end of January may well dictate who takes the shirt.
Former Munster star O’Gara has therefore urged Crowley not to get distracted by the competition for the Ireland jersey and simply focus on his own game.
“The big mistake Jack Crowley can make in the interim and especially in this Champions Cup is focusing on things beyond his wheelhouse.
“Don’t look over the garden gate when you’ve so much to tidy up yourself. It’s a classic mistake that I made. You focus too much on the opposition.
“Crowley’s got to keep working on his improvements and eliminating the two or three small technical and tactical errors he is making that are spoiling his report card. Castres will be a good exam for him.”
