Andy Farrell backs Sam Prendergast to bounce back from being droppedBy Edward Elliot, Press AssociationIreland boss Andy Farrell backed Sam Prendergast to bounce back from being dropped as he admitted neither of his leading fly-halves were in particularly good form ahead of the Guinness Six Nations. Jack Crowley, left, has been preferred to Sam Prendergast (Brian Lawless/PA) Photo by Brian LawlessPrendergast, 23, began six of Ireland’s last seven Six Nations fixtures and has been overlooked for a matchday 23 in the championship for the first time. “We’ve talked all along about the four lads (Crowley, Prendergast, Frawley and Harry Byrne) competing against one another and the balance is right for this team this weekend. “I think the two lads (Prendergast and Crowley) probably came into camp, I think they’ve probably been in better form. Asked why he opted for Crowley, Farrell said: “Because of what we’ve seen and how he’s come through and performed and playing confidently.

Source: Irish Independent February 19, 2026 23:27 UTC