Andy Farrell has had incredible success with Ireland during his tenure in charge as head coach, and he has unearthed some fantastic gems to wear the green jersey.
Individuals like Dan Sheehan, Jamison Gibson-Park and Mack Hansen, who are all now British and Irish Lions, have come through to be key players for Ireland in Farrell’s reign.
More often than not, the head coach has got it right regarding selection and bringing in players at the right time, with them becoming vital cogs in the Irish machine.
However, former Ireland head coach Eddie O’Sullivan believes there is one glaring anomaly to this fine record of Farrell's, and he believes the current man at the helm of the nation needs to admit he got this selection wrong.
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Speaking on the Indo Sport podcast, O’Sullivan believes the timing of making Sam Prendergast the first-choice fly-half was all wrong.
He said: “I think Andy Farrell has to put up his hand and say he got the selection of Sam Prendergast wrong for the Championship.
“Everyone said he was going with Sam [Prendergast], but all of us said we would go with Jack [Crowley].
'I think in the euphoria of the England win, the hard questions were not really asked that could have been asked about it, and they’re not taking away from Andy Farrell’s man-management skills; he is obviously exceptionally good at managing players, and we will give him the benefit of the doubt, but I think on this one he has to be saying and say, ‘Yeah, I got that one wrong. Probably pushed them in too soon.’ That's my take.”
Sam Prendergast’s Ireland career
The Leinster fly-half will not be involved in the upcoming Six Nations fixture when Ireland hosts Wales in Dublin, after he was absent from the matchday squad for the famous victory at Twickenham in the last round.
Prendergast had started the opening fixture of the competition in Paris against France before doing so again a week later against Italy in Dublin, struggling in both games.
The 23-year-old had become the obvious first choice in Farrell’s eyes, as he had started 10 of the last 13 international tests for Ireland prior to the game at Twickenham.
He has been battling it out for the Irish number 10 jersey for the past couple of years with Jack Crowley, with the Munster man seemingly being seen as the better option at present, having been given the nod for both the England and Wales fixtures.
Topics: Rugby, Rugby Union
Brendan McGilligan