'No, you’re making that up, 100 per cent': Farrell defends under-fire star

Head coach Andy Farrell criticised “keyboard warriors” as he vehemently denied suggestions some Ireland fans cheered when Sam Prendergast was replaced during Saturday’s 20-13 Guinness Six Nations win over Italy.

Fly-half Prendergast endured a difficult outing against the Azzurri in Dublin, including missing two straightforward conversions.

There were groans from the Aviva Stadium crowd when those kicks sailed wide followed by a noticeable roar when the 23-year-old Leinster playmaker was replaced by Munster’s Jack Crowley in the 56th minute.

Farrell, who has a major decision to make at 10 for next weekend’s visit to England, insisted the cheering was in support of 26-year-old Crowley.

“No, I don’t believe that,” he replied when asked about supporters potentially celebrating Prendergast’s withdrawal.

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“No, you’re making that up, 100 per cent.

“I heard the cheer for Jack. That’s for Jack. Jack’s a good lad. He’s a good player. And Munster supporters and Irish supporters are allowed to cheer that.

“We don’t need to make it out to be something it’s not.”

Speaking of Prendergast’s wayward conversion attempts, former dual code international Farrell said: “I’ve missed worse than that, and I’ve had worse groans than that, believe me. Everyone is allowed to do that.

“He’d be frustrated with bits (of his performance).”

Ireland’s fly-half battle has sparked plenty of debate and caused a split among provincial lines, reminiscent of the rivalry between Ronan O’Gara and Johnny Sexton.

Crowley looked set to be the long-term successor to the retired Sexton following the 2023 World Cup before Prendergast made his Test debut aged 21 in the autumn of 2024.

Farrell said: “I might be talking out of school here but what’s gone on over the last year, especially with the keyboard warriors, I think people need to ask themselves sometimes, ‘Are we Irish?’ ‘Do we want people to do well or not?’

“Because it can be tough for these kids.

“I’ve seen it toing and froing with both of them, and both of them are strong characters.

“It takes a lot to break kids like that. But I’ve seen it affect people. So the keyboard warriors on Twitter, or whatever you call it now, need to cop on and try and help these kids.

“It’s damaging. We need to back them.”

Crowley came on with the score level at 10-10 and help steadied the ship, slotting a conversion and a penalty.

However, he failed to find touch with a late penalty as Ireland missed out on a bonus point.

“He’s gutted about the kick into the corner obviously but he did a lot more good for us than harm and he can proud of his performance,” said Farrell.

Ireland returned to winning ways courtesy of the unconvincing success following a 36-14 round-one defeat to France in Paris.

Farrell is content for his injury-hit team to be written off against an England side seeking a response to a Calcutta Cup loss to Scotland.

“You could say we have nothing to lose, but we do,” he said.

“We want to win. We want to play better. We want to learn from a big-game experience away from home.

“Paris is a tough ask and Twickenham is a similar type of task so we need to grow through that experience and see what we can do with it.

“I’ve no doubt people are going to write us off.”