Everyone making same point after latest Sam Prendergast struggle session

Social media has turned its guns on Sam Prendergast and the Irish set-up after another Guinness Six Nations struggle session for the rookie fly-half.

Prendergast’s kicking radar was off during his side’s fraught 20-13 win over Italy in Dublin, with many questioning how head coach Andy Farrell can continue to justify starting him ahead of Jack Crowley.

Crowley replaced Prendergast to a huge – and slightly ironic – roar from the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with the scoreline locked at 10-10. Ireland’s fortunes soon changed, with Robert Baloucoune scoring a minute later, which Crowley converted, before he kickws a penalty that made it a two-score game just five minutes later.

The optics didn’t look great for Prendergast.

The narrative on social media was less about piling on Prendergast and more focused on why Farrell persists in picking him.

Ireland AM sports presenter Daniel Hussey wrote: “Andy Farrell solely to blame for that Sam Prendergast performance btw. Should’ve been taken out of the firing line a long time ago. There’s an exciting player in there but it’d be much better for his development to be coming off the bench, rather than starting. Crowley has had his kicking issues recently too (not least with the one for the corner there) but just hasn’t got a fair chance under this management team. Expecting permanent change for England.”

Another irate fan wrote: “I don’t even have to mention his name, how in the name of god is he on the pitch, how does it make sense to anyone other than Johnny Sexton or Andy Farrell, he’s now beyond a liability. I don’t care if egos are bruised or pride is hurt, he is not an international fly half.”

One poster argued that Prendergast should now be stood down for the sake of his own confidence: “Sam Prendergast is absolutely destroyed confidence wise. Virtually every decision he makes is a poor one. His kicking from the hand is shocking. It’s like playing with 14. Farrell needs to take him out of the firing line and leave him out of the squad.”

Yet another unhappy fan feared Crowley’s late missed touchfinder might stand against him. “The narrative is already being established. Prendergast was ‘awful’ the entire game, but Crowley, so unjustly made a scapegoat for Andy Farrell’s sins, made a complete b****** of the final touchfinder from 10m out that really it was everyone else’s fault.”

Prendergast’s poor defence was also, again, remarked upon: “I am sick and tired of Irish TV commentators making excuses for Prendergast missing tackles. It’s becoming a joke at this stage. The man just doesn’t exist within contact say it like it is.”