Ireland camp issue update as Sam Prendergast faces race against time

Ireland have issued a positive update on Sam Prendergast as the Leinster out-half continues his race against time to prove his fitness for Friday’s Nations Championship Northern Series opener against Argentina.

Prendergast had emerged as a major doubt for the Aviva Stadium showdown after suffering a wrist injury in training last week, casting uncertainty over his availability at a time when he appeared the frontrunner to start at No.10 for Ireland.

The injury has threatened to derail his involvement in Andy Farrell’s opening fixture of the November window but an Ireland squad statement issued on Sunday painted a far more positive picture.

“The Ireland squad have stepped up their preparations ahead of the visit of Argentina to Aviva Stadium on Friday in the Nations Championship Northern Series.

“Jimmy O’Brien has resumed full training, while Sam Prendergast continues to improve and the management are optimistic that he also will be available for selection.”

With Munster’s Jack Crowley a long-term injury, Prendergast had appeared to be the leading candidate to wear the No.10 jersey against Los Pumas following a strong start to the season with Leinster. The 23-year-old had produced back-to-back player-of-the-match displays against Cardiff and Clermont Auvergne before the wrist issue interrupted his momentum.

Prendergast’s injury forced him to miss Leinster’s URC clash with Munster at the Aviva Stadium, where Joey Carbery was handed his first start at out-half since returning to the province.

At the time, Leo Cullen admitted the situation was difficult to call.

“He’ll be tight, I’d say,” Cullen said when asked whether Prendergast would be available for Ireland’s opener.

“Whether that’s tight positive or tight negative, I’m not quite sure. I genuinely don’t know.

“How he manages some of the pain is probably the main issue for him. Sam would be very bullish I know, talking to him. He was bullish to play this week [against Munster], but we made a more sensible decision for him.”

If Prendergast fails to prove his fitness, it could see Connacht’s Ciaran Frawley come into the frame to take the ten jersey. Former Leinster utility back Frawley has proved electric in the first two games for Connacht, a strong cameo off the bench against Saracens in the opening round of the Investec Champions Cup cementing his credentials as a viable option for Farrell.