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Prendergast starts as Emerging Ireland team named for Western Force

Sam Prendergast during a Leinster Rugby captain's run at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Sam Prendergast will start at flyhalf for Emerging Ireland in their second match of the South Africa tour against Western Force on Sunday.

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Prendergast retains his place and partners scrum-half Ethan Coughlan.

Head Coach Simon Easterby has made several changes to the team that defeated The Pumas 36-24. Captain Alex Kendellen continues in the back row alongside Sean Jansen and Alex Soroka. Cormac Izuchukwu moves to the second row, joined by Conor O’Tighearnaigh. Hooker Gus McCarthy is named in a new front row with Alex Usanov and Ronan Foxe.

In the backline, Sean O’Brien shifts to left wing, with Andrew Osborne at fullback and Chay Mullins on the right wing. Jude Postlethwaite and Hugh Cooney form a new midfield partnership.

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Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White reveals why one of his frontline props ended up in hospital

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    Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White reveals why one of his frontline props ended up in hospital

    On the bench, Jack Aungier, Danny Sheahan, Scott Wilson, Evan O’Connell, Sean Edogbo, Charlie Tector, and Hugh Gavin are included.

    Easterby said: “The squad has really embraced the opportunity to represent their country since our arrival in South Africa and we are expecting another big step up on Sunday. Western Force got off to a flier on Wednesday night against the Cheetahs and it is clear that they are a well-drilled side with a lot of quality.

    “The earlier kick off time presents a new challenge, but this is exactly the kind of test we want for the squad. We have freshened up the team this weekend, with a number of replacements from the midweek game getting their first starts, and there are other new faces coming into the panel for the first time. This freshness will give the squad some energy and there has been a good intensity to training, which I’m pleased about. The players are focused and excited about Sunday’s game and we’re hopeful of further signs of progression.”

    Emerging Ireland vs Western Force
    15. Andrew Osborne
    14. Chay Mullins
    13: Hugh Cooney
    12. Jude Postlethwaite
    11: Sean O’Brien
    10: Sam Prendergast
    9: Ethan Coughlan
    1. Alex Usanov
    2. Gus McCarthy
    3. Ronan Foxe
    4. Cormac Izuchukwu
    5. Conor O’Tighearnaigh
    6. Alex Soroka
    7. Alex Kendellen
    8. Sean Jansen

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    Replacements:
    16. Danny Sheahan
    17. Scott Wilson
    18 Jack Aungier
    19. Evan O’Connell
    20. Sean Edogbo
    21. Cormac Foley
    22. Charlie Tector
    23. Hugh Gavin

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    cornelisjohannes 11 minutes ago
    Ireland player ratings vs France | 2025 Six Nations

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    282 Go to comments
    f
    fl 44 minutes ago
    Late try spares Ireland from further ignominy in world rankings

    I’m quite confused by your comment, but this is the way to do it:

    “base this solely on what happens in the Pools. So best 4 Pool winners will play best 4 third place and assuming the top 4 pool winners progress, they will avoid eachother until the semi”

    Just like they do in the champions cup.


    “The problems with this is that Big teams will be encouraged to absolutely trash minnows raking up huge scores”

    I actually don’t agree that this is the case.


    If this method had been used to rank teams in the 2023 RWC, the ranking after the pool stages would have been:

    Ireland (19 table points; 144 points difference)

    Wales (19 TP; 84 PD)

    France (18 TP; 178 PD)

    England (18 TP; 111 PD)

    New Zealand (15 TP; 206 PD)

    South Africa (15 TP; 117 PD)

    Argentina (14 TP)

    Fiji (11 TP)


    Ireland’s most dominant result was 82-8 against Romania, a smaller margin of victory than South Africa and Scotland managed against the Romanians - but Ireland still manage to get top seed. Wales’ most dominant victory was 40-6 against Australia - only Fiji recorded a smaller margin of victory in their most dominant result - and yet Wales still get 2nd seed because they got a bonus point in 3 of their 4 games. What this system rewards most of all is consistency of performance, and victory in the pool’s most difficult fixtures.


    If this system had been applied in 2023 it would have arguably produced a much fairer draw, with the QF matches being:

    IRE v FIJ

    WAL v ARG

    FRA v RSA

    ENG v NZE

    so New Zealand get a slightly easier fixture, and Ireland get a much easier fixture. South Africa get the same draw, but in this scenario that isn’t just bad luck - its punishment for losing to Ireland. I guess France can feel slightly hard done by, but they could have avoided South Africa if they had scored 4 tries against Uruguay.

    13 Go to comments
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