Andy Farrell says Sam Prendergast 'deserves' start against Australia

“This isn’t just throwing someone in and hoping to get the best out of it. I think he’s deserved it a little bit but also there’s obviously an eye on (the future)."

NOT IN DEEP END: Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell insists Ireland are not throwing Sam Prendergast into the deep end against Australia.

Andy Farrell has insisted Ireland are not throwing Sam Prendergast in at the deep end by selecting the Test rookie to start at number 10 against Australia in Dublin this Saturday.

In a team for the IRFU’s 150th Anniversary men’s Test showing five changes from the one which started the convincing 52-17 victory over Fiji seven days earlier, the head coach has opted to restore his tried and trusted operators at the expense of less experienced or less frequently selected squad members.