Sam Prendergast picks up with Leinster where he left off with Ireland

Prendergast’s education has been intensive this season with two Leinster starts pre-November sandwiched by three with Emerging Ireland in South Africa and then those Test outings against Argentina, Fiji and Australia.

Sam Prendergast during a Leinster rugby squad training sesssion at UCD in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

It will be a tale of two tens when Leinster open their Champions Cup campaign against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate on Sunday evening

A case of what might have been, and a tale of what so many hope will come to pass. That Sam Prendergast starts for the province is no surprise, callow though he is.