'A nice compliment': Sam Prendergast modest amid Ronan O'Gara praise

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby said Prendergast delivered in all aspects during his side's Six Nations victory over Scotland. 

PRAISE ALL ROUND: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend complimented Sam Prendergast's adaptability. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Getting used to high praise as well as anthems and shot clocks is all a part of Sam Prendergast’s rapid development at the sharp end of Test rugby but the Ireland fly-half appears to be taking it all in his stride.

Ronan O’Gara, in the pundit’s chair for the BBC at Murrayfield, called the 21-year-old playmaker the “master of control” as Ireland raced into a 17-5 half-time lead and played the full 80 minutes on his maiden Test appearance away from Dublin with a performance which earned him the player of the match award, replacement fly-half Jack Crowley deployed at full-back for the final 15 minutes.

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby was just as complimentary, and said of Prendergast: “He was good, wasn’t he? Playing in a different game away from home, he delivered not only in terms of mixing his game, attacking the line, his kicking game, but also off the tee, he was excellent.

“It allowed us to keep staying ahead and keep pushing out the scoreline, which on some other days it’s tighter than it needs to be but I thought Sam was excellent. He was good across his game, both in attack and defence.” 

The player himself was modest in his response to O’Gara’s praise and whether he did actually feel like a master of control.

“Not particularly, no,” Prendergast said with a chuckle. “It’s a nice compliment from a very good player. Yeah, no, I didn’t feel particularly like that. I think me and the team were focusing on trying to build on what we were doing, get that momentum back.” 

Instead, the number 10 was drinking in the Murrayfield atmosphere.

“It’s pretty cool, watching the games on TV yesterday and you remember watching them years ago and wanting to be part of it. It’s pretty cool to be part of it now.

“You’re trying not to think about it too much as well, trying to focus on the game and doing a job. It’s more enjoyable because as a team we played better. Going away is never easy, especially here, the run they’ve been on. I thought it was pretty enjoyable today, yeah.” 

There was even praise from defeated Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, who praised Ireland’s adaptability to evolve and the way they play the game.

“Tight running lines. Put your defence under pressure. There's a reason why they picked Sam. He's someone that can play that game very effectively,” Townsend said.