Prendergast’s redemption start as Ireland face Schmidt’s Wallabies
Sam Prendergast returns to Ireland’s starting XV at fly-half for the Nations Championship opener against Australia, while Joe Schmidt bids farewell as Wallabies boss in his final home games.
Sam Prendergast has been handed the fly-half jersey for Ireland’s Nations Championship opener against Australia, a move that doubles as redemption and a statement of faith from Andy Farrell. The Leinster playmaker, dropped midway through the , reclaims his spot in the starting XV as Ireland open their inaugural Nations Championship campaign in Dublin. Dan Sheehan captains the side in the absence of Caelan Doris, while Farrell’s backroom team fields a squad stripped of several key names—Jamison Gibson-Park among them—due to injury or rotation.
