Sam Prendergast dropped by Ireland after Italy nightmare

Sam Prendergast has been left out of Ireland’s matchday squad for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash away to England, with Jack Crowley named at fly-half.

Prendergast struggled during last weekend’s unconvincing 20-13 win over Italy, including missing two straightforward conversions, before being replaced by Crowley.

The 23-year-old started all but one of Ireland’s previous seven Six Nations games, with his omission the first time he has been overlooked for a matchday 23 in the championship since his Test debut in November 2024.

Crowley impressed from the bench against the Azzurri, albeit he missed touch with a late penalty as Andy Farrell’s side failed to claim a bonus point.

The 26-year-old played every minute of Ireland’s triumphant 2024 Six Nations campaign but his only start in the tournament following the emergence of Prendergast came in last year’s round-five victory over Italy in Rome.

In the aftermath of Ireland’s most-recent success against the Italians, head coach Farrell hit out at “keyboard warriors” who targeted both Prendergast and Crowley on social media.

Ciaran Frawley, who has not featured at international level since last summer’s 106-7 win over Portugal, will provide back-up for the number 10 role at Twickenham.

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park is recalled to partner Crowley in the only other alteration to Ireland’s backline.

In three changes to the forward pack, Tadhg Furlong replaces Thomas Clarkson at tighthead prop, while Tadhg Beirne and Josh van der Flier come in for Cormac Izuchukwu and Jack Conan in the back row.

Captain Caelan Doris reverts to number eight, with Beirne selected at blindside flanker and Van der Flier at openside.

Ireland have won five of their last six meetings with England but were ultimately denied the Grand Slam in 2024 due to a last-gasp 23-22 round-four loss in London.

Head coach Farrell said: “Games between the two sides have been nip and tuck over recent times and there’s great familiarity and respect across both camps.

“We know their strengths and our aim is to deliver the best version of ourselves to put us in a position to get the performance that we want.

“Backed by thousands of travelling Irish supporters who travel from all over the world whenever we play in Twickenham, it will be another special occasion and a challenge we’re excited to face.”

Ireland team: J Osborne (Leinster); R Baloucoune (Ulster), G Ringrose (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), J Lowe (Leinster); J Crowley (Munster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); J Loughman (Munster), D Sheehan (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster), J McCarthy (Leinster), J Ryan (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), J Van der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster capt).

Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster), T O’Toole (Ulster), F Bealham (Connacht), N Timoney (Ulster), J Conan (Leinster), C Casey (Munster), C Frawley (Leinster), T O’Brien (Leinster).