Prendergast benched, Crowley starts for Ireland
Today at 08:03 AM
Coach Simon Easterby has replaced flyhalf Sam Prendergast with Jack Crowley for Ireland's Six Nations finale against Italy in Rome on Saturday.
The interim coach has made a bold move as the back-to-back champions aim to rebound from a 42-27 defeat to France and end their campaign on a high. Easterby has made six changes and a positional switch – Crowley replacing 22-year-old Sam Prendergast, who struggled against France, marking his first start since November.
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In the backline, Mack Hansen and James Lowe return on the wings, replacing Jamie Osborne and Calvin Nash, while Garry Ringrose's return shifts Bundee Aki to the bench and Robbie Henshaw to inside centre.Up front, James Ryan starts at lock for Joe McCarthy, yellow-carded last week, and Jack Conan takes over at blindside flanker from Peter O'Mahony, who moves to the bench for his final Test. Tadhg Furlong also returns as a replacement.
IRELAND — 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelen Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Jack Conan, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 James Ryan, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.
Bench: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Peter O'Mahony, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Bundee Aki
Six Nations round 5 fixtures:
Saturday
Italy vs Ireland, Rome, 4.15pm
Wales vs England, Cardiff, 6.45pm
France vs Scotland, Paris, 10pm
Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
The post Prendergast benched, Crowley starts for Ireland appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
