Ireland optimistic Sam Prendergast will recover in time for Argentina opener

Ireland’s management have declared themselves optimistic that Sam Prendergast will be available for selection against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, after an official squad update on Sunday offered the most encouraging signs yet regarding the Leinster out-half’s wrist injury.

Prendergast had emerged as a significant doubt for the Nations Championship Northern Series opener after sustaining the injury in training last week, raising questions about Ireland’s options at No.10 with Munster’s Jack Crowley already ruled out through a long-term injury.

The Ireland squad statement confirmed that Prendergast “continues to improve” and that management are “optimistic that he also will be available for selection.” The update also noted that Jimmy O’Brien has resumed full training.

The 23-year-old had been the frontrunner to start at fly-half for Andy Farrell’s side after a strong opening to the season with Leinster, producing back-to-back player-of-the-match performances against Cardiff and Clermont Auvergne. The wrist problem then forced him to miss Leinster’s URC derby with Munster at the Aviva Stadium, where Joey Carbery was handed his first start at out-half since returning to the province.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen had been cautious when asked about Prendergast’s chances of being fit for Ireland’s opener. “He’ll be tight, I’d say,” Cullen said. “Whether that’s tight positive or tight negative, I’m not quite sure. I genuinely don’t know. How he manages some of the pain is probably the main issue for him. Sam would be very bullish — he was bullish to play this week [against Munster], but we made a more sensible decision for him.”

Should Prendergast fail to prove his fitness in time, Connacht’s Ciaran Frawley is understood to be in the frame to take the No.10 jersey. The former Leinster utility back has impressed in Connacht’s early-season fixtures, including a strong cameo off the bench against Saracens in the Champions Cup, establishing himself as a credible alternative for Farrell.