Sam Prendergast’s strong end to the season with Leinster has earned him a recall to the Ireland starting line-up for Saturday’s Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney.
The 23-year-old lost the fly-half spot to Jack Crowley during the Six Nations, but with the Munster playmaker ruled out through injury, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has rewarded Prendergast for steering Leinster to the United Rugby Championship (URC) title.
With Tommy O’Brien sidelined and James Lowe leaving Irish rugby, Farrell has opted to pick Jamie Osborne on the left wing for the match at Allianz Stadium (11:10 BST).
Tom O’Toole starts at loose-head prop, a problem position for Farrell with Andrew Porter, Jack Boyle and Paddy McCarthy all missing.
Stuart McCloskey, outstanding in Ireland’s Triple Crown-winning Six Nations campaign, has recovered from a hamstring injury to start in midfield alongside Garry Ringrose.
However, Tadhg Beirne is fit enough only for a place on the bench as Cian Prendergast gets another chance to impress in the back row.
