Dec 17,2024
Comparisons with Johnny Sexton are going to follow Sam Prendergast around. Whether he likes it or not.
The early signs are that the 21-year-old doesn't really mind being likened to the former Ireland and Leinster out-half; it is a compliment after all.
Sexton retired aged 38 after the World Cup last year and the question of who was going to succeed him, after 14 years in green, was always going to be a hot topic.
Munster's Jack Crowley started the first nine Ireland games in the post-Sexton era, while Leinster's 21-year-old Prendergast has been in possession of the 10 shirt for the last two Tests, wins over Fiji and Australia last November.
Ciarán Frawey, also from Leinster, has fallen down the pecking order.
It appears the Irish and provincial management are in agreement, with Leo Cullen handing the Kildare man starts in Leinster's last two Champions Cup games this season, an away win at Bristol in which he scored two tries and last weekend's 15-7 victory against Clermont.
Prendergast has been described by fellow autumn Ireland debutant Thomas Clarkson as wanting "everything to be 100% perfect and when it is not, he has got a big stroppy head on him, similar to Sexton".
In his widely acclaimed autobiography Obsessed, Sexton revealed much of what he kept hidden during his playing career: struggles breaking through at Leinster, rivalries, fights with team-mates, constant fitness battles and an intolerance for anybody or anything that didn't reach his high standards.
Sensing there's no point in hoping the Sexton questions will stop anytime soon, Prendergast appears to embrace the subject.
Firstly, has he read the book?
"I don't know if it was because I didn't know a whole pile about him because he never seemed to disclose much in the media, but I didn't know a lot of the stuff about him
"It was just great to read about his different little situations and he has a different back story to a lot of people."
Are there aspects of Sexton's rugby personality that he could mirror?
"I don't know," added the former Newbridge College player.
"I think he's very special in the way he's driven and I think it was his biggest strength, how he was motivated.
"I'd see myself as a different person to him, but I get along great with him.
Sexton, who works as a commercial manager for a recyclable metal and glass packaging company, did a nixer during the November internationals, joining the Ireland set-up ostensibly as an advisor and mentor to the out-halves, a position that quickly evolved over the course of the month to include wider responsibilities although the exact details are vague.
With Andy Farrell away on Lions duty and Simon Easterby stepping up, it's likely Sexton will re-join for the Six Nations.
"He was a great sounding board," added Prendergast of Sexton's involvement in the autumn.
"It's great to be able to chat to him because it was his mind as well as his skills that made him so good, he had so much knowledge to share.
"I was probably only there for a year at Leinster while he was there and any time he was there I wasn't because they wouldn’t need numbers for training.
"It has been great to chat to him but all the coaches in that set-up and here, they have all dealt with a lot of very good out-halves and they all have their experiences from it, so they're great to learn off."
Just a month ago, Prendergast was uncapped and hadn't started a Champions Cup match. It's been a busy five weeks.
"I suppose so,' he added.
"I’ve played in a few big games, which is good, but [against Clermont] was a bit frustrating at times so I haven’t really been reflecting on the last month too much. It has been a good month and you can take so many learnings out of it.
"No, life hasn’t changed at all. It has been an intense month, just rugby, rugby, rugby.
"It’s tough to reflect on a highlight but it is great to play in big games. It’s what I’ve wanted to do from a young age."
Leinster sit top of the URC after seven wins from seven and host eighth-placed Connacht on Saturday evening at Aviva Stadium.
Cullen has said he will change up his squad for the Christmas schedule, which also includes a trip to Thomond Park to face Munster, but Prendergast, man of the match against Clermont, is keen to feature as much as he can and add to his 22 club appearances.
He added: "I love playing. I just want to keep playing and take whatever opportunities I can get. That’s up to Leo. I don’t mind playing whenever."
