Oct 09,2024
Sam Pendergast will start his third game in a row for Emerging Ireland, when they complete their tour of South Africa against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
The Leinster out-half is the only member of Simon Easterby's side who will have started all three games, with 11 changes in total from Sunday’s 29-24 win against Western Force.
Andrew Osborne, Hugh Cooney and Alex Usanov also retain their places in the side, while captain Alex Kendellen and Ulster’s Cormac Izuchukwu are among those to sit out the final tour match, having started the two wins in the last week.
James Culhane comes in to captain the team at number 8, and is joined in the back row by Ulster’s Harry Sheridan and Munster’s Sean Edogbo, the latter of whom is making his first start of the tour.
Connacht’s Darragh Murray returns to the second row after being rested on Sunday, and he is joined at lock by former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell.
Usanov is the only forward to be retained in the starting side, and he partners Connacht’s Jack Aungier and Leinster’s Stephen Smyth in the front-row.
At half-back, Prendergast links up with his Leinster team-mate Cormac Foley, while Cooney and Hugh Gavin are reunited after their impressive centre partnership for the U20s in 2023.
Osborne moves from full-back to wing, with Ben O’Connor taking the 15 shirt, while Ulster’s former Ireland Sevens international Zac Ward gets the start on the left wing.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday's win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
"When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part," Easterby said.
"To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
"The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot.
"While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution.
"We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high."
Emerging Ireland: Ben O'Connor; Andrew Osborne, Hugh Cooney, Hugh Gavin, Zac Ward; Sam Prendergast, Cormac Foley; Alex Usanov, Stephen Smyth, Jack Aungier; Evan O'Connell, Darragh Murray; Harry Sheridan, Sean Edogbo, James Culhane (capt).
Replacements: Danny Sheahan, George Hadden, Scott Wilson, Conor O'Tighearnaigh, Alex Soroka, Mtthew Devine, Jack Murphy, Charlie Tector.
