Prendergast called into Irish camp
He has been capped three times by Farrell
CIAN Prendergast will replace Tom Ahern in Ireland’s squad for their training camp in Portugal ahead of the Six Nations, the Irish Rugby Football Union announced yesterday.
Munster back row Ahern suffered a head injury during his province’s 26-23 Investec Champions Cup defeat to Northampton on Saturday.
The 23-year-old was one of three uncapped players, alongside club-mate Oli Jager and Leinster fly-half Sam Prendergast, selected as training panellists for the camp by head coach Andy Farrell.
He will undergo rehabilitation with Munster.
Connacht back row Cian Prendergast, 23, has been capped three times by Farrell but was overlooked for last year’s World Cup in France.
Ireland begin their Six Nations title defence on February 2 against France in Marseille.
Meanwhile, England’s midfield options for their Six Nations opener against Italy are dwindling after Ollie Lawrence and Oscar Beard withdrew from Steve Borthwick’s squad because of injury.
Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has also been replaced in a triple setback as the squad departed for their pre-Championship training camp in Girona.
Beard suffered concussion in Harlequins’ European victory over Ulster on Saturday while Cowan-Dickie was replaced early in the second half of Sale’s defeat by La Rochelle a day later because of an undisclosed medical condition.
Lawrence finished Bath’s loss at Toulouse on Sunday but there are no details of his injury.
Bath’s Max Ojomoh and Will Muir have been called into England’s 36-man Six Nations squad to plug the gaps in midfield, while Jamie Blamire of Newcastle replaces Cowan-Dickie.
If he is definitively ruled out against Italy on Saturday week, Lawrence will be a significant loss given he was expected to form a centre partnership with Henry Slade at the Stadio Olimpico.
Lawrence has been a force for Bath this season and, crucially, is able to switch from his preferred position at 13 to 12 where England are short of credible options. Slade has filled inside centre in the past but is a better fit at outside, leaving the uncapped Fraser Dingwall in pole position to secure the number 12 jersey.
Beard will still travel to Girona but Cowan-Dickie will see a specialist at home. England’s midfield problems are exacerbated by Owen Farrell’s decision to miss the entire Six Nations to prioritise his mental health, and the groin injury that has sidelined Manu Tuilagi for a month.
Both can play inside centre but only Tuilagi has any chance of being involved in the Championship.
“Manu will be fit, hopefully in the early part, so hopefully he’ll play a major part in the middle to latter part of the tournament,” said Borthwick this week..