As Ireland completed their final full day at Quinta do Lago concerns over Sam Prendergast’s strapped leg were dispelled by attack coach Andrew Goodman. The young outhalf, who took part in training at their base in The Campus on Tuesday is expected to be available for selection for Saturday’s game against England at the Aviva Stadium.
“Yeah, he trained fully today, just a little dead leg I believe. I’m sure he’ll be all right” said Goodman. “It’s been a great couple of months for Sam, just the game experience he’s managed to gather up both with Ireland, first with Emerging Ireland, then Ireland, then some big Champions Cup games away to La Rochelle, home to Bath.
“So, it’s been a great period for him to get real game experience. I know he valued the time at Leinster when he was training alongside the senior squad as an academy member. But to get out there and feel it for himself, there’s been huge growth in his game.”
Goodman believes Ireland have ironed out many of the kinks that were apparent during the Autumn International Series ahead of facing England.
“We were aware that some of the timing was off and some of the skill execution that we pride ourselves on was off, so we’ve sharpened and focused around our skill set,” said Goodman. “We’re making sure we get lots of good decisions on the ball and lots of touches on the ball, so when we come into the pressure moments we can execute those.
“Yeah, there’s some great competition out there, the boys are pushing each other hard so with a pretty fully-fit squad apart from Tadhg [Furlong] unfortunately leaving us earlier in the week. There’s guys pushing each other and fighting hard for positions but doing it in the right way, pushing each other and competing.”
Excitement is the word Goodman used to describe the Irish mood. Co-incidentally, he was in Quinta do Lago last year watching Ireland against England in a local pub called The Cheeky Pup. He is again expecting a close match where one or two plays could determine the outcome.
“They have been very close, you look at the series they had in November. In terms of victories, they probably should have beaten the All Blacks and coulda, shoulda, woulda beaten the Wallabies and were in the game against South Africa. So while there has been changes, there are clear things in their DNA we can expect around their physicality, the pride they have in the collisions on both sides of the ball, and the aerial presence,” said Goodman.
“I think they’ve got the team and squad together. Yes there might be changes in the background, but you can put your bottom dollar on it that there are going to be some key things that will shine through with England that always do.”
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