Six Nations 2025: Sam Prendergast selected at fly-half for Ireland against England, Jack Crowley to begin on bench
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Published 30/01/2025 at 18:04 GMT
Sam Prendergast will have the chance to show why he should be Johnny Sexton's successor in the 10 shirt for Ireland when he starts at fly-half in their Six Nations opener against England. Prendergast will be making his Six Nations debut at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, with fellow fly-half Jack Crowley set to begin the match on the bench despite helping Ireland win the championship last year.
Sam Prendergast of Ireland acknowledges the fans as he celebrates victory after during the Autumn Nations Series 2024 match between Ireland and Australia at Aviva Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
Sam Prendergast will make his Six Nations debut when Ireland begin the defence of their championship against England on Saturday.
The fly-half will win his fourth cap at the Aviva Stadium, having featured in three of Ireland's Autumn Nations Series matches last November.
Jack Crowley will begin the match on the bench despite playing a significant role in Ireland's Six Nations triumph in 2024.
Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby insists his side will have to be at it from the first whistle to get a result against England.
"We’ve come off the back of a good week’s training in Quinta do Lago and I have been hugely impressed by the effort of the squad," he said.
"We’ve enjoyed some competitive sessions, and it wasn’t easy selecting a squad for this week’s game given the quality of those who haven’t made the final 23.
"England are a talented squad with quality across their panel, and we know that we will need to hit the ground running to deliver a winning performance."
Prendergast will be surrounded by plenty of familiar faces as he looks to cement himself as Johnny Sexton's successor, with 11 of his Leinster team-mates included in the starting XV.
Jamison Gibson-Park will start at scrum-half, with Connacht inside centre Bundee Aki and Leinster's Garry Ringrose making up the midfield.
The back three is made up of wingers James Lowe and Mack Hansen and full-back Hugo Keenan.
Caelan Doris will captain the side at No. 8, with Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier starting at six and seven to complete an all-Leinster back row.
James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne will join forces in the engine room, while Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Finlay Bealham make up the front row.
Ireland starting XV to face England:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Andrew Porter
2. Ronan Kelleher
3. Finlay Bealham
4. James Ryan
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Ryan Baird
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (C)
Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Iain Henderson
20. Jack Conan
21. Conor Murray
22. Jack Crowley
23. Robbie Henshaw
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