Ireland coach Andy Farrell defends Sam Prendergast 'work-ons' and unleashes 'Big Game Player' Bundee Aki for Springboks clash

The Leinster man has been selected to start in the 10 shirt for the upcoming clash with the Springboks, as South Africa look to end their 13-year wait for a Test win in Dublin. Prendergast retains the role as Ireland linchpin, after taking the reins for last weekend's 46-19 win over the Wallabies.

Whilst the 22-year-old led the attacking onlsaught over Joe Schmidt's side, a defensive shortcoming saw him barreled over by Len Ikitau as the Exeter Chiefs man bagged a try. When asked for his thoughts upon Prendergast's defensive 'work-ons' Farrell was quick to defend the play-maker;

"I understand your question again, but they're loaded questions, you know what I mean? Because then it's obvious that we have to talk about that. Your question could be asked about any single player throughout. Of course, we constantly talk to individuals about all aspects of the play.

"So, to think that we're just focusing on one aspect of one player is not right. Because, for example, I spoke to our two leaders yesterday about certain aspects of their game. I'm talking about Caelan [Doris] and Dan Sheehan now, world-class players, and they agree with the work-ons. You know what I mean? So, it is constant throughout for every single member of every single squad in World Rugby."

Farrell added how it has been another tough week in terms of selecting his Ireland match day 23, with the Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley debate dominating his decision making. Farrell expressed how that what he wants as a head coach.

"I mean, you know, I understand the question, and it's a question that obviously keeps popping up now, but I think Sam's ability as a fly-half far outweighs a work-on within his game. I thought he was tremendous last week. His skill set has been fantastic for all to see, and I think everyone needs to look through a little bit of a work-on, because everyone's got work-ons and will continue to have work-ons throughout, and that's up to us as coaches and the rest of the players to keep on working on them."

It is not just Prendergast who will need to be defensively sharp for the upcoming clash with South Africa, with demands made for a full squad performance to step up against the Springboks. Farrell was quick to point out how well-documented South Africa's power game is, as Ireland need to batten down the hatches with a hard-hitting battle expected at the gain-line.

“Well, we've got a few good aspects of our game that hopefully can cause them a few bits of trouble as well. Our attention to detail and our subtleties within our game is something that we pride ourselves on. Understanding how that can manipulate an opponent is always going to be part of our way forward.”

"Making sure that you're level-headed enough [in defense] to see what it is that's coming in front of you. Because, let's be right, it's not as though they're just coming in ones. They've got some box of tricks in their backs as well, and they've got some nice subtlety in how they play in attack, and that's continued to grow as well. So, it's not just about just fronting up, it's about decision-making and making sure that we're able to see the pictures in front of us and when the contact has to be made, that we're in a good enough position to be able to do that."

Selected to reinforce the Irish defensive effort in the midfield this Saturday, is the exciting re-united partnership of Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose. This is the first time the Connacht and Leinster duo have linked up as Ireland's centre axis for the Quilter Nations Series, with Farrell revealing the tough selection process to come to this conclusion. Farrell shared how injuries to Robbie Henshaw and Stuart McCloskey forced a shuffle of the deck in the centre of the park.

"We think this is a fantastic partnership with Bundee [Aki] and Ringer [Garry Ringrose] coming in, obviously they're fresh. Robbie Henshaw has a little bit of a tweak to a hamstring that's made him sit out and just be nursed at the beginning of the week. Could he be fit towards the end of the week, he probably could, that goes along with your thinking also and obviously Stuart McCloskey, he's out injured and has gone back up the road to Ulster.

"He's [Bundee Aki] a big game player, isn't he? I mean look at the experience he's got, he 100% would be hoping that his character fits these types of occasions. So again, he's got to go out there and prove it like everyone else."

The centre discussion did not end at the starting duo of Aki and Ringrose, with a notable appearance lined-up from the replacements bench. After becoming the oldest Ireland back to make his men's Test debut in the professional era at 32-years-old earlier in the Autumn Series against Japan, Munster midfielder Tom Farrell takes a seat among the replacements to play an impact role at the Aviva.

"It's been a big month for him, coming in to camp and getting his first cap and having a week or two to digest that and we said when he was making his debut that he's been excellent, the difference compared to when he was in all those years ago is like chalk and cheese really. So that's continued and he'll be itching to get on and show what he can do in a big game."

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