Same Prendergast showed some of his best rugby as he picked up man of the match against Ulster in Belfast on Friday night.
Prendergast was excellent in all areas with a creative attack that saw the away side picking up a bonus point, accurate kicking from hand and an overall strong defensive Leinster performance.
Changes to his game
Prendergast also highlighted the excellent performance with his kicking from the tee.
He was successful for three of the four conversions, only missing one right from the corner. He also kicked a penalty.
Eagle-eyed viewers of the broadcast noticed that the youngster had made a considerable change to his kicking tee. He has opted for a version which was higher off the surface and with the ball at a much flatter angle.
Sam Prendergast and his recent troubles
Many will forget that Prendergast is still only has only recently turned 23. An age when most players would still be considered young to make an international debut. Prendergast made his debut for Ireland in November 2024 when he was just 21 and was handed the starting jersey for the 2025 Six Nations. He was named Rising Player of the Tournament, having been named player of the round when Ireland beat Scotland.
However, during the 2025 November internationals and early 2026 Six Nations, some frailties in his game defensively and with the boot led to discontent among the fan base with his place in the team. After two rounds in the Six Nations, Prendergast was replaced as the starting 10 by Jack Crowley. Crowley took his opportunity and was excellent for the remainder of the tournament.
Prendergast’s confidence was dented. He returned to Leinster and was soon dropped from that side, missing out on the match day 23 in the Champions Cup.
A dominant Ulster display
The performance for Prendergast came at the right time, with his confidence and expectations on him low.
His wonderful place-kicking kept Ulster pinned back in their own half for the majority of the first half.
No player on the pitch made more line breaks than the 10, and he scored the third try for Leinster.
His distribution was also crucial for the final Jimmy O’Brien try. He linked up with Hugo Keenan to find the winger in enough space in the corner.
Prendergast was handed the Man of the Match award by his captain, James Ryan.
