FOR most sportspeople, references to the road to Damascus are meant in a metaphorical sense.
For Sam Prendergast, it was a quirky diversion on a journey which has brought him to be Ireland’s starting out-half at the age of 21.
Prendergast made his Test debut off the bench against Argentina last week but has been handed the no 10 jersey against Fiji today.
Like former international Jamie Heaslip, who was born in Israel, Prendergast’s back story involves a spell in the Middle East on account of his parents, Mark and Ciara, being in the Irish Army.
He explained: “They were in the same cadet class, that’s how they met. I can only really remember from when she was retired in the army.
“He was a lieutenant colonel, he’s actually retired for a number of years now too.
“He was overseas a good bit and when I was five, Cian eight, and my sister two, we all moved over to Syria for a year and a half so we were over living in Damascus.
“I have great memories of it. I met Diarmuid Mangan, who I played under-20s with, over there.
“His family were over there at the same time so we spent a year over together, then we were living together when we left school, and were in the Leinster Academy together.
“So it was actually quite a bit of coincidence and it was quite special getting to share special days with him as well.”
Not quite as special, though, when brother – Connacht flanker Cian, who has played three Tests for Ireland – presented him with his jersey ahead of the Pumas game.
Prendergast said: “When I got named in the team, having the family come into the Shelbourne and then having Cian in camp, it was a special thing.
“It was a bit emotional at the time. I didn’t really know who was going to present it to me until the time.
“It was a weird one and having all my family there as well then, a few of them had a few tears. It was very special.
“Then getting to play in a full Aviva and getting to sing the national anthems for the first time. It was a nervous week but quite surreal.”
The nerves were not obvious when he entered the fray in a game in which Ireland had established a good first-half lead before being forced on the back foot.
That did not inhibit Prendergast from sticking to his guns and try things that other players, in his position and at his age, might shirk from doing at this level.
That was reinforced by Andy Farrell’s advice before his introduction. He said: “He just said to be myself really, just to trust what I had done to get this far and try and be the best version of myself.”
Asked to elaborate on various team-mates describing him doing things in training which are ‘unbelievable’, he said: I don’t know – a few spirals? – I’m not really sure what they mean by that.
“I maybe try a few things. Some days it doesn’t really go to plan, a wet and windy day and nothing comes off you walk off the pitch a bit dejected and days a lot of it comes off.
“That’s part of the learning as well. Then, when you get to play games it’s fun because you get to, not experiment, but see what different things from the training pitch can translate into in matches.”
With Johnny Sexton’s addition to the staff as a part-time mentor.
Prendergast has a good sounding board for what might or might not work and he says working with the former Ireland great’s brother Mark with the Under-20s gave him an insight into what to expect.
He said: “They would be quite similar in temperament. He’s quite positive. They’re quite supportive and quite encouraging. I just think that confidence rubs off on you a bit.
“He’s one of the best players to ever play for Ireland so, like, his mindset, his outlook on attack is very good. It’s been a lot of kicking stuff, which I’ve found very helpful anyway.”
At his jersey presentation, his brother had praised him for staying true to himself and not having that willingness to try things ‘coached out of him’.
But he said that, like Farrell, most rugby coaches had encouraged rather than dissuaded his creative trait.
CODE CHANGE
He said: “In my younger years I would have been more into GAA and soccer and there would have been a few things like instead of bending your back to pick the ball up like in GAA, I just tried to flick it up.
“Stuff like that would be tried to be coached out of you but I just kind of enjoyed it.
“Never in rugby, I think a lot of the coaches and good influences I’ve had just wanted me to add other things to my game to complement it as well.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve done anything too crazy in a game anyway.
“There’s stuff that probably got you picked into camp but you are also constantly trying to get better at other things, defence, kicking.
“You are never really ‘ah I’m pretty good at everything’. You are constantly working on something.
“That’s what makes it quite exciting, you are constantly trying to get better at different things.
“I don’t think there is any player in the world that ticks every box. It’s trying to tick as many boxes as you can.”
One shortcoming that has been identified by pundits is a lack of physical presence but he baulked at how he has been described.
He said: “Slight? I think that’s a bit harsh, I’m just quite tall. I could definitely put on a bit of size.
“I’m not in a huge rush to do that. I think I’m decently heavy for the position I play. I’m definitely trying to get better at my defence. I’ve been working with coaches in Leinster and Ireland coaches on it.
“It’s obviously a huge part of the game. You spend half the game without the ball. You’ve got to be very good at it. I am really trying to get better at it. I think the ‘slight’ thing is a bit harsh.”
