Sam Prendergast continues to improve after suffering a wrist injury in Leinster training and the Ireland management are optimistic that he also will be available for selection for Friday’s night’s Nations Championship game against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium (8.10pm).
There was also good news concerning Jimmy O’Brien, who has recovered from the concussion he sustained against Munster and passed the return to play protocols.
Ireland forwards’ coach Paul O’Connell said of Prendergast’s fitness. He said: “Yeah, he’s been tracking well and he’s been jumping in and out of bits of training, non-contact bits, pretty close to full-contact bits, and he’s been very confident and comfortable doing it. So, I’m not 100 per cent sure, but he looks like he could be okay.”
O’Connell was asked about Argentina and the challenge they would bring. “I think Argentina have the all-court game, which you kind of have to have when you’re playing in the competition they are down there [Rugby Championship].
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“I know they didn’t have as many fixtures this year, given the New Zealand-South Africa Test series, but they’re playing South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. They’re in that world where it’s very physical in terms of attack, more defence, big set-piece challenge at the scrum from all those teams.
“The kicking game is really important down there as well. You can see they’ve done a massive amount of work on that in terms of their ability to retrieve kicks on both sides, whether they’re kicking them or whether they’re receiving kicks.
“They obviously play very fast as well. Felipe [Contepomi] would be a fan of that style. You kind of get an all-court game against them. Some phenomenal athletes, with great feet, a nice mixture of styles, given that a lot of their players play in different clubs around the place. It’s an all-court game that you have to be really well prepared for.
“Then they’ve added some real experience into their coaching staff, which will bring an extra edge, an extra bit of excitement and an extra bit of clarity to what they’re doing. It’s going to be a tough challenge.
The IRFU confirmed that over 48,400 tickets have been sold for this Friday’s game. The team to face Argentina will be named on Wednesday afternoon.
