Sam Prendergast admits Ireland will look back with frustration on elements of their Guinness Six Nations campaign.
Simon Easterby's side finished third in the table despite four wins from five games, the last of which saw them make hard work of Italy in Rome, surviving a late scare to eventually win 22-17.
Having started the championship with impressive bonus-point wins against England and Scotland, Ireland haven’t looked the same team since, and although they would also see off Wales and Italy away from home, last week’s heavy defeat against France effectively ended their chances of the title.
"It’s been a mixed bag," Prendergast told RTÉ Sport. "I think everyone in the group would say the same.
"Over the tournament we’ve had some unbelievable highs, winning a Triple Crown, We started so well with some great wins, but last week was a tough experience and we had to get over that quickly to put on a performance.
"It maybe wasn't our best again today but we managed to get over the line against a really good side. Happy but loads of things we can take forward.
"I think we knew it would be like that [against Italy]. We know how good they are how many great players have, how they never go away. You might think you have them but they keep coming and keep coming and we saw that today. A tough effort right down to the final whistle to beat them."
Sam Prendergast has been named the BKT Rising Player of the championship #RTErugby #SixNations pic.twitter.com/4CDRAXU9dS
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 15, 2025
The 22-year-old played every game of Ireland’s championship, starting the first four before coming off the bench in the final quarter of yesterday’s win in Rome.
The Leinster out-half's performances also saw him win the BKT Rising Player award, which was contested between those who were featuring in the Six Nations for the first time in 2025.
Prendergast’s rise has been rapid this season, as he overtook Ciarán Frawley, Ross Byrne and Harry Byrne to become first-choice for Leinster, while he has also seemingly climbed to the top of the Irish depth chart.
"I think I have a lot of good people around me, whether it’s in the squad or back home. There’s a lot of good people to give advice, to bounce ideas off," he said.
"I’ve just been trying to focus on the task at hand and trying to get batter and block that out, because I can't control that."
And while some have as a real contender for a place in this summer’s British and Irish Lions squad for the tour of Australia, Prendergast laughed off suggestions he will be part of Andy Farrell’s squad.
"I don't know about that now, to be honest," he said of possible Lions selection.
"I'm just going to enjoy a few days off and get back in, looking forward to the end of the season with Leinster and looking forward to signing off three absolute greats of Irish rugby [the retiring Cian Healy, Conor Murray and Peter O'Mahony], getting around them and spending the night with them."
