Andy Farrell was bullish in defence of his starting fly half, turning his ire on the “keyboard warriors” slating Sam Prendergast, questioning the national pride of those critics and digging out journalists for creating a false narrative that Ireland fans cheered his substitution in from the disjointed, unconvincing 20-13 win over Italy.
But the walls appear to be closing in on Prendergast and no amount of confrontational bluster from a coach rightly sticking up for his player in public can perpetually postpone the inevitable. It’s time to take the young No 10 out of the firing line and give Jack Crowley his shot.
