Leinster double-down on commitment to Sam Prendergast as no10
"Individually, you see young players come through and it's tough to get yourself to that top level straight away. So it's a bit of a rocky road at times to get there."
Sam Prendergast has been restored to out-half for Leinster against FDS Lions in the URC quarter at Aviva Stadium on Saturday night (8pm).
Harry Byrne picks up the spot on the bench while Ciaran Frawley drops out completely.
This will be Prendergast's 11th start for the province this season, all of them coming at out-half.
It is his ninth URC start, and third - along with March 21st's Glasgow away and April 17th's Ulster away - since the 2026 Six Nations.
"It's always a balance and we're lucky with the guys that we have there," said Leo Cullen of selection. "And Sam, as you know, he's a super talented young man. And we want to keep giving the guy opportunities. I think you've seen it.
"He's already, even though he's 23 years of age, he's multiple Irish caps under his belt already so it's not just us as coaches here who think that the guy has unbelievable amount of potential. It's the Irish coaches as well. So, we all want to see him progress.
"We need to keep giving him these opportunities. It's a great opportunity for him this week. He's been unlucky in terms of missing out in selection last week.
"So, again, that freshness, it's fresh energy in the group. It's hugely important. But it's over now to Sam and the rest of the players that are picked this weekend and we want to make sure we go and get behind them.
"Whatever team gets picked in any week, we get behind the group and we give them every single chance to fire and be as good as they can possibly be. So, Sam gets an opportunity this week."
Prendergast opened the Six Nations as Ireland's first choice out-half and started against France and Italy before being left out for the England, Wales and Scotland encounters but as National Coach Andy Farrell has said is very much part of the Ireland picture.
"Listen, Sam has played in lots of big games over the last couple of seasons, and we just want to see all our young players, and some days go great, some days there's always things to work on, isn't there?
"We all need to get behind Sam because we see him as a huge part of the future of not just Leinster, but Irish rugby as well.
"I think everyone heard, Andy Farrell speak during the Six Nations when Sam and Jack were fighting it out for the starting role there. And it's making sure that we continue to back our young players to bring them through because you're trying to perform at the top level of the game.
The game obviously at the weekend, it's not an international, but it's not far off, like in terms of top quality players, the pressure of the crowd, all the rest, you know, all the different variables that are going on."
Cullen is happy to have three no10's, Prendergast, Byrne and Frawley, fighting for the spot.
"Everyone wants to be the top dogs, don't they? So, we're getting to that final stage, we've got to keep getting to that point. We just need to keep banging away to try and get there again and be better the next time we're there. And that's us as a team.
"But then, individually, you see young players come through and it's tough to get yourself to that top level straight away. So it's a bit of a rocky road at times to get there.
"But listen, Sam has had a good training week this week. The fresh energy and eyes has been important for us as a team and hopefully you'll see that in his performance at the weekend."
