“I was inspired by my brother” – Cian Prendergast pays tribute to Sam and tragedy-hit Ireland U20s

“I know they didn’t get the result they were wanting but, to me, they were a total inspiration.”

Cian Prendergast is in camp with the senior Ireland team and hoping to make their World Cup squad. He has taken inspiration from his younger brother, Sam, and all the Ireland side that reached the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship.

We were part of an online grouping that were fortunate enough to have a recent sit-down with Prendergast, Ryan Baird and Jimmy O’Brien – you can read that interview here – before Andy Farrell’s squad ramped up their preparations.

Here is that full Q&A with the Connacht and Ireland back-row:

How have the last few weeks gone?

Yeah, good. It has been a tough pre-season but it has been good. I don’t think any stone has been left unturned. Really, a lot of thought has gone into this and you can see that in how we’re training, our nutrition. Every base has been covered to the highest level. It has put us in a really good place, I think.

How much have you improved as a player since coming into Ireland camp, 12 months ago?

I think the improvement in my game has been massive, but also as a person, as well, to realise what high performance rugby is, and what’s required of me. That’s a tremendous thing to be exposed to. And then with your skill bases, you’re getting to train with the best players in the world, on one of the best teams in the world. It has been phenomenal for me, as a player and a guy that is just trying to break into this team. That is ultimately the goal.

What was your personality when you first came in?

I wouldn’t be a centre of attention type of person. I’d be in and around the group; would be quiet enough the odd time. Straight away, Faz is always telling you to be yourself. No one feels like they have to be reserved when they first arrive – they can be open with each other. The lads are really good with that, they’re a really good group of lads. I definitely have grown in confidence, in the group. Being part of a team that has gone on to achieve some amazing things over the last year has definitely helped that. It has helped me, going back to my province too.

Were you in touch with Sam much during the U20s championships?

It has been great to chat with him. His scheduled had been fairly hectic, this camp has been fairly hectic, but I’ve been able to catch up with him on the phone, in between games. Just seeing the journey they have been on, and all the hardships they had to go through – with the two lads from Michaels passing, and to see what happened with Greig Oliver, it was really sad, as well. Just to see how they dealt and coped with it was just amazing to see. I was inspired by my brother, in a way, to see that.

The young Irelands lads handled it well, given the tough circumstances [the passing of Greig Oliver and two St Michael’s College students].

Yeah, exactly. The lads would be a year or two out of school and to have to deal with that; they haven’t much life experience. On top of that, the pressure on them is immense to perform in a World Cup, and on a world stage. Then in that Fiji game, and what they did. I know people were saying that they didn’t play that well but they were put through a lot, that week. Just to see their teammate go through everything he went through, and what those lads from St Michaels had to deal with, as well, that takes so much out of you, emotionally, and, ultimately, physically. I know they didn’t get the result they were wanting but, to me, they were a total inspiration. A total inspiration as a group, as well. Watching them beat Fiji and the host nation in a semi-final, it is something beyond inspiring.

Cian Prendergast on his first Ireland tour

What did you take away from the tour to New Zealand?

When you’re there in New Zealand and wrapped up in a bubble, you can’t comprehend what you’re achieving. Faz has an amazing way of…he instils such belief in us that when you win a game, it’s kind of like ‘we knew we were capable of this’. We obviously lost the first two games and then they won the first Test and we were like ‘we expected this’. Then we won the game against the Maoris and it’s like ‘this is amazing, but we knew were capable’. Then we won the Test series and we knew we were going over there to win this.

When you go home and reflect on it in the year past, I’m actually getting memories on my phone from the tour. That’s how amazing a time it was. Having that foundation to build on as a group going into something hopefully really special.

What was Keith Earls like as captain? 

He was great for us. He’d played the Maoris when he was 19, 20 years old when they toured a while back. He was good explaining to us what the Haka was like to a lot of us that hadn’t experienced it. What to think during the Haka, how to react to it and how to be respectful towards it. At the same time he wasn’t overbearing. He was himself and allowed us to be ourselves and the result showed in that second game [when he was captain].

What’s the dynamic on the team bus? Who are the big dogs in the back row? 

It’s nothing like that. It keeps the bus light-hearted. Everyone is comfortable being themselves. No-one feels they have to be too serious. Then you get to training and you’re ready to do your work. The lads that are more experienced sit down at the back, it keeps it light-hearted. We have different groups that have to do different touring information or joke of the day or thought of the day. It keeps everyone on their toes and we can have a bit of craic.

Johnny, Cian, Peter down the back of the bus? 

Yeah. I wouldn’t stray that far back though… !

What committee are you on?

In New Zealand, myself and Joe McCarthy were on thought of the day. It could be anything really, just whatever’s in your head. Big Joe’s really good for that to be fair, he can come out with some interesting thoughts.

Are they Joe’s thoughts? 

They could be. Honestly, I don’t know what that man sometimes but they could be from his head. He’s always interesting.

Have you allowed yourself to think about representing Ireland at the World Cup?

Obviously selection for the World Cup is the main goal. Everyone wants to be on an Irish team that goes and does something special over in France. I haven’t really allowed myself to think. I’m hoping to get selected for the Italy game. A day-by-day focus and week-by-week focus is the best way to go about it. Obviously those thoughts will creep in but there’s only so much you can. If you put your best foot forward, hopefully you’ll put yourself in a good position.

Ireland take on Italy from 8pm at Aviva Stadium on Saturday, August 5.

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