BRIAN O’DRISCOLL poked fun at Ronan O’Gara by claiming Sam Prendergast’s spiral kick against Wales was “as sweet as anything in his career”.
The 22-year-old came up clutch in Ireland’s 27-18 win at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, kicking 17 points.
However, it was his involvement in Jamie Osborne’s crucial second-half try that attracted the most plaudits from fans and pundits.
With Simon Easterby‘s men trailing 18-10 and their Triple Crown bid in the balance, the Leinster starlet produced an inch-perfect 50:22 spiral to drag Ireland deep into Welsh territory.
They would take advantage by working the ball across the field, leading to a Jamison Gibson-Park in behind being patted down by James Lowe into the path of Jamie Osborne, who touched down.
It was a sublime moment for Prendergast, who earned praise from Ireland and Leinster legend Brian O’Driscoll, who also used the moment to poke fun at O’Gara.
Appearing on Off The Ball, he said: “The new spiral king. The new [Ronan O’Gara] at 10.
“With the 50:22, that is absolutely…Dave Alred the kicking coach used to call it top pocket.
“That is when you really hit it sweet and he had different grades for different levels of contact.
“Top pocket was on the money and that was as sweet as anything that ROG has kicked over his 25 year career!”
O’Driscoll praised the youngster for overcoming personal errors in the game to show the bravery required to attempt the risky kick.
He continued: “It had a big bearing on squeezing pressure as well and that is what you need.
“You need pivotal moments in games to swing the momentum back in your favour.
“Prendergast had had an error – spilled the ball, and let Wales into it for the try.
“To continue to have the confidence…that is a really difficult kick because there is no margin for error.
“A bad spiral can be pretty catastrophic because it can look horrific whereas a bad drop punt, it is still a somewhat effective kick so the fall off is significant when you don’t catch it.
“There wasn’t much space between whoever was in the backfield and the touchline and finding a metre or two from touch is amazing accuracy and confidence to do it and go after it.”
Prendergast proceeded to kick a further three penalties between the uprights to secure the win and Ireland’s 14th Triple Crown.
It also put them ever closer to a third consecutive Six Nations title and a second Grand Slam in three years.
They face potentially their sternest test on March 8,. however, when France come to the Aviva Stadium.
