It was a day to forget for Sam Prendergast on Saturday, as the young Irish outhalf looked battered by the end of Ireland's hammering at the hands of France.
21-year-old Prendergast is one of the brightest prospects in Irish rugby but few could have foreseen the Leinster youngster starting every game of the Six Nations as the coaching team seek to fill the void of Johnny Sexton.
Prendergast is sorely lacking in experience and physicality in this early stage of his career, and has made some quaint choices in kicking and game management but, for the most part, he has impressively made up for his shortcomings with his dynamic play with ball-in-hand.
That was not the case on Saturday.
Against a relentlessly physical French side, Prendergast was battered from minute one, and found his passing game completely stifled as big hit after big hit came rolling in.
Prendergast looked out on his feet by the hour mark, though by that stage fly-half replacement Jack Crowley had been brought on at 12 for Bundee Aki, meaning Prendergast had to see out all 80 minutes in Dublin.
It was the toughest day yet for Prendergast in an Ireland jersey. However, speaking on Virgin Media on Saturday evening, Rob Kearney expressed his sympathy for the youngster.
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Rob Kearney offers perspective after Sam Prendergast issues against France
8 March 2025; Thomas Ramos of France makes a break from Sam Prendergast of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and France at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
After Scotland narrowly saw off Wales in the evening kick-off, Virgin Media's panel turned their attention to dissecting the mauling in Dublin earlier on Saturday.
Sam Prendergast came under significant scrutiny from Irish punters after the young Irish fly-half struggled to make any attacking impact against Les Bleus.
Rob Kearney urged viewers to see the bigger picture, saying that there was always going to be special scrutiny on the number 10. Kearney also argued that the failings of Ireland's attacking system ranged far wider than any that could be attributed to Prendergast.
There's always going to be questions about the number 10. Today was always going to be a massive game for Sam Prendergast.
Did he have his best game? No, I don't think he did. Was he alone in an Irish jersey as someone who played not at their best? No, he wasn't.
The reason Ireland's attack didn't work today...if you can't break the gainline, your ruck ball is slow. And, when your ruck ball is slow, it gives the opposition time and space to get set and organise. When we watch the French tries...the Irish had no time to get set and organised. They're sort of jumping left-and-right.
It all starts with the carry. If you don't win the collision and get quick ruck ball as a number 10, it doesn't matter who you have playing number 10, it's hard to get any sort of attacking shape.
The decision to start Sam Prendergast was a big point of debate in the buildup to the Six Nations, with Jack Crowley earning many plaudits for his form off the bench last November and in last year's Six Nations triumph.
Interim head coach Simon Easterby ultimately made the call to go with the precocious talent of Prendergast and has stood by that call up to now.
Few in Irish rugby would argue that Prendergast is not a massive prospect with a big career in rugby ahead of him.
Rob Kearney also raises the valid point that any fly-half would have struggled in the completely malfunctioning Irish attacking setup on Saturday. However, questions may be asked of whether Saturday's game against the might of France was too big an ask for such a raw and inexperienced player.
