Emerging Ireland will complete their tour of South Africa on Wednesday evening in the final match of their three-test series – this time heading to Bloemfontein to face the Cheetahs.

After beating the Pumas 36-24 in their series opener, the touring side narrowly defeated the impressive Western Force at the weekend in the second of three matches.

The tour is designed to allow players to experience international rugby and give former international players a route back into the first team. The tour has been a major success so far, with many impressive performances and individual moments of magic being displayed.

One of those taking huge strides during this tour, is Leinster youngster, Sam Prendergast. Highly rated by his supporters, Prendergast was an important cog in Ireland’s victory at the weekend, dictating play reminiscent of a much more experienced ten, and using his ginormous right boot to full effect.

In fact, the 50:22 effort below is arguably one of the greatest ever seen:

Sam Prendergast with a 50:22 from inside his own 22.
byu/arsebiscuits1 inrugbyunion

Looking ahead to the final game of the series, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.

“The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot.

“While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution.

“We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”

Emerging Ireland Team & Replacements

15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)

14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)

13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)

12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)

11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)

10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)

9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)

1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)

2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)

3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)

4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)

5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)

6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)

7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)

8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)

Replacements:

16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)

17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)

18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)

19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)

20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)

21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)

22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster)

23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)