Sam Prendergast continues at out-half for Emerging Ireland in final game against Cheetahs

Sam Pendergast will start his third game in a row for Emerging Ireland, when they complete their tour of South Africa against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

The Leinster out-half is the only member of Simon Easterby's side who will have started all three games, with 11 changes in total from Sunday’s 29-24 win against Western Force.

Andrew Osborne, Hugh Cooney and Alex Usanov also retain their places in the side, while captain Alex Kendellen and Ulster’s Cormac Izuchukwu are among those to sit out the final tour match, having started the two wins in the last week.

James Culhane comes in to captain the team at number 8, and is joined in the back row by Ulster’s Harry Sheridan and Munster’s Sean Edogbo, the latter of whom is making his first start of the tour.

Connacht’s Darragh Murray returns to the second row after being rested on Sunday, and he is joined at lock by former Ireland U20 captain Evan O’Connell.

Usanov is the only forward to be retained in the starting side, and he partners Connacht’s Jack Aungier and Leinster’s Stephen Smyth in the front-row.

At half-back, Prendergast links up with his Leinster team-mate Cormac Foley, while Cooney and Hugh Gavin are reunited after their impressive centre partnership for the U20s in 2023.

Osborne moves from full-back to wing, with Ben O’Connor taking the 15 shirt, while Ulster’s former Ireland Sevens international Zac Ward gets the start on the left wing.

Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday's win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson