That's why you'll always find Sam in the kitchen at parties - brother Cian on Ireland's new rugby wonderkid
"Sam was always trying something different, whether it be an offload out the back, different things like that. That it’s something that he’s been doing since he was two and three in the kitchen."
Twenty-year-old Sam Prendergast will make one of the most eagerly awaited Irish debuts, against Argentina, at the Aviva tonight.
It is definitely the most anticipated of the Andy Farrell reign with, in recent times, maybe only Luke Fitzgerald's in November 2006 coming close.
Fitzgerald was 19 years and 74 days old when he made his debut against the Pacific Islands and, at that point, was the youngest player to play for Ireland in 29 years, Alastair McKibben playing at 19 and two days in 1977; Prendergast will be 21 years and 277 days.
READ MORE: Ireland v New Zealand: Player ratings as hosts outplayed at Aviva Stadium
“I watched Sam at under-20s," says Doris of Prendergast. "That was probably the first time I became aware of him and then as he transitioned in.
"He’s a pretty confident guy, it was a pretty seamless transition into training under us. Even in his first few sessions he was trying things.
Moreover, notes Doris, it will be a debut definitely applauded in the family kitchen in Kildare where the design was hatched!
“Cian, his brother, presented his jersey to him yesterday and it was pretty cool
"He had a nice message mentioning that the two of them growing up always had a football or a rugby ball and that Sam was always trying something different, whether it be an offload out the back, different things like that.
"That it’s something that he’s been doing since he was two and three in the kitchen, trying new things, that he is proud of the fact it hasn’t been coached out of him.
"That he hasn’t gone away from that and it hasn’t been coached out of him, and that he still tries things like that. He’s still doing it now in training.”
The 21 year-old, elevated to the bench, is expected to be brought on sometime around the hour unless there is an injury problem earlier in the game.
"He's an unbelievable player," continues Doris. "Some of the things he does in training, it's pretty unique. He's probably one of the most skillful guys I've come across.
"He can pull a rabbit out of a hat but he's also calmer and making the right decisions a little bit now and playing what's in front of him and not always trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat, even though he's got that capability."
"He's finding the balance there in terms of controlling a game, making the right decisions, bringing the best out of other people but also capable of a bit of magic.
"The message to him has been 'be himself and do his thing' during the week and I'm excited to see what he does tomorrow."
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