McKinley the latest guest on Ireland Rugby Social

Former Italy fly-half Ian McKinley joins Gavin Andrews and Conor Murray on the latest episode of BBC Sport NI's Ireland Rugby Social.

A former Ireland under-20 international who came through the Leinster academy, McKinley earned nine caps for the Azzurri despite losing sight in his left eye in an accident while playing for University College Dublin (UCD) in 2010.

The Dubliner was initially forced to retire in 2011 aged 21, but he returned to playing with the help of protective goggles in 2014 and played for Italy in the 2019 Six Nations.

McKinley retired for the second time in 2021 after stints with Leonorso, Viadana, Zebre and Benetton.

"You think of so many freak injuries that happen, it just happened to be a piece of metal (a stud) and an eye," reflected McKinley.

"When you're on a rugby field, things happen in a split-second. If I go into the detail, I was in a ruck. I was illegal and trying to rip the ball off someone on the ground. Classic out-half thing.

"I went for the rip and found myself on my back. In that second I just got a kick, a thud. I thought it was deliberate because it was a straight-down action. Thank God it wasn't because you're getting into murkier waters if that's the case.

"But it's one of those things. If I wasn't able to get back playing the second time, I'd probably be a lot grumpier as a person and perhaps wouldn't applaud guys as much, or be more critical of players.

"Thankfully that's not the case."

As a former fly-half, McKinley has been watching the current battle for Ireland's number 10 jersey between Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley with interest.

In Ireland's four November Tests, Crowley started against the All Blacks and Japan, with Prendergast preferred for the Australia and South Africa games. Prendergast's Leinster team-mate Harry Byrne has also entered the conversation thanks to his impressive displays this season.

While it remains to be seen who will start Ireland's Six Nations opener against France in Paris on 5 February, McKinley believes head coach Andy Farrell "got it wrong" by entrusting Prendergast in the defeat by the Springboks last time out.

"I actually that was the game that Sam didn't need to play," said McKinley.

"He was never going to get front foot ball like he would have got against Australia. Crowley has that grit. I thought that, from a selection point, was one of the rare times when Farrell got one wrong."

McKinley can, however, see Prendergast being Ireland's first-choice in the run-up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

"If he's thinking ahead to the World Cup, and there's only something like 17 Tests until that World Cup, I still think Sam is probably his man that he will go with," he added.

Listen to Ian McKinley on the Ireland Rugby Social on BBC Sounds