GAME OF TWO HALVES

THERE has been a lot of talk about Joey Carbery this week following his, sometimes mesmeric, display at outhalf in the win over Fiji last weekend. Carbery is a hugely exciting footballer, possessed of a devastating jink and passing ability that can unlock the tightest defences. The issue is whether he is getting enough game time at Leinster to properly prepare for the role as Johnny Sexton’s understudy heading to the World Cup. Carbery has been playing full-back for his province but not because Sexton has been dominating the No10 jersey — rather because Ross Byrne has been the regular out-half. Yet, Byrne has been largely left out of the Carbery discussion which is strange because the more you see of Byrne, the more impressive he looks. He is a different type of player, adopting a more measured, game management-driven approach than his rival’s flamboyant style. It is not dissimilar to the Tony Ward (Carbery) v Ollie Campbell (Byrne) debate of the late 1970s and Byrne definitely looks capable of stepping up to the international stage. Byrne starts for Leinster against the Dragons tonight and his performance will certainly be worth watching — as will that of hooker Sean Cronin, bizarrely left out of the November series. Rob Herring and James Tracy have done nothing this month to suggest they should be ahead of Cronin in the hooking pecking order and the Limerickman has also got a point to prove in the RDS. Ross Byrne and Sean Cronin may be on the international sidelines this November but talent will always rise to the very top — so don’t be surprised if they’re in the Ireland mix in the new year.