I’ve emerged from shadow of ace Sexton
CARBERY GLAD TO GET CHANCE TO SHINE AS WORLD CUP FINALS LOOM ON HORIZON
OUT-HALF Joey Carbery is delighted to have stepped out of the shadow cast by Johnny Sexton as he tries to carve a career with Munster.
The talented 22-year-old (above) moved to Limerick in the summer, leaving behind Leinster and Sexton who was blocking his path to the first team.
Carbery said yesterday: “Obviously I wanted to be playing more and out of the shadow of Johnny.
“I was learning so much but I felt there is only so much you can learn from watching someone.”
MUNSTER out-half Joey Carbery admits he left Leinster to escape the shadow of Johnny Sexton as he bids to carve out his own career as a starting No.10.
And the 22-year-old insists he has no intention of returning to the Blues once Sexton has finished his playing days – instead he wants to become a long-term success in the red shirt.
Carbery looks set to make his first start this weekend as Munster host Ospreys at Musgrave Park.
On the back of two exciting appearances off the bench he is keen to impress coach Johann van Graan before the Champions Cup returns.
To date Carbery has only started one European tie at out-half – back in October 2016 when Sexton was injured – and the chance to show his wares in his chosen position was key to him seeking pastures new.
Carbery said: “It was a tricky enough time. I suppose there were a few options given to me. I met with Johann after we played them in the RDS.
“We kind of just chatted. I felt it was the best option for me. Obviously I wanted to be playing more and getting out of the shadow of Johnny.
“I suppose I was learning so much but I felt then that there was only so much you can learn from watching someone.
“The best way to learn is going out, doing it yourself and learning from your mistakes.
“I feel like I took in a huge amount of knowledge from the people around me in Leinster, now I just need to implement it into my game. The only way I can do that is out of the pitch.
“Definitely (this is home now), I don’t want to be chopping and changing and having to move and stuff. At this moment in time I’m very happy seeing myself here for a while. Yeah, I’m pretty happy with it.”
With the World Cup less than 12 months away now, Carbery is happy to have the chance to cement his place in the Ireland squad – and perhaps even challenge Sexton for the No.10 shirt.
He admitted the chance to play alongside Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray – who is out with a neck injury – on a regular basis with Munster was a factor in his decision.
Carbery added: “A good nine makes my job a lot easier. There’s a load of good nines in Munster but obviously Conor has proven he’s one of the best in the world, if not the best in the world, so it will be great to play with him.”