Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CARBERY ENTERING WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
THE official line is that Johnny Sexton doesn’t require a rest this week, but that doesn’t mean Joey Carbery won’t play a big role against Italy. Carbery has only managed 20 minutes of game-time – in the final Champions Cup pool game against Montpellier – since breaking his arm in Ireland’s November win over Fiji.
But he was stripped and ready to go when Sexton went down with cramp with 10 minutes to go at the Stade de France last Saturday.
“I wasn’t too sure,” explained Carbery. “I was just told to keep warm. That panned out pretty well! I was delighted to see the kick go over.
“You always know he’s going to pull a bit of magic out of the hat. It’s great to see, the whole reaction after he kicked it, everyone jumping on him.
“It shows the character in the team, really. It’s pretty exciting and hopefully we can keep building on that.”
Carbery, the master apprentice, has nothing but admiration for the master’s work in that final 41 phase play in Paris, when Sexton had to nail three kicks to win the game – the 22 drop-out to Iain Henderson, the crosskick to Keith Earls and the 45 metre drop-goal.
“It’s huge,” said the 22-year-old. “In the back of your mind is always that bit of pressure that one mistake and it could be all over.
“He showed huge character and huge mental strength to work the way up the pitch and kick a 45 metre drop-kick. It isn’t easy – especially with a greasy ball, a bit of wind as well.
“I’m learning from him, but if you’re competing with the best you’ll have to be better yourself.
“I’m looking at it that way rather than, ‘not being played’. He’s making me better – and I know me being better will make me better as well.
“If you watch the last five minutes, if I can take half of what he did and put it in my game then I’ll be improving every day.
“I’d just like to get on the pitch, but I’d like to get some game time at 10,” he noted.
“We’ll have to see how things go. Hopefully I’ll be involved.”
I’d just like to get on the pitch..