JACK THE LAD FOR IRELAND

Connacht v Leinster Tomorrow 5.15pm

JACK CARTY’S early season form for Connacht has led to calls for an Ireland call-up – and a big performance tomorrow could help it happen.

With November internationals to come against Italy and the USA, there is scope for Joe Schmidt to have a look at fringe players just under a year away from the World Cup.

Carty, 26, had not been on the radar at Test level with Leinster’s Ross Byrne instead travelling to Australia as out-half back-up to Johnny Sexton and Joey Carbery for Ireland’s summer tour.

But with Ian Madigan and Paddy Jackson out of the picture, there is scope for Schmidt to run the rule over the Athlone-born star who has started the season in outstanding fashion.

Carty’s game management in the resounding victory over

Scarlets last Saturday has raised his profile.

“We have a number of players in that squad who, if they keep playing the way they’re playing, the selectors need to be looking at them,” said Connacht’s head coach Andy Friend (inset).

“The Jack I’ve seen is an impressive man, he’s growing in confidence in every game. He has an amazing skill set. We’re just trying to give him licence to use that.

“Jack goes about his business in a quiet, unassuming kind of way. There’s different personalities and you need that in a team too.

“We’ve got Craig Ronaldson sitting there, he had a great pre-season too. But with Jack’s form, it’s hard not to be picking him.”

Connacht captain Jarrad Butler believes that Carty has stepped up to another level this season.

“Yeah, massively,” he said. “He’s making really good decisions and communicating really well as well, especially managing the forwards.”