STU ARE A STAR JOEY

JOEY CARBERY has been backed by Stuart Lancaster to make a big Champions Cup impact at Northampton on Saturday.

The 21-year-old’s meteoric rise continues this week as he will fill in at No10 for Leinster in place of Johnny Sexton, who is attending Santry Sports Clinic in a bid to clear up troublesome hamstring issues.

It remains to be seen whether Ireland’s top out-half will return in time for Northampton’s return visit to the Aviva Stadium next week but Lancaster is content to have Carbery (above) in situ as his remarkable season continues.

“It doesn’t worry me because I can see how much Joey has grown,” said the ex-england boss. “My energy this week is to help Joey continue to grow. This was a guy who was not long ago the quiet guy in the room but who is now a leader in the room.

“It’s an incredible transformation for a player to do that and he reminds me a lot of the young English players I have coached in George Ford and Andy Farrell.

“They have the same sort of leadership traits so I think he has another great opportunity to put another marker down at the highest possible level.”

Lancaster expressed confidence that Sean O’brien could return after his late withdrawal from Ireland’s side that beat Australia with a hip flexor injury while there remains hope Rob Kearney and Robbie Henshaw will get the green light.