‘Confident’ Carbery insists lack of game-time not a worry in role as back-up No 10

JOEY CARBERY is unconcerned about his lack of game-time at out-half this season, and is ready to step in for Ireland if called upon by Joe Schmidt.

Despite not having played in his preferred position for Leinster this season, the 22-yearold has featured off the bench twice at out-half in Ireland’s Six Nations campaign thus far.

However, when Johnny Sexton went down during the captain’s run last week, Schmidt was momentarily faced with the prospect of starting Carbery, who is quite short on game-time in the No 10 jersey.

“I reckon you’ve got to trust the coaches and if they have confidence in you, it gives you confidence as well,” Carbery said.

“So I suppose just from all the reps in training and knowing my detail from early on in the week, I kinda build up towards it, so I feel like if I was thrown in I’d be confident enough to perform. It’s trying to think positively all the time and not putting (negative) thoughts in your head is the key.”

Carbery replaced Sexton in the latter stages against Wales after he was forced off with a glute injury, but Ireland’s talisman is expected to recover in time for the visit of Scotland next week.

Ryan Wilson is also in line to feature for the Scots after no disciplinary action was taken against him for the tunnel melee involving Owen Farrell, or an alleged act of foul play during his side’s win over England.

Chris Farrell had already been ruled out of the clash at Lansdowne Road, and Munster confirmed that the centre will undergo surgery after he damaged his ACL, and will not play again this season.