Carbery’s place shifts in No10 pecking order

MIKE PRENDERGAST says competition at out-half will have a positive effect on Munster’s uncertain season.

One wonders how Joey Carbery feels about the arrival of Jack Crowley as a figure of national, not just provincial consideration.

Along with Ben Healy, the two are options in the No10 jersey for Munster. But the national ripples caused by the events at out-half over the past three weeks could be felt for months to come.

Carbery was the established back-up to Johnny Sexton at the start of the month. That’s no longer an iron certainty. Crowley’s sound showing against Australia, coupled with Ross Byrne’s late, brave winning penalty, showed the spread of talent available to Andy Farrell.

Carbery was ruled out of consideration following a filthy head-high hit he suffered against Fiji. And in the tightening timeframe ahead of the World Cup, an absence like that gives an opportunity elsewhere.

It is Carbery’s misfortune that with him out and Sexton pulling up lame in the warm-up, it gave a chance to not one but two other No10s to shine, and both took it.

Crowley is the exciting new face, but Byrne has travelled a hard road, hardly considered by the experts and dismissed as a contender.

That’s despite the great faith Stuart Lancaster has shown in him. He’s contending again, and that’s significant news for Carbery.