Carbery can kick on to win No 10 shirt

JOEY CARBERY will solve his goal-kicking issues to blossom into a frontline flyhalf for Ireland, according to team-mate Jack Conan. Carbery’s two missed conversions almost cost Ireland on Saturday as Joe Schmidt’s men edged out Fiji 23-20 in Dublin. Ian Keatley came off the bench to slot two late penalties to seal the narrow win, after Carbery suffered a suspected broken arm. Up to that point, Carbery, 22, ran Ireland’s attack with verve and serious side-stepping threat, raising hopes he can thrive as a long-term replacement for Johnny Sexton in the No 10 shirt.

‘It’s testament to his quality; that line break from out of nowhere to set up that first try, that was fantastic,’ Conan said of his Leinster team-mate. ‘He’s got a calm head on his shoulders, so I’d back Joey in every aspect to succeed.’ Conan claimed a sharp score to add to tries from Darren Sweetnam and Dave Kearney. But Schmidt was happy to have had the chance to blood some youngsters ahead of hosting Argentina next Saturday.