Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has sympathised with Munster out-half Joey Carbery, saying he deserves a chance after a year from hell with injuries.
Carbery has made Farrell's squad for the November internationals despite some mixed form for Munster, and Farrell has full faith that the number 10 will make a return to flying form.
Andy Farrell backs Joey Carbery ahead of autumn internationals
Munster man Joey Carbery spent over 12 months out of the game after a wrist injury in January 2020 led to delayed surgery on an ankle injury, and a lengthy period on the sidelines.
The timing of the injury could not have been worse, with Carbery just beginning to find his feet in Limerick and becoming a crucial part of Johann van Graan's side. Since returning, he has been impressive in spells, but he has also been inconsistent. Mistakes in the recent interprovincial game with Connacht nearly cost Munster a home loss, and his form from the tee has been hit-and-miss.
Ahead of next Saturday's autumn opener against Japan at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has defended Carbery and his form, saying that his lengthy injury lay-off warrants patience and that he is convinced the Munster man will come good. Farrell was quoted by RTÉ saying:
Just a bit more time and experience under his belt I would have thought. The kid's been out for an awful long time and he's worked extremely hard to get to this stage.
He had a handful of games towards the end of the year and we brought him back into the international scene to see where he's at. Then, it breaks up and he's waiting to get going again. It's tough, it's a tough old cycle for him, isn't it?
He'll pick things up off the likes of Johnny and use that to his advantage.
Farrell's comments come after several rugby pundits, including former Ireland international Bernard Jackman, questioned the head coach's decision to choose Carbery in his squad ahead of Connacht out-half Jack Carty.
The rivalry between the two - and the current form of Carbery and Carty - had a seminal moment in the recent clash between Munster and Connacht at Thomond Park. Despite Munster controversially coming out victorious, Carty nabbed a try for Connacht after charging down a poor kick from his Munster counterpart.
Jack Carty more than atones for his earlier missed conversion, as Joey Carbery is punished for his casual play.
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Despite his inconsistent form, Joey Carbery has been backed by Ireland coach Andy Farrell, and the hope will be that he can rediscover the form of 2018, when he was a crucial squad player in a year that brought a grand slam and a victory over the All Blacks.
If he is to kick on and claim the Irish number 10 shirt long-term, however, he will need to push forward to keep ahead of the likes of Jack Carty and the Byrne brothers at Leinster.
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