RUGBY
Carbery facing a spell on the sidelines after fracturing his left wrist
By Daire Walsh
THERE were mixed emotions for Athy’s Joey Carbery at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening, as his impressive performance against Fiji in the Guinness Series was cut short by a suspected arm injury.
In his just second start at Test level for Ireland (his first came against the US Eagles in June during a summer tour), Carbery contributed a 35th-minute conversion, but also played a significant role in the build-up to Darren Sweetnam’s deadlock-breaking try.
In the absence of provincial team-mate Jonathan Sexton, Carbery was showing that he was capable of filling the pivotal out-half position in Joe Schmidt’s system. However, he was forced to make way for Ian Keatley on 64 minutes, for what was confirmed on Monday as a fractured left wrist.
“That will mean he won’t take any further part in the series for us,” said Ireland manager Joe Schmidt, immediately after the game.
This latest injury for Carbery will not just be a blow for Ireland, but also for Leinster – who have crucial Guinness PRO14 and European Rugby Champions Cup games on the horizon. In relation to his overall display against a physically-imposing Fijian outfit, Schmidt believes his organisation skills are improving all the time, and that he is often brave to a fault in his approach to attacking play.
“I thought his ability to organise others is coming along. His own game was really good. His cross-kick to Dave Kearney in his own ’22’ was pinpoint. His vision is really good. His passing game, the pass to Darren Sweetnam, I don’t think you’d see a much more accurate pass.
“The threat he poses at the line himself. He ducked and dived, and posed questions. He’s brave, potentially to a fault. He pays no heed as to what’s in front of him.”
Carbery was joined by seven of his Leinster compatriots in the Irish starting line-up, including first-half try-scorer Jack Conan. The Old Belvedere club man has first-hand experience of how hard Carbery works behind the scenes with his province, and he is confident that he will be better than ever upon his return from injury.
“He’s a fantastic talent, and he’s a great bloke. I know he’ll bounce back so quickly. He’ll be better than ever, more determined. It’s just testament to him today. That first line break from absolutely nowhere to set up that try was absolutely fantastic, and he’s one for the future massively,” Conan stated.
“He’s got a calm head on his shoulders. I back Joey in every aspect. I see him every day in training with Leinster and here in Ireland. He’s going to be absolutely fantastic, he is already. I think the future is so bright for him, and I wish him the best in recovery”.