RUGBY
Light at the end of the tunnel for Carbery and Byrne
By Daire Walsh
Following a frustrating end to 2017, Kildare duo Joey Carbery and Adam Byrne are beginning to make steady progress from their respective wrist and knee injuries.
Both players featured in Ireland’s successful Guinness Series last November, but during a busy period of action at home and abroad for their province, they have been forced to watch on from the sideline.
There is light at the end of the tunnel, though, and Carbery has resumed on-field training since the turn of the year. A definitive return date has not been set for the Athy youngster, but after missing six games on the trot with a knee complaint, Byrne is back in full training at the province’s UCD headquarters.
The Kill star finished last season with 10 tries from 20 first-team appearances, and was also on the scoresheet in his seventh start of the present term – a PRO14 defeat to Glasgow Warriors on November 3rd.
After being left out of the match day squads for Ireland’s subsequent wins over South Africa and Fiji, Byrne enjoyed a full 80 minute debut against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium.
Yet, a number of Irish-qualified Leinster stars have stepped up to the mark during his enforced absence, and Carbery will also face considerable competition for his preferred positions of full-back and out-half on his return.
Like Fergus McFadden, Rob Kearney has been a rejuvenated figure since leaving his injury troubles behind him, and 20-year-old sensation Jordan Larmour is proving to be an exciting alternative to the Louth man in the 15 jersey.
Carbery has competed with Ross Byrne for the fly-half role in a number of different teams (most notably the Ireland U20s in 2015), and the former St Michael’s College student has 96 points to his name from 16 caps in the current season.
Jonathan Sexton is the undisputed first-choice for Leinster and Ireland in the number 10 shirt, but based on the autumn internationals, Carbery appears to be Schmidt’s preferred back-up option in this pivotal position.
This has led to some discussion about whether he would be best served moving away from Leinster in the short-term, with Ulster mooted as a potential destination. However, speaking at the launch of the Lifestyle Sports ‘Own the Jersey Own the Seat’ competition at the RDS last week, he insisted that his future lies with the Blues.
“I’m happy in Leinster, I always will be happy in Leinster and things aren’t that bad that I’m not starting [any games] or anything when I’m not injured. I haven’t paid too much attention to it.”
Meanwhile, another Kill native – James Tracy – is a major doubt Leinster’s Champions Cup meeting with Glasgow Warriors at the RDS on Sunday afternoon. The 26-year-old ex-Newbridge College injured his elbow in the first-half of Saturday’s comfortable victory over Ulster, and a further update on his fitness is expected at Leinster’s media briefing this afternoon (Tuesday).