THE RAIN PELTED down mercilessly as Leo Cullen discussed his team selection with a view of the RDS pitch this afternoon.
Both the Pro12 leaders and their guests Scarlets would be best served by a hard, dry surface to help them implement expansive attacking games. However, the weather forecast is giving no great hope that the rain will relent before or during tomorrow night’s 19.35 kick-off (TG4).
So it was no great surprise that Cullen handed Ross Byrne the number 10 shirt and left his international rival Joey Carbery in the fullback slot for the second week running.
With Luke McGrath and the experienced heads of Noel Reid and Zane Kirchner in midfield, there is a solidity about the back-line to give assurance to Leinster in conditions which make predictability a valued commodity.
Carbery is undoubtedly a thrilling, skillful talent who has already tasted the very top level of the sport at the age of 21. But Byrne appears to have the steady presence of a much more experienced game manager.
“What Ross gives us is that level of continuity,” says Cullen, understandably not quite willing to cast Carbery as a dry-weather 10.
“He came on for Joey after 15 minutes in Northampton and he’s pretty much been involved in all the games since. He’s had a big part in the team’s run of games.
“He’s managed the group well, there’s a good variety to his game, a very strong kicking as well — it’s looking wet out there!”
Asked what Carbery’s best position is, Cullen accentuated his natural skills with the ball and how fluidly he was able to switch positions when playing in the UBL with Clontarf last season.
“Joey is a really good footballer. Under age he played in a lot of positions. In Clontarf last year, even in games, he was switching between 10 and 15 with his counter-attacking ability.
“With the squad we have at the moment I think that’s what works for the group, but that’s not to say he won’t be 10 at some stage. He’s covering 10 this week, last week we had Cathal Marsh on the bench.
“Joey’s very versatile which is a great strength of his.”
In Maynooth last week, Ireland skills coach Richie Murphy admitted that the national backroom team would like to see Carbery get more exposure to the 10 role and goal-kicking duties. Cullen though, doesn’t feel under pressure to alter the roles of his two 21-year-old out-halves.
“I’ve talked to Joe about this before, even earlier in the season when Joey was playing 10 and Isa was kicking. Joe had no problem with that at all.
“He’s coming along really well. Doing a lot of (goal-kicking) work with Emmett Farrell. He had an ankle injury, so he was limited in what he could do. Has to make sure he builds up the strength in his ankle so he’s able to commit to a full kicking programme. We try to integrate that bit by bit.”
Even with intense competition for playmaking roles at Leinster, Carbery will get plenty of opportunities, in better conditions, to shine.
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