IT’S A LITTLE over a month shy of a year since Joey Carbery lit up the Aviva Stadium for Clontarf in the UBL final.
He’s been back on the stage since, even played as a fullback (albeit in an emergency) but his selection by Leo Cullen for tomorrow’s Champions Cup quarter-final (15.15, BT Sport) is an important show of confidence in the 21-year-old.
Given the electric threats in Wasps’ back-line, there must have been some temptation to fast-track the experience of Zane Kirchner or Fergus McFadden into the back three alongside Isa Nacewa. Instead, Cullen is letting his precocious youths flourish.
The head coach is well prepared to bat off questions about what position Carbery will spend the majority of his future playing. Because he has been preparing Carbery for this task since first handing him the number 15 shirt against the Dragons in mid February.
“Not really, no,” Cullen says when asked if the Athy man’s future now lies in the back three.
Joey’s so talented he could play anywhere in the back-line. He’ll cover 10 as well this week and played the last 15 minutes against Cardiff at 10. He’s still pretty open and we are as well. It’s great that he has that versatility.”
With Adam Byrne on the right wing, Nacewa and Jonathan Sexton are very much statistical outliers that take the average age of Leinster’s back-line tomorrow up to 25. While some may lack experience in quantity, Nacewa points out that they have quality, recent form that proves they can perform.
“We’ve been building throughout the year. Joey and Adam Byrne come a huge way since pre-season. They look to get better every week, that’s what we’ve been driving.
“It’s a big occasion, but these guys have stepped up in Europe already. Joey’s been exposed to international rugby over the last eight months. It’s about enjoying the moment at the end of the day and focusing on what we can control.
“Those guys have been looking forward to the occasion and it’s gonna be a good one.”
Cullen’s back row dilemma wasn’t quite the shoot-out between experience and young tyros, but the selection of Dan Leavy ahead of Josh van der Flier can’t have been an easy one to arrive at either.
Cullen explained his selection as a mix of fitness (with regard to Rhys Ruddock and Josh van der Flier who both started last weekend) and the balance that Leavy brings alongside the proven power of Sean O’Brien and Jack Conan.
“Josh has been out for a period. He played his first game (last week). I thought Dan had some good form in the Six Nations and Rhys Ruddock picked up a little but of tightness in his calf this week so he wasn’t in the frame for selection.
“I think we have good balance there, all those guys have played and have been in good form.”
Selection and the make-up of the matchday 23 are concerns for us outsiders though. For the players involved, it’s about rising to the occasion and showing off the hard work they’ve been putting in while the focus was drawn away to the Six Nations.
“At the end of day, we can only control our performance and we’re driving that this week.
“They’re special weeks. A lot of work goes in to getting here. You’ve got to enjoy the moment at the end of the day, enjoy the occasion, work hard — that started a long time ago — 50,000 tickets sold you can’t help but enjoy the occasion.”
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
