It was meant as a light-hearted remark but, given that he is only 22 and currently out injured, there could have been a better way of putting it.
Joey Carbery is a quality player already and, over the coming years and with some luck, he is only going to get better.
Such was the Leinster star’s form and performances at provincial and Test level – at outhalf and fullback – that British & Irish Lions ‘bolter’ talk was not outlandish. Had he made Warren Gatland’s Lions squad to tour New Zealand, it would have been a surprise but an exciting one.
It was May 2016 that Carbery starred in Clontarf’s Ulster Bank League Final victory and claimed the man-of-the-match accolade. Four months later, he was electric on his first start for Leinster and two months after that he was kicking a conversion at Soldier Field as he helped Ireland defeat the All Blacks on his Test debut.
2016/17 was phenomenal and 2017/18 was shaping up to be pretty memorable too, until he broke three bones in his wrist against Fiji. It looks as though Carbery – with three new screws in his wrist – will only miss 10 weeks of action but a new fullback has emerged to hog the headlines – Jordan Larmour.
The 20-year-old has burst onto the scene for Leinster and his 70-metre counter-attack try against Munster was breath-takingly good. Already, the Ireland U20 star has drawn comparisons to All Blacks’ sensation Christian Cullen and getting linked to a Six Nations call-up.
So, I asked Carbery during an interview [from 34:00 below] for The Hard Yards, how it felt to be ‘the old story’ as Larmour was the new. Poorly worded by me but Carbery’s response was pure class.
“Jordan’s a nice guy and I get on really well with him. He trains really hard every day and he deserves everything he’s getting. I’m delighted for him. It’s great to see him pushing on.”
The pair have only shared the pitch together once so far – 22 minutes in the win over Edinburgh with Larmour replacing Carbery after 59 minutes in 31-10 win over Southern Kings. Finding room for both of these attacking talents on the pitch is the challenge of the Leinster coaching staff but what a great one at that.
35 games into his professional rugby career (29 Leinster, 6 Ireland) but Carbery has clocked up so many highlights that he has to ponder them for a few moments before selecting a couple.
“That Treviso game, as my first home game, stands out and the Wasps quarter final was a great day. Even when we lost the semi final [to Clermont] it was so gutting but we have learned so much from us and it has driven the whole squad on to push on and hopefully take that final step. Definitely our goals are to win trophies this year so hopefully we can do that.”
Carbery is hoping to get back in the Leinster squad for the away trip to Montpellier in the Champions Cup. Given the fact that Rob Kearney is in good form and Larmour is scoring tries for fun, the 22-year-old may be targeting a run at outhalf.
That may yet be his best route back into Joe Schmidt’s plans for the Six Nations as Ian Keatley is the man currently primed to back up Johnny Sexton in the opener against France.
Some of these young players – Carbery, Jacob Stockdale, James Ryan and Andrew Porter – have settled in so quickly that it feels as if they have been around for an age.
It’s a compliment, even if it doesn’t always come out that way.
