Michael Cheika knows a quality operator when he sees one.
The Wallabies coach masterminded a 18-9 victory over an Ireland team that had not been beaten, before Brisbane, in 16 months. Having spent five years in Ireland as Leinster coach, the Aussie is fully aware of the backlash heading his side’s way in Melbourne next weekend.
Cheika expects to see the likes of Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy and Dan Leavy in from the start, and he suspects Johnny Sexton won’t be far away.
Sexton came off the bench for the final 23 minutes of the First Test, at Suncorp Stadium, but Ireland coach Joe Schmidt noted in the post-match press conference that Joey Carbery had acquitted himself well in the No.10 jersey. He said:
“I thought Joey was pretty solid, really. He came off the pitch at 9-8 and that’s not a bad return for a young man who is really starting his first big Tier One Test match.”
Carbery did leave a handy penalty behind him, which could have put some distance between the sides before Australia’s late surge, but he did well in the face of some fierce Australian pressure. He rode a couple of big hits – like this one from Michael Hooper below – but kept playing that high line and calling the ball on himself.
In that instance, Jack McGrath tossed him a pass over his head and left Carbery exposed for a clattering. The fact that he stayed focused and got the ball away to Bundee Aki was commendable and Ireland almost scored, two phases later, when Peter O’Mahony put a smart grubber kick through for Jacob Stockdale.
In his post-game analysis of the 22-year-old, SportsJOE’s Jack O’Toole wrote:
‘In Carbery Ireland have a future long-term option at fly-half that should only improve with more time at the position next season.’
Cheika would certainly agree with those comments. Following the game, the Wallabies coach revealed that he made a bee-line to Carbery as soon as the final whistle sounded. Cheika commented:
“But, mate, Carbery, he’s outstanding. He’s a star. I went up to Carbery after the game, because I’ve never met him before, and said, ‘I love your work!’
“Because that guy, he can play footy! He’s an outstanding player.
“I reckon Johnny wouldn’t have been happy letting him have the start. Of course, when he came on, Johnny was as threatening as ever. He’s always sniffing around and giving us trouble, he’s got a kicking game, all that type of stuff. We just had to defend hard.”
Coming from a man who has coached Felipe Contepomi, Sexton and Bernard Foley, that is high praise for Carbery.
One suspects the 22-year-old may have to settle for a bench role in Melbourne but Ireland, and Munster, look to have the real deal on their hands.
