Frantic stuff in the closing stages.
Joey Carbery has been signed by Munster to get more game-time at No.10 but some are suggesting he would fit nicely into the fullback role vacated by Simon Zebo.
On Saturday, in Melbourne, the 22-year-old made his first Test appearance [in the record books at least] as an Irish forward.
76 minutes into a hectic, enthralling game at AAMI Park and Carbery was roused from the bench. Johnny Sexton had been carrying an injury from the 61st minute onward but Carbery would not be replacing his old Leinster teammate.
Instead, the board went up as the referee’s assistant held up the No.4. Big Devin Toner was being hauled ashore after a Herculean, 76-minute shift.
The 6-foot-10 lock was replaced by the more diminutive Carbery and the history books will record his 12th Test appearance as a lock replacement. As Ireland were holding on to a 26-14 advantage and spread out in a defensive line, it is hard to tell whether Joe Schmidt had Carbery detailed as a lock or just an additional winger.
His first involvement arrived 40 seconds after he took to the field of play, teaming up with the rabid Jordi Murphy to stop Reece Hodge in his tracks. His second involvement, mere seconds later, was not so positive but, in fairness, he was up against ‘Tongan Thor’ Taniela Tupou.
TUPOU! The Tongan Thor thunders over and it's game on with 2 minutes to go!
🇦🇺 21-26 🇮🇪 #AUSvIRL pic.twitter.com/ZdFHLRKFqM
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) June 16, 2018
Carbery and four other Irish players coyuld not stop the giant Reds prop and it was a five-point game in the closing minutes as Bernard Foley converted.
Sexton was then replaced, by John Cooney, with two minutes to play so Carbery switched from ‘lock’ to outhalf for the closing stages. Presumably that means Cooney was switched but the likelihood is that Tadhg Beirne moved up from blindside to second row – for the defensive line settings – and Robbie Henshaw was drafted in as emergency flanker.
Cooney and Carbery were only on for a couple of minutes but such was the Aussie attacking press that both men were required to stick tackles, and they did so. Game over and Carbery was as delighted with the win as the rest of a grateful nation.
Post-match, Ireland head-coach Joe Schmidt commented:
“We had Joey Carbery come on to replace Devin Toner. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before, and I hope I don’t see it again!
“Dev was cramping up, quite bad and we needed Joey on. I thought he did very well and made a couple of good tackles. We move on and we’ll have to glue guys together for next week.”
Incredible stuff in the closing
Joey Carbery in the Munster second row next year? He’d rather not but at least he can add experience that to the rugby CV.
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