When Joey Carbery’s time at Bordeaux had been ended by a torn ACL in February, it looked as though his return to Leinster would be significantly delayed.
Recovery from anterior cruciate ligament injuries can take anywhere from nine to twelve months and returning too early carries an increased risk of re-rupture. It seemed as though Leinster would have to think more deeply about who would be Sam Prendergast’s back-up when the young out-half is away with Ireland.
Harry Byrne and Caspar Gabriel were also available to Leo Cullen. Even with the departure of Ciaran Frawley, Carbery’s return to his home province raised questions about the role he would play when he arrived back in Dublin. His long-term injury added to that uncertainty.
However, the final month of Carbery’s rehabilitation brought a dramatic change in circumstances. As expected, Prendergast was named in Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad. Byrne had also been ruled out due to a concussion sustained in the earlier rounds of the United Rugby Championship in South Africa. With no return date announced, questions remain over when Byrne will be available again.
Carbery hasn’t always been fortunate with the timing of his injuries. His time in Munster had been affected by multiple issues. His involvement at the 2019 World Cup with Ireland was also hindered by a lingering ankle injury.
This time around, his return to action with Leinster might come at the most fortuitous time. Prendergast missed last weekend’s clash with Munster. Whether he was due to play or not was unknown, though there is speculation that he may be facing a few more weeks in the medical room.
Carbery made a brief appearance for Leinster off the bench against Clermont Auvergne in the Champions Cup opener. He was then thrust into the starting 15 against Munster and played for 75 minutes. Usually after a longer term injury, players go through a graded exposure to match minutes.
Going from less than 10 minutes of action off the bench to 75 minutes from a starting spot shows that things may have changed in Leinster’s planning around his return.
Joey Carbery’s return to form has been well timed
Leinster struggled to find their rhythm in the opening stages against Munster. They appeared stuck in third gear and couldn’t manage the physical challenge that Munster imposed on them. Leinster’s performance tracked closely with Carbery’s own individual performance. After such a long lay-off, he took some time to find his feet.
In the second half, Leinster’s performance improved significantly, and so too did Carbery. It’s often assumed that when the team goes well, the out-half benefits. It’s also true that when the out-half performs well, they can engineer positions that positively impact the rest of the team.
Carbery grew in confidence as the game progressed, making line-breaks and playing others into the game around him. His 50% goal-kicking percentages were indicative of a player that has returned from a lengthy absence.
Sometimes the speed and physicality of the game can sap the energy from your legs, and even when kicking has gone well in the extended training period beforehand, it can be quite different when you get back to the physical side of matches after an injury.
That being said, Carbery’s all round performance was hugely positive, especially considering this was just his second appearance back.
As it happens, Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad looked short of established options at out-half. Jamie Benson, an Irish qualified utility back signed by Ulster as an out-half option, has spent much of the season in the centre. His inclusion as the third out-half option was a surprise to many, though his versatility might be a strength coming into a World Cup year.
There was speculation about who Andy Farrell would include in his Irish squad while Jack Crowley recovers from his leg injury.
Some hoped the Ireland head coach would use the opportunity to introduce fresh talent, even in a training-panel capacity, with either Caspar Gabriel or Charlie O’Shea potentially earning a call-up.
Jack Murphy must have also felt disappointed to miss out when the squad was named. He’s been guiding Ulster for the last two seasons and has a case to be considered as another option in the position.
With the possibility that Prendergast might be facing some weeks out of the game, Farrell might be forced into calling up another out-half option. Frawley has started the season exceptionally well and might be gifted a clear path to the starting jersey for the November internationals.
Andy Farrell has options with Ireland
Alternatively, Farrell could back the next most experienced option in Jack Murphy, or accelerate O’Shea’s development over the coming weeks.
Given Crowley’s recovery and the short-term injury to Prendergast, Farrell might be best off to go with an experienced and familiar face in Carbery.
It could be the perfect reintroduction to the international scene. He might not have enough minutes played yet, but with the year ahead, there is value in bringing in a player who understands the demands of a World Cup cycle and still has unfinished business in an Ireland jersey.
Carbery has experienced disappointment in Irish colours around the 2023 World Cup, yet he has been part of some of the most memorable wins in Ireland’s history.
He played in multiple games where Ireland beat the All Blacks, including the historic tour to New Zealand in 2022. He has won a series in Australia and was a Grand Slam winner back in 2018.
Carbery is about to turn 31. He’s still young enough to offer something to Ireland, and his experience could be harnessed at the perfect time with injuries to Prendergast and Crowley. At worst, his inclusion could offer a steady hand in camp over the coming weeks.
His expectations wouldn’t have been high coming into this phase of the season and therefore it could be an easy management for Farrell.
In the best case, Carbery could do more than just provide cover. If he were to displace any one of Frawley, Prendergast or Crowley in the medium-term for Ireland, it could only be a huge positive.
The timing of these decisions is rarely perfect. Farrell would surely prefer for Carbery to have a few more games under his belt before considering him for international duty. But circumstances have created an unexpected opening.
After a few frustrating years of injury setbacks, Carbery’s timing might be close to perfect.