Former Ireland international Stephen Ferris believes "there's huge pressure" on Joey Carbery ahead of the huge Ireland v France Six Nations clash in Paris this weekend.
The Munster out-half has been called in to start at 10 in place of captain Johnny Sexton as the Leinster man strained his hamstring in training during the week.
Ireland have had a tendency over the years to rely on certain players and it's something Ferris knows all too well. Speaking on The Buildup in association with Ladbrokes Ferris likened Ireland's reliance on Johnny Sexton to the reliance they had on Brian O'Driscoll during the 2000s.
I played in the Brian O'Driscoll era and when Brian O'Driscoll wasn't fit Ireland had no chance and when Brian O'Driscoll was fit it was rosy and the bookmakers and everyone gave Ireland better chances.
It's exactly the same, if Johnny Sexton is out injured the margin goes from 2 or 3 points in the game to 5 or 6 and it will probably get bigger as we come closer to the game.
Ireland v France: Carbery's moment
The absence of Sexton for Ireland v France does give Carbery a chance to step up and show that he is at the level of a starting International fly-half. Ireland have lacked depth at out-half over the past few years and giving Carbery experience ahead of the World Cup could be to Ireland's benefit.
However Ferris isn't certain that Carbery is the man to help Ireland win this match in Paris without Sexton.
Joey Carbery, it's his first Six Nations start for Ireland, there's huge pressure, probably the biggest game of the whole season.
So for Johnny Sexton, your captain not to be there and be playing is firstly a huge loss for his leadership quality, for the way he drives the team but secondly the way he's been able to manage the boys around him and stick to the game plan and get it working very well and this is a huge test for Joey Carbery.
I've always had my doubts about Joey Carbery for his fitness, for his big game mentality. He started against Argentina in the Autumn internationals and Ireland put 50 or 60 points on them.
Argentina were shockingly bad, I just feel that this is a moment where Joey Carbery has to take it because if he doesn't I feel that Jack Carty is possibly Ireland's number 2 behind Johnny Sexton for the rest of the season and potentially into the next World Cup.
It won't be easy for Ireland win in Paris, a place they've only won at three times since 2000. Should Andy Farrell's man come out victorious in Ireland v France, however, the road to Six Nations Championship looks far clearer.
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