21 June 2003, a 21-year-old New Zealander makes his debut for the national team. It is a dream start for the young Dan Carter, who after five minutes takes a gorgeous line up the middle to crack an aggressive defensive line. A few phases later he lands a delightful left-footed kick in behind the Wales back three, turning all three players and gaining crucial field position.
5 November 2016, a 21-year-old New Zealand-born kid makes his debut for the Irish national team. It is a dream start for the young Joey Carbery, who after five minutes on the field takes a gorgeous line to allow Henshaw crack an aggressive defensive line. A few minutes later he lands a delightful right-footed kick in behind the New Zealand back three, pinning them deep in their own half and gaining crucial field position.
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To place the burden of expectation that is an earlier comparison with Carter upon Carbery is somewhat unfair. That being said, the similarities, both in terms of career and style of play, are uncanny. It’s what they discussed recently after Ronan O’Gara arranged for them to meet and have a cup of coffee:
He was talking about how to control a team and that it comes in time. He was saying how nervous and shy he was in his first three or four years playing. He said how good it was to learn from Carlos Spencer and Andrew Mehrtens, because he started off playing 12 for the first three or four years and he said playing in a different position can be a good thing, because you can learn from others. That gave me good confidence, playing 15 and playing with Johnny, just learning how to take responsibly.
For Carter to discuss these matters with Carbery was hugely appreciated:
(He’s) probably one of the best tens ever, to hear that from him is pretty cool.
Like Carter before him, Carbery took to the International stage exactly the way a 21-year-old shouldn't. Off his first phase, he barked at his captain, Rory Best, to carry the next ball and ordered his pack around the paddock expertly. It was assurance usually amassed through experience.
It's no surprise that Carbery bares similarities to Carter. He grew up in a similar atmosphere.
You’d come in and play ball with your mates before during and after school, its what you’d did. We’d have PE every day and we’d end up playing rugby. Someone would have a rugby ball, bring it into school and we’d just play it all the time.
Before I left I was playing U13s which was 50kg, so if you’re over 50kg and younger than 13 you have to go up. It kind of made sense cause some of the other guys were a lot more developed and I would hav been the small skinny guy, so it helped me out as well.
From that day in 2003, Carter was a regular starter for club and country. That is a luxury Carbery will not enjoy. His competition at international level ensures he is, at best, the heir to Sexton’s throne. At his club, the juggernaut that is the Leinster academy continues to churn out exceptionally talented individuals hindering Carbery’s chances of a regular run at 10 or 15.
In his absence, Jordan Larmour and Ross Byrne have added to the competition for full-back and Leinster’s second choice out-half, a prospect that excites Carbery rather than concerns him:
What comes first is what's best for Leinster. Me playing fullback when Rob's been injured probably worked out best. I'm learning every day and a bit of competition makes it healthy for both of us, makes us both strive to get better and improve. We have kicking competitions here and there which also helps. Competition is great and that's why it's such a good environment at Leinster.
There has been a mistaken idea that IRFU Performance director David Nuicerfa’s proposal of increasing inter-province transfers is to primarily benefit the national team. As a consequence, the province would function as a glorified academy.
This is not the case; a transfer of this kind is taken with the actual player’s interests at heart. For example, Jordi Murphy’s move to Ulster ensures more game-time for the talented back-row, a possibility unavailable to him at Leinster. The knock-on effect may be a benefit to Irish rugby, but it is not the primary reason:
He’s a huge loss to Leinster as a player and just as a friend. He’s a really good guy but I can understand where he is coming from. If you are playing week in, week out then that is how you get better and that is how you are going to be seen so it makes sense for both parties, I suppose, what’s happening.
In recent times prominent figures have touted a similar fate for Carbery. Eddie O’Sullivan led these calls during the Autumn internationals, while just today Tony Ward doubled down on this likelihood. It’s not something that fazes Carbery though.
I didn't think too much of it to be honest. The opinions that really count are in the environment, so I think it's the best environment to be learning in, behind Johnny and Rob. I think I'm learning as much as I can in Leinster as I would anywhere
That was a statement based on his past. In the future, should he fall foul of diminishing game-time, he’ll make a decision:
If Leinster need you and they are playing you then that’s the best thing but it comes down to game time. If you are getting game time in Leinster or not, then that is when you probably need to decide.
Joey Carbery is an ambassador for Europcar Ireland and was on hand today to promote the Europcar Privilege Programme, which allows motorists who rent from Europcar and subscribe to the Privilege Programme some extra conveniences and rewarding benefits. For more see www.europcar.com/loyalty-programs.
