Jamie Heaslip has used Joey Carbery's exclusion from the Ireland squad for the Six Nations on how it was picked based on form.
Heaslip was reacting to the squad announcement on the RTÉ Rugby podcast this afternoon, with the exclusion of Carbery grabbing the headlines, as Ross Byrne and Jack Cowley were named among the fly-halfs with Johnny Sexton.
Joe McCarthy was picked ahead of Kieran Treadwell, with his provincial teammates James Hume and Nick Timoney among those left out.
Andy Farrell's Ireland! 🟢#TeamOfUs | #GuinnessSixNations
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Robbie Henshaw is ruled out of the opening rounds through injury, with Jamie Osborne included in the senior squad for the first time.
Jamie Heaslip Backs Farrell's Picks
While he did question the inclusions of Keith Earls and Jacob Stockdale due to their recent form, Jamie Heaslip believes this is a fair squad.
Carbery has been the number two option at ten, but the reliable form of Ross Byrne, combined with the emergence of Jack Crowley has seen him miss out, despite Sexton's injury problems.
While it may have come as a shock to many, Jamie Heaslip believes this is a positive sign as form is being rewarded.
With Joey, I think initially your gut would be surprised because you've seen him there so many times, but when you step back and look at the merit of selection I don't think it's a surprise.
It [the surprise] comes off the back of every squad over the last couple of years, where when Joey has been available he's been selected, but we don't really know Andy Farrell's thinking yet, or the discussion he had with Joey Carbery, he just feels like Ross Byrne is giving him something a little bit extra right now.
Jack Crowley is the new kid on the block who is learning his trade and can do with a couple of extra minutes, and I think he could be a really good impact off the bench.
Joey's been given 40-odd caps, he's been with Munster since 2018. I know he's had injuries along the way, and playing under a coaching regime before [Graham] Rowntree that didn't suit his game, but I don't think you're going to learn a whole lot more from having Joey in the squad now."
While it wouldn't be a surprise to see Carbery be included for the later rounds of the Six Nations, today's announcement has shown he has some work to do if he's to be part of Andy Farrell's plans.
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