Andy Friend: Ireland 'will have to come knocking' for confident Jack Carty

Jack Carty: The Connacht out-half has 10
Ireland caps to his name. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

Connacht coach Andy Friend said that Jack Carty has recaptured the form which saw him selected for the World Cup.

Friend believes Carty is a stronger player now after his World Cup experience in Japan and has backed him to deliver if he is called up by Andy Farrell.

The 28-year old was included in the squad when the Six Nations resumed in the autumn but did not add to his 10 Irish caps, the last which was won off the bench against Russia in the World Cup, having started the previous game in the shock loss to Japan.

Carty has been in superb form for Connacht this season, the highlight coming in a 25-point haul in the 35-24 victory over Leinster at the RDS last month.

“We have regular chats and I am aware of his frustration. At the same time I am aware, and he is aware, that he needs to bring more consistency to his game and that has been the message delivered to him.

“He is pragmatic about that. He still has ambitions to play for his country. I think he is in a real purple patch at the moment. 

We are starting to see the Jack Carty that I saw in my first year here when he was brilliant and which led to that Irish selection and the World Cup.

“He is a really talented player and we all see that I think his ability off the boot is one of the best I’ve ever seen. He’s got a brilliant long kicking game, he’s got lovely little grubbers, his kick for touch is fantastic.

“His ability to see space and put the ball there is probably the best I’ve seen. I love seeing that bloke when he is full of confidence and at the moment he looks like he’s full of confidence. If he keeps that up I believe the Irish team will have to come knocking for him,” said Friend.

The Connacht coach dismissed comments from his Australian compatriot Matt Williams who, in his role as a television pundit, suggested that the likes of Harry or Ross Byrne should head to the Sportsground for game-time even if it meant that Carty would have to step aside.

“We have got some quality here I actually don’t see an opening in the number 10 jersey here at Connacht,” added Friend, who said that Carty had to battle to get the out-half slot back from Conor Fitzgerald when he returned from the World Cup.

“With regard to the World Cup stuff Jack has 100% parked that and I think we have seen that now with the form he is in. He has grown since the World Cup. He worked really really hard on the performance skills part of the game and I’m seeing real growth in the bloke and at the age of 28 he still has a lot of growing in him.”