Andy Farrell: Johnny backs Carbery call

Sexton’s return to fitness late last week left Farrell with a choice to make: go with his 36-year old veteran or give the man ten years his junior another opportunity to bag some badly-needed game time in the role on the back of his injury issues in recent years.

Head coach Andy Farrell 

Andy Farrell has declared that Johnny Sexton is completely on board with the decision to start Joey Carbery against Italy in this Sunday’s Six Nations encounter in Dublin.

Carbery started away to France two weeks ago after Sexton picked up a minor hamstring issue in training earlier that week and the understudy produced a composed performance despite Ireland’s travails for well over half of that contest.