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Rugby

Brian O'Driscoll picks out the Joey Carbery attributes that are impressing him most

Brian O'Driscoll has been impressed by Joey Carbery as the Leinster youngster prepares for his fi...



Brian O'Driscoll picks out...
Rugby

Brian O'Driscoll picks out the Joey Carbery attributes that are impressing him most

Brian O'Driscoll has been impressed by Joey Carbery as the Leinster youngster prepares for his first big European game for the province.

Leinster begin their European Champions Cup pool stage campaign at home to Castres at the RDS on Saturday.

Head coach Leo Cullen has left Jonathan Sexton out of his starting team for the game, with 20-year-old Carbery wearing 10 instead.

Off The Ball's premier rugby correspondent Brian O'Driscoll was on Friday night's show and gave his take on the player ahead of a big European game.

"I think it will be difficult for him from the point of view that it will be his first big European game. But if you were to pick games for him to start at home, Castres first game... he's played very well when he has been called upon for Leinster this season. He's with a new three-quarter line in Garry Ringrose and Henshaw but they looked very exciting last week. So you'd like to think the rest of the side will look after him and make sure you're given the ball on a platter, they help him out with the decisions," he said.

While BOD raised the possibility that Isa Nacewa might take on kicking duties, he picked out impressive features of Carbery's play and one thing that has impressed him is his footwork.

"He looks like he has loads of confidence. He has the feet of a back three player and his default isn't to go and break himself. He sees his options but more often than not when he goes and has a break himself, he makes a half-yard at least or makes a half-break. I think that's the sign of a really good player. He doesn't over-play it himself."

Auckland, New Zealand-born Carbery has made six appearances in 2016-17, scoring two tries against Benetton Treviso in September.

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