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Joey Carbery "Happy to give it a go" wherever he is picked

Joey Carbery will answer the Ireland management's call wherever he is needed. The Athy playmaker ...



Joey Carbery will answer the Ireland management's call wherever he is needed.

The Athy playmaker gave an update on his fitness and positional versatility earlier in Chiba before departing for Yokohama.

An ankle injury picked up against Italy has restricted his World Cup build-up to just the last week's training, but Joey Carbery was positive on his fitness.

"It's great to be back training, the ankle is feeling pretty good.

"There were a couple of nervous days in between when the injury happened, pretty happy just to be here. I suppose it's great that the ankle is healing."

He added that if he or any other player wasn't fit, the management team wouldn't put players out on the pitch.

"I reckon the coaches will have us ready, they will only pick us if we're ready."

Carbery says he feared he would be out of the loop when stuck on the treatment table.

"It's hard when you are not training to keep up with all the rugby stuff. I just tried to pay as much attention in meetings and keep on top of everything as best I could. So when I am back training it wouldn't all be a shock to me."

Utility

Joey Carbery will be the utility back for the tournament with him potentially featuring in both half-back positions as well as at full-back.

The subject of playing in the centre for Ireland to create an axis like England has with Farrell and Ford was raised but Carbery said it has never been discussed.

As always in these scenarios, if the coaches were to request it, the player would be "more than happy to give it a go".

The injury to the Munster pivot has restricted his positional versatility in training.

"I have only trained this week, so I have only been in around ten. So haven't had too much time really other than this week to do anything.

"Hopefully over the next couple of weeks, I'll get in a few other positions but at the moment its only been at 10."

Scrum-half is one of the positions Ireland's anointed utility back could be expected to play in Japan. It has been a while though, Carbery was playing at under-18 level when he last wore the number nine shirt.

Carbery has no issue with playing multiple roles in the team though

"I don't mind, I suppose it adds another string to my bow. Wherever the management needs me I'd be happy to fit in".

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2019 Rugby World Cup Ireland V Scotland Joey Carbery Rugby World Cup Utility Back