Joey Carbery came off the bench very late against South Africa, how much should he play against Fiji and Australia?
Journalist Gerry Thornley and former player Andy Dunne joined Joe Molloy on Monday Night Rugby after Ireland's victory over South Africa.
Ireland beat South Africa in exactly the way Andy Farrell wanted them to. They matched the physicality of the Springboks at every position. South Africa had plenty of chances to set up and drive mauls over the line. They failed. South Africa had plenty of chances to establish dominance in the scrum. They failed.
South Africa sent their blitz defence after Ireland and Jonathan Sexton. It failed.
While Rassie Erasmus is whinging about the referee and skipping out on his promise to visit Munster, Ireland are now looking past their future World Cup opponents. How does Andy Farrell handle the next two Autumn Internationals.
The priority now is to focus on players who aren't regular starters. Joey Carbery barely featured against South Africa. He was a late substitution for Sexton. Carbery's game time is now a priority. But it must be balanced with Sexton's and with Jack Crowley.
Thornley and Dunne outlined what they think should happen now.
"Johnny Sexton is not only the 10 and the captain, he's Johnny Sexton," Thornley said.
"He's the most important player in the team."
"Yeah, but I wouldn't like to see him get too much more time now. He certainly doesn't have to be involved against Fiji," Dunne answered.
"I would wager he doesn't need to be involved against Australia because we already know what he can do. Unless there's time in his legs, they need to build up time...they've got this balancing act they've got to play. And it's tricky with Johnny.
"I would like to see Carbery get a full 80 in one of the games and one of Crowley or Frawley get time in the other game."
"So because Frawley dropped out, Crowley is in. I would like to see Joey start next week against Fiji," Thornley said.
"And maybe move to fullback for the last 20-30 minutes like he did against Argentina last year when he was man of the match. It's another great little extra ploy to have...and then let Jack Crowley make his debut for the last 20-30 minutes."
Ireland can use South Africa's scrum against them - Keith Wood
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