After it was confirmed that Joey Carbery would play no part in Munster's decisive Heineken Champions Cup clash with Racing 92 this weekend, there is an argument to be made that Johann van Graan should trust the 20-year-old Ben Healy as his starting out-half in Paris.
With some degree of uncertainty surrounding the fitness of JJ Hanrahan ahead of Munster's critical clash against Racing this weekend, Johann van Grann, Munster's South African head coach, has encouraged the young out-half Ben Healy to make the most of what may be an unexpected opportunity.
A must-win game for the Irish province, there is a possibility that van Grann may turn to Rory Scannell as a makeshift out-half with the Tipperary native Healy likely to make an appearance off the bench at some stage.
"Do you really want a centre playing #10," asked Ger Gilroy of the dilemma facing van Graan on Thursday's OTB AM, "or do you want somebody who is actually a #10?
"This is [Healy's] chance to step into the first team. Also, if you're the coach currently getting a little heat from a lot of different angles, which choice gives you the best outcome?
"[Playing Healy] buys him time and everyone gets excited about it."
Ben Healy of Ireland during the World Rugby U20 Championship Fifth Place Play-off Semi-final match between Ireland and England at Club De Rugby Ateneo Inmaculada in Santa Fe, Argentina. Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/SportsfileQuerying whether it would be fair to throw the 20-year-old into such a make-or-break game, Ger argued that Healy is unlikely to be so fragile.
"People will say that this could set him back months and month," he hypothesised of a scenario whereby Healy's selection coincides with a heavy defeat for Munster, "but, no it won't. Next time he plays against the Ospreys in Irish Independent Park, let him run the game and he'll be fine."
"Starting this kid at #10 in this big game at the weekend," reasoned Eoin Sheahan, "is a brave but correct course of action."
Beyond being solely a means of relieving the pressure on van Graan, however, Healy's talent suggests that it is only a matter of time before he makes the senior breakthrough.
"You'd be giving someone who we think has the potential to be a superstar the opportunity to be a superstar," reckoned Ger, "and everyone can get behind that.
"Like maybe this guy is actually Munster's best out-half and that is exactly what they need. Get him in and Joey Carbery can go back to full-back."
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