Joey Carbery’s latest injury setback is a massive blow to both Munster and Ireland, according to Ronan O’Gara.
The Munster fly-half had just returned from an ankle injury he sustained during the World Cup but now looks set to miss this year’s Six Nations.
Speaking to Off The Ball, O’Gara felt for the young playmaker after what has been a horrific run of injuries.
“He hasn’t enjoyed any weeks or months when he can get a bit of rhythm. He made a brave decision to join a new club.
“A lot of it was set up for him in Leinster but then the big thing for him is getting game time in the Number 10 jersey and it just hasn’t happened.
“Obviously the World Cup was hugely disappointed with his own ankle injury and then coming back you thought he did everything possible to get it right, which it seemed to be.
“But then law prevails and you snap something in your wrist, which sounds interesting. It’s a ligament injury in the wrist which requires surgery so it sounds complicated. It sounds nasty,” O’Gara said.
Johann van Graan has been left short-handed for fly-halves going into Munster’s crucial game with Racing 92, with 20-year-old Ben Healy the only specialist Number 10 likely to be fit for this weekend.
While the southern province will certainly be cursing their luck, Andy Farrell will also be posed with a similar dilemma as Johnny Sexton is a doubt for their opening Six Nations games.
“It’s bad news for him and it’s hugely bad news for Munster and obviously for Ireland as well because I think going forward it is his time.
“He has time to respond but when you’re a number 10 you’re very impatient and it’s going to be the case for him.
“It’s not a great month to get injured - January, February, March - because as a test athlete that’s when you want to play,” O’Gara commented.
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