Catt challenges Carbery to 'bring his X-factor'

Joey Carbery has been challenged to scale new heights in his quest to permanently dislodge Johnny Sexton. Carbery is poised to start consecutive Test matches for only the second time after retaining the number 10 jersey ahead of the fit-again Sexton for Sunday's Guinness Six Nations meeting with Italy in Dublin. Following his impressive showing in the 30-24 defeat to France a fortnight ago, assistant coach Mike Catt has urged Munster out-half Carbery to strive for more as he seeks to fully emerge from Sexton's shadow.

"Joey is slowly growing into himself again," said Catt. "He had a very good performance against France, this is the next step up for him now. "He's got his feet under the table, under the desk, and he needs to make sure he drives to that next level.

"For us, it's about making the right decisions at the right time - that's always been the case for our 10s - and then bringing his X-factor. "He's got a very good running game which we haven't seen too often - well, he's been injured a lot of the time, I suppose. "But he's very good at attacking a line, so areas like that (are where he can offer more), but only if it's the right thing to do and making sure that he controls the area so we're not playing too much rugby in key areas too." Carbery's only previous back-to-back starts for Ireland came last summer when 2018 world player of the year Sexton - who will be among the replacements against the Azzurri - was rested.