LET’S BE VERY CAREFUL WITH CLASSY CARBS

ANDY FARRELL is pleading for Joey Carbery to be given time to “come back to the player we all know he’s going to be”.

Carbery’s 13-month injury nightmare could end at Cardiff Arms Park tonight.

The 25-year-old (above) last played at Test level in Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final loss to New Zealand in October 2019.

His ankle problems flared up again in August and he hasn’t featured in a Reds’ matchday 23 again until now.

Johann van Graan has named six changes for the PRO14 clash, with

Jack O’donoghue captaining the side and Carbery makes the bench.

“First of all, can I just say I’m absolutely delighted for Joey,” said Ireland boss Farrell.

“I know first-hand what he’s been through over these last couple of years and he has worked so hard to try and get back.

“I’d just like to praise all the medical team that’s looked after him down at Munster along with the

IRFU because we’ve got him to a place where he’s comfortable and super excited about getting back out there on the field.

“If we give him the room and the time and let him get a number of games under his belt, I’m sure Joey will come back to the player that we know he’s going to be.”

Shane Daly (left) returns from Ireland camp to retain his left wing role while Billy Holland will become the second most capped player for the province on 241 if he comes off the bench. Munster: M Haley, C Nash, R Scannell, D de Allende, S Daly, JJ Hanrahan, N Mccarthy; J Cronin, K O’byrne, J

Ryan, J Kleyn, F Wycherley, J O’donoghue (c), C Cloete, J O’sullivan.