Ireland's pivot problem intensifies

INJURY UPDATE: Ireland new head coach Andy Farrell seems to have a flyhalf crisis ahead of the Six Nations with both Johnny Sexton and Joey Carbery sidelined with injuries.

Leinster head coach Stuart Lancaster revealed that Sexton is highly unlikely to play before the start of the Championship as he recovers from knee ligament damage.

While Munster confirmed that Carbery is set to undergo surgery on his wrist, ruling him out of action for the ‘immediate future’.

Earlier The Irish Independent reported that Carbery appeared to suffer the suspected broken arm in a Munster training session.

It now appears that injury was to his wrist.

The statement from Munster reads: “Following on from the earlier squad update, the medical department have confirmed that Joey Carbery underwent a scan for a wrist injury sustained against Ulster on Friday night at the Kingspan.

“It has been confirmed the out-half sustained a wrist ligament injury and requires surgery, ruling him out for the immediate future.”

Carbery had just returned to the Munster fold after a long term provincial lay-off, starting his first game for the side in eight months.

As the back-up at flyhalf to Sexton, the loss of Carbery is a headache for Farrell and Ireland. With Carbery sidelined, one of either Leinster’s Ross Byrne and Connacht’s Jack Carty will likely take the Munster man’s place in Farrell’s plans.

Leaving Ireland aside, the loss of Carbery is also a significant blow for Munster, with both JJ Hanrahan and Tyler Bleyendaal currently rehabbing injuries.

Rugbypass

In other news: