New boy's not just winging it

Brian Carney interview: John O'Sullivantalks to the Munster winger about his transition from rugby league and his aspirations following elevation to the Irish touring squad

There can be no doubting Brian Carney's eloquence on the pitch, evident from his time in rugby league and his fledgling days back in rugby union, a code he first graced as a schoolboy. The colour and dash of his on-pitch persona could not have been further removed from reserved and studiously measured responses when corralled by the media.

The only trait shared between pitch and dais was elusiveness. He wasn't been deliberately obtuse or unfriendly but it was hard to escape the suspicion that deeds rather than words are the currency he values most of all.

The short timeframe involved in deciding to take up Munster's offer to return to rugby union and a call-up to the national squad doesn't bother him in a general sense, more conscious that his rugby union education is far from complete.

"I'm happy to be here more than anything else. It's difficult, two very different games. I realise and I appreciate how much I have to learn. In rugby union it is marginally easier for an outside back rather than anyone else to adapt. I am aware how hard (it will be) and how much I have to learn.

"No not totally unfamiliar (with union) but it's the highest standard possible now. There are a lot of little intricacies, that you're not aware of as a schoolboy and that you become aware of as you get older or a bit more experienced."

Munster's decision to play him at fullback in a recent Magners Celtic League game underlines his versatility but Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan views him as a wing.

"I'm not saying that Brian Carney couldn't play Test rugby at fullback but to be fair to him you would ask him to do the simple thing first and that is play on the wing.

"If he makes that transition well then we will go from there. Magners League is not international rugby. To throw him in the deep end in international rugby at fullback would not be fair to him. It's only fair to ask him to do things in small steps rather than big ones."

The player himself only craves game time. "You just go out and lace your boots up. Wherever I get put I'll be happy to play there." His wish list for Argentina is uncomplicated. "Obviously (it is) to develop as a player in an environment where I have to do it very quickly. I think if I can come back from the tour and not look out of place I'll be happy.

"I never felt that I achieved all I wanted to in league. I achieved very little compared to some players. This is a tremendous challenge and opportunity in terms of what I have been given. I guess that's it really. I think my ultimate goal is to make the transition from league to union and to be a success at it. If I do turn out to be a good union player then I will be a success."

O'Sullivan doesn't consider his elevation to the national squad a risk. The Ireland coach pointed out: "Well I wouldn't do it unless I thought he was good enough is the short answer. I would still be guarded about it but from what I have seen in Munster, he's a very, very good player, a good footballer and he has played at the highest level.

"He has made the transition pretty flawlessly. Now it is not the most difficult transition to make, you have to keep in mind that he played on the wing in rugby league and he's playing on the wing in rugby union. It's probably the easiest transition to make from league to union.

"We're not asking him to go from secondrow in league to centre in union. That would be a big step. He's a very good professional and given the timelines available he has put himself in a position where you'd like to see if he can hack it at the next level up and if he can throw his hat in the ring for a World Cup spot."

Carney's response is likely to be unequivocal, voiced from the other side of the whitewash.