Craig Casey and Johnny Sexton combination backed for Italy clash

"Why not say this is the time to use him?"

Craig Casey would have been hardly able to sleep the night before Ireland played France. Named on the bench for that game, the Munster scrum-half would have been hoping for 20 or 30 minutes to show what he could do. As it transpired, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell left Casey in reserve as Leinster's Jamison Gibson-Park played the full match. Ireland's defeat to the French, however, has only led to more calls for Casey to get his chance in the next game. On the latest House of Rugby Ireland episode [LISTEN from 43:30 below], former Leinster and Ireland star Fergus McFadden spoke about the best way to use the 21-year-old against Italy. [caption id="attachment_715968" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Munster scrumhalf Craig Casey was named on the bench for the France game. (Credit: Sportsfile)[/caption] "Because there's been a few forced changes, in a few positions," McFadden says, "Farrell might try get a bit of consistency because the level of performances have probably not been where he would have wanted them to get to. "But I would like to see him try a few guys out and give them opportunities. If you've got the likes of a Craig Casey in there, if you're going to put him in an extended Six Nations squad, why not say this is the time to use him. "If you have him on the bench, use him. But I think give him a start. Maybe with Johnny, and Johnny can lead him through the week with them as the half-back pairing. That would be nice to see." Also covered on the House of Rugby Ireland show by Eimear Considine and Fergus McFadden:

• Harry Byrne training ground tales
• Possible changes for Italy game
• Interview with Leinster & Ireland hooker James Tracy
• Argentina's Jagaures set for the PRO14?
• More French players test positive for Covid

---