Ireland boss Andy Farrell has dismissed criticism of starting out-half Joey Carbery after Ireland looked more threatening in attack against Italy when Johnny Sexton returned off the bench.
Carbery started his second Six Nations game in a row on Sunday and struggled at times to organise his team-mates in the right attacking shape, with Italy's defence earning a number of breakdown penalties off the back of that.
But Farrell insisted it was important that, given the strange scenario that unfolded when Italy were reduced to 13 men after only 19 minutes, Carbery was on the frontline and gaining experience in dealing with the situation.
