Casey 'doesn't Want To Be Second Choice' For Ireland

Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey says he "doesn't want to beryllium 2nd choice" arsenic he vies pinch Jamison Gibson-Park for a starting berth.

Casey came disconnected nan chair against New Zealand successful nan 26-13 loss to triumph his 21st headdress for Ireland.

He captained a mostly second-string Ireland successful their summertime circuit and is eager to get much crippled clip pinch nan main halfway of players returning this autumn from nan Lions tour.

"I haven't sewage to nan spot I want to beryllium successful an Ireland jersey yet," he said.

"I don't want to beryllium 2nd choice; I haven't wanted to beryllium 3rd prime complete nan past fewer years but it's astir taking nan chance erstwhile I do get it.

"I dream to deliberation I'm reasonably adjacent [to starting], I've pushed a batch complete nan past 12 months, but I've a batch of respect for Jamo."

Casey could beryllium presented pinch a chance to commencement against Japan connected Saturday arsenic caput coach Andy Farrell assesses his options pinch games against Australia and South Africa to come.

The 26-year-old is hoping to make a greater effect connected nan remaining autumn internationals if he features aft admitting he was disappointed pinch his show against New Zealand and his portion successful other number Cam Roigard scoring their 4th try.

"I wasn't excessively happy, you want to travel connected and effect games. I astir apt had very fewer touches, and I felt I didn't travel connected and ray it up for illustration I wanted to," he explained.

"[Roigard's try] it's wholly connected me. I sewage caught up astatine nan time, I've watched it 25 times and I still don't cognize what I was reasoning astatine nan time, but I return it connected nan chin.

"It's ne'er bully erstwhile a scrum-half scores against you."

Casey believes he has "grown" a batch complete nan past 2 years but acknowledges he still has a batch to activity connected to beryllium "consistently world class".

"The scanning and nan calmness, erstwhile things click successful your mind and you've seen things you've ne'er seen before, that's nan biggest area of maturation for me.

"To proceed improving, I request to beryllium an all-round subordinate and bring my afloat crippled to each game.

"I'm very happy pinch wherever my basics are. truthful it's astir apt adding layers onto that."