Joey Carbery may have been waiting five years for a Six Nations start but he believes he is more than ready to step into Johnny Sexton's shoes against France.
The 26-year-old replaces the Ireland captain, who injured his hamstring in training yesterday, to earn his first championship start having featured off the bench seven times since making his tournament debut in 2017.
"I’m really excited for the weekend now," he told RTÉ Sport.
"I feel like I’m ready to go, both mentally and physically, training has gone really well this week and last week was good as well.
"I didn’t really think about [my first start] until I was actually told.
"We do a lot of switching in and out during training so when I was told to stay in I was excited and looking forward to getting some minutes under my belt.
"To be honest, over the last two or three weeks, in Portugal and the Welsh week, I was in and out a lot so I’m feeling very confident."
Asked what the Irish fans can expect to see from Carbery, who endured a difficult period of injuries following the 2019 World Cup, the Munster back said: "It’s hard to put into words but it’s getting a feel for the game, trying to make guys around me look good, yeah, try and combine everything and do the right thing."
Earlier this week France out-half Romain Ntamack hailed Sexton as "the symbol of the team"
"He's one of the best fly-halves in the history of international rugby," he added.
"We know all his qualities, despite his age he’s still incredible. He plays superbly well every weekend. He’s an incredible weapon for them."
But the job at hand now falls to Carbery and Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says the late change, the only amendment to the team that beat Wales, won't affect their game plan in Paris.
"It's not just about one player, it never has been and never will be, we want to grow as a group," he said.
"We want to approach every game in that manner.
"We play the same game, we keep making good decisions. We play what is in front of us; nothing changes as far as that is concerned.
"Joey will be a leader within himself anyway. And so will Jack Carty.
"We are always trying to grow as a leadership group anyway in terms of taking responsibility and growing into the task. Every one of the players becomes a leader in their own right, so we are expecting everyone to step up to the plate.
"It's not just about Joey Carbery and it's not just about can he handle a big game in Paris.
"It’s about us as a group and as a squad and that’s what Johnny does, he makes sure that the whole group is exactly where it should be.
"As I said, Johnny will travel with us and be a big part of the group but at the same time it’s not just about the number 10 as far as the direction of the team is concerned. It’s about everyone that takes the field."
Carbery, when speaking to the media following the team announcement, appeared to be taking it all in his stride.
"I try to approach every game the same and not really change too much about it, regardless of the game," the former Leinster back said.
"So I'm just going to go about it in my own way, the way I normally would, regardless of whether I was starting or on the bench. So just try to be myself really.
"I suppose anyone would get nervous before any big game. I definitely do.
"There will always be that but I suppose when you think back to what you have been through and how the training has gone the previous week, it gives confidence to me in particular and then confidence to players around you, so knowing that you can lean back on the work that you've done before gives me massive confidence."
He also revealed that the news led to a bit of a rush to add some extra seats for the flight to Paris.
"Yeah, they were pretty delighted," he said when asked about passing on the news to friends and family.
"I think they're all going to try and get out. They’re all pretty buzzing.
"They were going to go but now there’s an extra crew coming."
Meanwhile, France coach Fabien Galthie, after announcing two changes to his side, admitted they had done much of their planning with Sexton in mind.
"We worked on Ireland and prepared for the game with him at fly-half," he said.
"What we saw against Wales and New Zealand he was their playmaker, their leader, their captain.
"We think this team are very structured, they have a very serene game plan, they will keep that style of attack.
"We imagine they will keep the same fundamentals, attack and defence-wise despite the absence of Johnny Sexton."
Follow all of Ireland's Six Nations games via our live blogs on rte.ie/sport and on the RTÉ News App or listen to live radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch live TV coverage of England v Ireland (12 March, 4.45pm) on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Highlights on Against the Head, RTÉ2, Mondays, 8pm.
