Young Irish lock capped a typical all-action display with a try in the opening victory over Romania
“I thought one of them I maybe touched a bit of grass but no, glad to get one of them at least. It was a good tackle [by Simionescu] but it’s tough when a back smashes you like that,” admitted McCarthy, clearly a little aggrieved with himself for being denied by a smaller, lighter man.
“It’s class. My family are fantastic. They’ve played a massive part in getting me to where I am and they come to any game, no matter where it is, down the country some place or across the world, they’re always there. They are a huge support to me.” No that it necessarily showed in a highly visible display. There were 17 carries, bettered only by Bundee Aki and equalled only by Hugo Keenan, and six tackles, which was second only to Peter O’Mahony in Ireland’s defensive stats.
“Yeah, it’s good. Our attack definitely asks a lot of every player, probably more than any other team. No matter if you’re tight five, you have to have class hands, you have to be able to add value in the tackle.