To break into Andy Farrell's Ireland XV, one must rip the jersey off the incumbent, and make it impossible for the coaches to leave them out.
This is exactly what Joe McCarthy has done through his outstanding form for Leinster this season, and clearly his performances in Ireland training.
Joe McCarthy Breaks Into Ireland XV
True enforcer locks, who make a constant and disruptive nuisance of themselves, have always enjoyed huge success at all levels, and it is a type of player that Ireland have been missing.
Speaking exclusively with Balls.ie - in association with Ladbrokes - Stephen Ferris believes that McCarthy is well worth his place in the XV to take on France this Friday:
But for me, the interesting position, it's the second row, it's a second row and it's Joe McCarthy.
I certainly believe that he deserves this opportunity to start a big game, to start a meaningful game that has everything on the line for Ireland.
First up. He brings that physicality. I know there's been so much chat during the week that Joe McCarthy, Ireland haven't seen anything like him before because of his size and his presence and his muscle and his sheer mass, 120 odd kilos.
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29 January 2024; Joe McCarthy during an Ireland Rugby squad training session at The Campus in Quinta da Lago, Portugal. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
"That's fair enough," continued Ferris
"But he's also a really good rugby player, you know, he makes good decisions, he's destructive, and we all need an enforcer in our side.
"And that's one thing I always bang the drum that Ulster haven't had, and I don't think they have had it even in Iain Henderson because he doesn't even make the 23.
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