McCarthy: 'The fans were crazy, the Irish fans are just buzzing when they travel away'

22-year-old Joe McCarthy was delighted to get a try on his Rugby World Cup in front of a huge Irish support. 

WORLD CUP DEBUT: Joe McCarthy scored a try on his third attempt to cap off a special RWC debut. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

There was a moment there at Stade de Bordeaux when Joe McCarthy must have wondered what more he could possibly do to add his name to the Ireland scoresheet and cap a dream World Cup debut.

The 22-year-old second row had been selected for his physicality and set-piece prowess but his eye for the tryline was very much to the fore in Saturday’s 82-8 thumping of Romania. Yet the youngest member of Andy Farrell’s squad had looked destined to be denied his moment of triumph, held up over the line and then the victim of a last-ditch tackle in the corner before he struck gold at the third attempt.