Leinster 'streetfighter' Joe McCarthy looks forward to learning from RG Snyman 

Leinster’s Joe McCarthy was player of the match against Munster on St Stephen's Day

Leinster's Joe McCarthy is presented with the BKT United Rugby Championship Player of the Match medal

He may have been player of the match at Thomond Park on St Stephen’s night, but Leinster’s Joe McCarthy believes he has so much more to learn and is relishing the opportunity to add RG Snyman to his pool of advisers.

That will be a bitter pill to swallow for Munster supporters with news of Snyman’s exit at the end of the season and the double World Cup winner’s decision to join Leinster adding to the still raw disappointment of Tuesday’s 9-3 URC defeat to their old rivals. Yet that will not worry the 22-year-old Ireland international on the back of a powerhouse performance against the Reds.

McCarthy was an integral part of a Leinster breakdown effort described by Munster boss Graham Rowntree as ferocious that turned the contact area into a “street fight” and the lock believes adding Snyman to Leo Cullen’s squad will only intensify the competition for starting spots with the Blues.

“He's a great player, I'm sure it will be very exciting to see,” McCarthy said. “It's a long way away obviously but he's a class player so he should add a lot.

“I suppose there's loads of competition now and he'll add more, which is great. It's never good to be comfortable in your position. You always want to be fighting, that brings out the best in you.

“I love trying to learn from different people. Different perspectives are class, even now we've got Jason (Jenkins), he's South African and brings something different. It's class learning off him and Jacques (Nienaber) already. We've got Goodie (Andrew Goodman) from New Zealand obviously, Leo is world class, Robin (McBryde) from Wales, it's unbelievable having so many different thinkers of the game. I love just soaking up as much as I can. The more voices the better.” 

The second row, who signalled his potential at Test level with assured performances since his Ireland debut against Italy in August and a start in the World Cup pool opener against Romania a month later, agreed with the suggestion he has added even more physical edge to his game since his return to Leinster colours.

“Yeah, every week I'm trying to get better. I'm still very young, I feel like I've loads to still improve on. I've been lucky I've got a few games in a row and that's how you get better, playing loads of rugby. I'm loving playing at the moment so hopefully I can keep playing as much as I can.”