McCarthy bringing energy and competition to group

ENERGY: Joe McCarthy’s red-hot season is not making Andy Farrell’s life any easier in terms of his second-row combination to face France this Friday night. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Current form versus a proven track record is the eternal coaching conundrum when it comes to team selection and Joe McCarthy’s red-hot season is not making Andy Farrell’s life any easier in terms of his second-row combination to face France this Friday night.

There are few doubters when it comes to the 22-year-old Leinster lock’s high ceiling for achievement in Test rugby and his five Test caps to date, including a place on the bench in the World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand last October have done nothing to diminish the belief McCarthy can become a mainstay of the Ireland forward pack for many years to come.