'I like getting agressive and flying around the place' - Big Joe right at home in Marseille cauldron

FAMILY AFFAIR: Joe McCarthy of Ireland gives his man-of-the-match award to his brother Andrew. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

That picture of Joe McCarthy sticking his tongue out as he left the Stade Velodrome pitch depicts an unusual exit from the heat of Six Nations battle but it perfectly encapsulated a young Ireland lock who on Friday night admitted he likes “flying around the place”.

The 22-year-old looked more like a 50-cap Test veteran than a guy making his Six Nations debut as he put in a man-of-the-match performance against France to help Ireland to a record 38-17 bonus-point victory on French soil. 

And just like his World Cup debut against Romania in last September’s opening pool game in Bordeaux, McCarthy showed how the pressurised stage of championship rugby looks very much like his natural habitat.

McCarthy had earned his start on the back of some big performances for Leinster this season, though his selection by Andy Farrell had been far from certain with the more experienced Iain Henderson, James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne also in contention for second-row spots.

Yet the head coach’s acumen for striking the right balance in all of his combinations was proven once more when McCarthy partnered Beirne in this 2024 championship opener that had been framed as both the curtain raiser for the tournament and its title decider.

While Beirne produced a try-scoring performance representing his best display for some time, his junior partner was every bit as impressive. 

He lived up to his captain Peter O’Mahony’s description as a destructive force, translating a 6ft 6ins, 17st 7lbs frame into a wrecking ball in contact that was every bit as composed and effective as the hits of 31-year-old opposition lock Paul Willemse, sent off for two yellow cards inside 32 minutes, were reckless.

It also pointed to diligent preparation as the Irishman explained after the match how he honed such an aggressive yet controlled performance.

“You kind of have to prepare a good bit during the week,” McCarthy said. “You're doing mental reps, and it feels like a long time leading into the game, the whole day to think with a nine o'clock kick-off.

“You take a few periods in the week to mentally get to that place, but I kind of like playing aggressively and flying around the place.” 

The preparation paid huge dividends and like the rest of the Ireland team in Marseille, McCarthy hit the ground running and kept getting better as Farrell’s men gradually quietened a febrile home crowd.

“There was obviously a lot of distraction, the atmosphere is crazy, it’s hard to hear yourself think in these games.

“I was thinking all week, I was quite nervous in the week because it was a big opportunity, playing my first Six Nations game. I just kept going back to the process, and loads of great second rows giving me help in the camp. I just kept going back to my process and my detail.

“The place was rocking. Again you’re trying not to get overhyped, because I’ve definitely had games before where you’re too jizzed up and you might start off a bit off, so I was trying to chill as much as I could and keep the heart-rate down.” 

McCarthy reaped the reward as Ireland made history in Marseille, affording the lock the opportunity to reflect on his journey to this point in a still fledgling career with plenty of road left to travel.

“I never really started (rugby) in school growing up so it’s kind of cool to look back at the Junior 4ths teams and things like that,” he said.

“Definitely a lot of people would never have thought I’d get to this spot. It’s cool, but I just need to keep looking forward, there’s plenty more to do.”