Andy Farrell: 'He's forced our arm to keep him in the squad, first and foremost'

Ireland Head Coach Andy Farell hails the quick rise of Leinster's Gus McCarthy as his performances around the squad forces Farrell's arm to keep him within the squad.

Thu, 21 Nov, 2024 - 17:21

Simon Lewis

Andy Farrell hailed the rise of Gus McCarthy from the Leinster academy to Ireland Test status after handing the hooker and Ulster forward Cormac Izuchukwu their international debuts in a much-changed side to face Fiji in Dublin on Saturday.

McCarthy, 21, and Izuchukwu, 24, are two of seven changes from the Irish side which started the 22-19 victory over Argentina last Friday with head coach Farrell also making two positional switches. Sam Prendergast, also 21, is handed the reins at number 10 a week on from his debut off the bench and replaces Jack Crowley, the first time the Munster fly-half has not featured as the starting fly-half since the retirement of Johnny Sexton at the end of last autumn’s World Cup campaign.