McCarthy on surprise Ireland bow: 'Any opportunity I get I have to try and take it' 

The 21-year old hooker has made an immdiate impact in Andy Farrell's set-up. 

Ireland's Gus McCarthy is presented with his first cap by IRFU President Declan Madden. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady

Gus McCarthy was not expecting any of this. Not now. Not so soon. A young man with a big future he may have been, but the 21-year old hooker still seemed to be miles removed from an Ireland Test debut as recently as last Sunday week.

Named as a training panellist at the start of the November window, he’d already climbed a few more unexpected steps up the ladder. Had that been that he would have returned to the day job with Leinster in UCD more than happy with his month’s work.