Farrell believes 'mature' Joe McCarthy can lead Lions' challenge 

British & Irish Lions lock Joe McCarthy. Pic: Billy Stickland

Andy Farrell wants the 2025 British & Irish Lions to “walk forward to the challenge” facing them in this Test series with Australia and he believes his young Ireland lock Joe McCarthy is the ideal character to show the way.

McCarthy, 24, will partner Lions captain Maro Itoje in the second row for Saturday’s first Test against the Wallabies after the head coach unveiled his starting line-up on Thursday. 

Skipper Itoje will lead by example, but Farrell sees McCarthy as the player who can embody what he is expecting to see from his side in this Test series, starting at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

“We want to see a performance that does everyone proud and, when I say everyone, you’re talking about thousands of people that are turning up,” Farrell said on Thursday morning Irish time.

“You’re walking around town and you can already feel it heating up and it will only ramp up tomorrow, so it’s making sure we do everyone proud here and at home with the type of performance that is one that’s going to walk forward to the challenge and be the best version of ourselves.

“You can talk about everything that the first Test always is on a Lions tour, but it’s making sure we’re concentrating on the performance and that we attack it from the get-go.

“He (McCarthy) definitely will. He’s that type of player. I’ve never really seen him take a backward step anyway, even when he came onto the scene as a youngster.

“He’s certainly grown a lot since then as far as maturity’s concerned but I’ve also seen his character and his attitude grow in the same vein and then we end up with him starting in a Lions series. It’s fantastic to see.” 

Farrell believes has picked a set of forwards who can match McCarthy’s fire, with a front row of Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, and a back row of Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry and Jack Conan that can bring attitude, abrasiveness and aggression.

“Look at the pack that we have picked, it is not just Joe. You can see that throughout. You can also see that the quality of the bench of who’s not there. You would take that over any given time in a Test match.” 

Farrell spoke with warmth about the progress and growth he had seen in McCarthy over the past two seasons with Leinster and Ireland.

“He’s worked out the type of player that he wants to be. He always wanted to master the dark arts of a tighthead second row and we’ve had some learnings along the way. He’s been mature enough to sort those out and that’s why we’re seeing him play his best rugby.”