I HAVE BIG AMBITIONS
Mccarthy aiming to star on grandest stages
JOE MCCARTHY aims to keep showing he was born for the big occasion.
It is less than two years since his first taste of Champions Cup action came in a late four-minute cameo against Leicester Tigers.
Now the 22-year-old returns to Welford Road with a priceless amount of World Cup experience (below) in the bank.
“I learned a lot of things from the World Cup pre-season camp and going through the whole experience,” said the second row. “I’ve definitely improved. I feel like I’ve gone up another level.
“I was quite nervous for that Leicester game, it’s a good experience for now. Over there, the away changing room is kind of like a shoe box. I got that whole experience, the crowd’s hostile.
“All the prep that went into the game, the atmosphere and feel of it, sets us up well hopefully for this weekend. They’re definitely a team that’s very proud of their club history so I’m sure they will come out all guns blazing.”
Mccarthy will be in Marseille less than two weeks later for the start of Ireland’s Grand Slam title defence against France.
“I couldn’t think of anything better to be doing the next few months than being involved there,” he smiled. “That will be a goal.”
Mccarthy looked like a young man possessed at times in the rain in La Rochelle and at Thomond Park against Munster in a contest also played in terrible conditions.
“They’re the games everyone wants to be involved in,” he said. “They’re class.
When you’ve got the butterflies in the stomach, it gives you a bit of an extra edge and it can raise your game. I love that.
“Every game you play in is tough.
When you play La Rochelle and teams like that, it’s all pretty close to
Test standard.
“Most of the Champions Cup games would be at that level. I feel I’m playing to a good level.
“I’m sure there are some club games that are tougher than internationals. But definitely you’re blowing at Test level, you have to be on it every time. The demand on you is higher in the bigger games. You’ve less time to think.
“The athletes are bigger, the faster collisions are bigger. They’re probably the things you notice.”
Mccarthy has played eight times for Leinster since coming off the bench in the World Cup quarter-final with seven of those being starts.
“It’s been brilliant,” he said. “I probably didn’t have much of that last season. Getting to play a lot is amazing. I feel I’m building more confidence and improving with every performance. Everyone feels a lot better once you get a good run of games, it’s really the key.”
Mccarthy’s all-action approach is well suited to the Jacques Nienaber gameplan given the emphasis that Leinster’s new senior coach puts on linespeed and ferocity in defence.
“He’s super insightful, the amount he’s gone through,” said the lock. “I love the physical aspect of the game. I probably would have enjoyed that all the way up from school, hitting into things.”