The impressive depth in Irish rugby at the minute is best encapsulated when looking at the back five of the pack, and trying to figure out the best combination for the opening game of the Six Nations between Ireland and France.
With Andy Farrell likely to opt for 5-3 bench split, there will be two top class options that will be forced to miss out.
Speaking on the RTE Rugby podcast - which you can listen to in full here - Bernard Jackman was adamant on one of his picks for the second row in Marseille on February 2.
Jackman Makes Case For McCarthy To Start For Ireland
Given the form of Joe McCarthy this season - who has been Leinster's stand out this year and was awarded another POTM on Saturday - and the type of physical play style he brings to the game, the former Leinster and Ireland hooker feels that it is imperative he starts against the French:
I think he starts against France, purely looking at what France can do. Meafou is out, Paul Willemse has just come back in, Atonio has done a U-turn and on retirement I think.
And looking at the French pack, the power that they can bring, I think we need to get him in there to try and counteract that. And maybe he needs to be starting every game so we can actually start, you know, forcing our power and strength on others as well.
But certainly for France I think he needs to start. He's bang on form and probably his margin of progression is still massive, you know, he's still quite inexperienced really, he is still going to get bigger and stronger.
I would start him, and then it's a case of whether you pair them up with James Ryan or Tadhg Beirne. James is probably similar in terms of, he's very physical, but definitely not having the size that Joe has. And then it would be a big call to leave out Tadhg Beirne wouldn't it?
I wouldn't have any quibbles of either James or Tadhg, but yeah, I'd be starting him against France.
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🎧 Full podcast: https://t.co/QKe73Yvwxp pic.twitter.com/pUOdYtxG7s— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) January 24, 2024
The announcement of Peter O'Mahony as Ireland captain has pretty much confirmed his place in the starting XV - if it wasn't already - while Tadhg Beirne is seen by many as undroppable, due to his consistent world class performances and game changing moments.
McCarthy's form has made an already difficult selection dilemma even tougher, with Iain Henderson and Ryan Bairn both available and in-form.
A left-field decision, which Jackman suggests, would be to drop the 2022 World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier, and move O'Mahony to openside flanker.
"I'd be very slow to pick an Irish pack without Tadhg Beirne in it," Jackman said.
"And if he wasn't playing second row, I have no issue with him playing six, but Pete's captain. Unless they went Pete at seven, which obviously they can do. And then you've got a better line out.
"Josh, he's been better the last couple of weeks, but he's been quiet-ish since the World Cup. So yeah, that's potentially an option."
While Jackman does acknowledge Van der Flier's upturn in form, we reckon he is underselling it, as the no. 7 has been excellent in recent weeks, and as a Farrell favourite is unlikely to make way next week.
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