Subtle isn't a word you’d generally associate with Joe McCarthy.
Standing at 6ft 6in, and weighing around 124kg, the Leinster lock specialises in the more blunt elements of rugby.
Last Friday against Wales, however, the 24-year-old showcased the softer side of his game, and it was the moment an arm-wrestle swung back in his side's favour.
Leading by two points with 15 minutes to play against a Welsh side growing in confidence, McCarthy did his best to charge down a high kick from out-half Dan Edwards, and while he didn't get the block, he got a much better second prize.
When Ellis Mee batted the high ball back on the Welsh side, it took a wicked bounce and sat up kindly for the Ireland second row, who beat James Botham to the rebound before turning for the Welsh line.
With no support runners and Welsh defenders scrambling, McCarthy sent a delicate grubber kick down the tram tracks on the left side of the pitch, and while Edwards got back to recover the ball, he was swallowed up by Jacob Stockdale and Stuart McCloskey, before a clearance kick gave Ireland a lineout in a perfect attacking position on the edge of the 22.
McCarthy would claim that lineout, and less than a minute later Jamie Osborne was diving under the posts, his score sending Ireland seven clear and allowing the Aviva Stadium crowd to breathe a sigh of relief.
"I think I always had it up the sleeve," McCarthy laughs, when asked about that deft grubber kick (below).
"No, I don't kick very much in games. I don't think I've kicked in an international game, but I felt pretty natural when it happened.
"I don't know, thankfully it came off the foot alright, it didn't hit off my shin or anything, so no, it felt like the right option and I definitely felt like I had it in the locker."
Having produced one of his best performances in an Ireland shirt in Round 3 against England at Twickenham, McCarthy had to be content with a place on the bench against Wales last time out as Andy Farrell shuffled his deck for the penultimate game.
The Blackrock man played 21 minutes off the bench last Friday in an impactful cameo, but he was kept waiting on the sideline for several minutes before coming onto the pitch, with his head coach remarking that the second row had been "itching" to get into the action, and could be seen having a wrestle with team-mate Thomas Clarkson to get the blood flowing.
"Coming off the bench, it's a different role but it's enjoyable as well," McCarthy added.
"You've got to bring energy, empty the tank a bit. Sometimes you're a bit wrecked after it, you feel like you should be fresh but you don't get your second wind.
"I enjoy coming off the bench. It was a tough physical game against Wales, but we were happy then to get the bonus point."
If one word has dominated this Six Nations from an Irish point if view, it’s "intent".
Five weeks ago in Paris, Farrell publicly called out his side for lacking it, and there has scarcely been an interview with a player or coach since where the word hasn’t been mentioned.
What, then, does McCarthy think Irish intent looks like?
"I suppose, we were saying those sort of no-talent moments, working hard off the ball, stuff that people probably in the stands don't see that make a big difference," he said.
"Your kick-chase, people covering and making things happen. It's probably something we doubled down on.
"The start of the Six Nations we looked a little bit clunky in the first game and that didn't really look like us, but when we're at our best, everyone's on it the whole time, moving quick, physical, making things happen, making people around you feel good.
"It's something we talk about a lot, that kind of energy, work rate, making things happen, attacking things together.
"It's a bit general, it's the simple stuff but it makes a big difference."
McCarthy comes back into the starting team for this afternoon’s Triple Crown decider against Scotland, while the Six Nations title is also potentially up for grabs if they get a favourable result between France and England in Paris.
Even if France do go on to lift the trophy, a Triple Crown and four wins would represent a solid campaign for this Irish side, given their patchy form in the second half of 2025, which appeared to be bleeding into 2026 when they were hammered 36-12 on the opening night at Stade de France.
The outside perception was that this group were on a downward curve, something McCarthy (above) rejects.
He said: "We definitely didn't feel that inside.
"I get really excited playing with this group, in training, the players, you have so much confidence, like world class players.
"I feel this training is super competitive, both teams we have. So yeah, there's a lot of excitement.
"And I think even Jamo [Gibson-Park] talked about his 50th cap. He feels like our team has so much potential left in it. It's an exciting group to be part of. So, yeah, no, it's a good feeling. So we'll keep chasing it down."
McCarthy turns 25 later this month, and will earn his 25th Test cap this afternoon, having packed a lot into his young career to date.
With Leinster he’s experienced the highs of a URC title, but the crippling pain of three Champions Cup final defeats.
He was part of the wider squad that won a Test series away to the All Blacks prior to making his Irish debut, and he’s since won a Six Nations title and been through a World Cup.
A lot of lessons learned, but plenty more to come.
"I still always feel like a pretty young player, I kind of feel like I always have loads more to give and to get better at.
"I feel like my like game or standards get a lot better, probably making more opportunities for myself now, maybe [compared] to where I started.
"I feel like I can influence a game in different ways. Maybe you see you're a bit faster, you see opportunities you get on the end of balls a bit more. You're bit ahead of it in defence.
"So, I feel like those are the sort of areas I get better at, and it's kind of... it's always a process when you're playing, you have to keep getting better and evolving.
"I look through a game and go, 'I'm way better than I was then'. So, yeah, hopefully just keep kind of learning the whole time."
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