Springbok legend Victor Matfield has compared Ireland's Joe McCarthy to former team-mate great Bucky's Botha after his starring role in the Six Nations.
Botha and Matfield played together for years, forming one of the great locking partnerships in the history of the sport.
Matfield was a lineout expert whose extensive skill set allowed him to excel in a wide range of channels, while Botha was an enforcer.
set the tone
He never took a step back and often set the physical tone for the Springboks, making him a true legend of South African rugby.
Although it sometimes led to disciplinary problems, his influence on the Boks cannot be understated, which is why the comparison was quite a compliment to McCarthy.
The 23-year-old has always been highly rated, but his rise to the top has been sudden given he was not a regular starter for Leinster last season.
He came into the limelight with his performance at the Rugby World Cup and has played an important role in the province ever since.
This saw him feature heavily in the Six Nations, starting all five games for Ireland as they won their second successive title.
In the opening game against France, McCarthy declared he had a special talent and Matfield admitted he was “very surprised” by the youngster's level.
“When I picked him over other experienced players, I wondered who this guy was, but he stepped up,” the Boks legend said.
“He did really well in the Six Nations. He's a great ball carrier and is always in your face.
“You'll have a guy in your pack and all the other packs will look at it and think, 'Oh, should I play against him or should I take a step back?'” Then you is really leading the way.
“It's always been that way with Bucky's Botha. It didn't matter where he went. When he arrived at the ruck, you always knew the other players were thinking that.”
south africa tour
McCarthy's next international challenge will come in July when Ireland play South Africa on a huge two-test tour.
The Springboks' current enforcer, Eben Ezebeth, has been widely regarded as the world's best lock over the past few years.
If both countries remain unscathed, there is a good chance that the two countries will compete for the number one spot in a major clash.
So there's a lot at stake for both teams in this series, and McCarthy could very well be key to Andy Farrell's side defeating South Africa.
“He's a very good player for Ireland. It's going to be very interesting to see him here in South Africa,” added Matfield. “He will be a valuable addition to the Irish group for a long time to come.”
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