
Share
11th May 2017
01:35pm BST

McCarthy made his Ireland debut at 29 and he feels Itoje will be truly in his prime by the time the next Lions tour comes around. Right now though, there are very few flaws in his game.
The Leinster lock agrees with Ronan O'Gara, that Itoje is well on his way to becoming the world's best player. McCarthy continued:
"Maro will be untouchable in a few years but that's the same with Iain Henderson... I remember looking at them back in the Wolfhounds and Saxons game and thinking, 'There's two big stags going at it'. "They're two phenomenal specimens. I've mentioned their size and strength. They have a real physical presence and the scary thing is, they're only going to get bigger and stronger."With Itoje getting his head around lineout calls, there is the prospect of Warren Gatland pairing the two men up in his second row during the Lions tour. Imagine that - Henderson and Itoje going up against the All Blacks' Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick. Good God.
Explore more on these topics: