He's not the freshest face in the camp but Joe McCarthy won’t be written off as an elder statesman just yet.
At 23 years of age, McCarthy is senior only to Sam Prendergast (21) from the full squad picked for the Autumn Nations Series, while training panellists Gus McCarthy (21) and Jack Boyle (22) also fit in that bracket.
Likely to earn a 13th cap against New Zealand on Friday, the Leinster lock is a firm favourite of head coach Andy Farrell.
He made his debut off the bench, aged 21, against Australia two years ago and won caps four and five during the World Cup, including an appearance off the bench as Ireland tried to fight back in the quarter-final against the All Blacks.
McCarthy, 6ft 6in and over 17stone, hasn’t been left out of a starting XV since, winning the player of the match nod in Ireland's brilliant away victory against France in February, and going the full 80 when Ireland pulled off a smash and grab against South Africa during the summer.
"I suppose there are younger and younger players coming in the whole time, but I'm still young enough," McCarthy said.
He may have gone under the radar somewhat before last season’s Six Nations but his impact since has meant he’s a marked man.
"I suppose every player feels like you always have to keep evolving your game," said the Manhattan-born second row.
"There's a quote: 'What gets you here won't get you there'.
"You're always trying to add simple things because the same things won't always work.
"Teams will scout you, what you're doing in the lineout, maybe if you're carrying well, you'll have a few more double shots, you notice that.
"You're always trying to add bits to your game, and little extra areas where you can add a difference."
"You see another guy in the team, with loads of world-class players who are great in all different aspects of the game. Trying to learn off them, always evolving."
McCarthy, a former student at Blackrock College, doesn’t take his place for granted and he’s vying with James Ryan, Ryan Baird and Tadhg Beirne, with the latter moved to flank for the 25-24 win over the Springboks in the second Test.
He’s working on his defence, "just getting shots in, trying to derail players, getting good entries", while it’s no harm rubbing shoulders with a certain double World Cup winner at Leinster.
"Everyone knows his game, his offloading an everything like that," said McCarthy of RG Snyman.
"He's awesome and a very smart rugby [player] and adds a lot around a lineout.
"He's not just a big brute, he's a very intelligent rugby player so he's had a lot of impact in lineout defence and attack groups. It's great to learn off him.
"The dark arts in South Africa, he's bringing it in and nuances like that. He's been great, and he's a bit of a gamechanger, and can make an opportunity from anything.
"He's exciting to play with."
McCarthy is one of a generation of Irish players who grew up experiencing Ireland-New Zealand fixtures without the sense of dread that older rugby fans remember too well.
He was just 15 when Ireland first beat the All Blacks in 2016 and the sides have shared four wins each over the subsequent eight meetings.
"We've had a good track record the last few years, we've earned the right to have a bit of confidence going into games," said the Dubliner, who lined out for an Ireland 'A’ selection against the Maori All Blacks in 2022.
"Every game starts on zero.
"I feel like every game, you have to make it happen.
"No matter what position you play, you're playing against 15 top quality rugby players, so you're preparing as hard as you can.
"There's nerves in big Test matches, but we're confident in what we can do, and definitely won't be taking the All Blacks lightly."
As for whether or not last October’s heartbreaking defeat in Paris still plays on the mind, he says: "You obviously do think back to it a bit.
"It was such a massive game and you want to put your best foot forward and make a bit of history with Ireland, but it is something that reminds you where you need to be at for those games.
"But the beast keeps rolling on in rugby, you keep going to the next thing and don't look too far back. It is something that plays on your mind, at that sort of level you have to be at your best in those big games or you won't come away with the win."
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