Marvellous McCarthy showed the true fighting spirit of being a true British and Irish Lion

He delivered on all levels. From stealing lineouts, to being a nuisance around the breakdown area to even maintaining a high-level of intensity through the full 80 minutes. The 24-year-old set the standard and was head and shoulders above everybody else. 

It was no shock that the second row was awarded Player of the Match, as his heroics did not go unnoticed. 

Compared to his counterpart in the second-row, Scott Cummings, it was the perfect performance which has now put him in pole position to pair with tour captain, Maro Itoje for the first Test against Australia. Andy Farrell has his Test second-row partnership sorted, but ensuring they make it to July 19 must be a high priority. 

Speaking to Sky Sports, an ecstatic McCarthy said: 

Albeit against mediocre competition, it was expected that the Lions would be too strong against a spirited Western Force, who did keep Farrell’s men honest early in the encounter at Perth’s Optus Stadium. The Forces scrum-half and skipper, Nic White scored the only try of the encounter as the hosts were behind 21-7 at the interval. 

However, after a fiery halftime dressing down by Farrell, the Lions seemed to go up another gear for the final 40. The Lions were closing in on the half century after a fine second innings in Western Australia. McCarthy scored a very deserving try after 54 minutes. 

Mccarthy if he plays his cards right is on track to face the Wallabies. He is one of many players who’ll be using the matches against Australian provinces to make a statement. Leicester Tigers, Ollie Chessum will have an opportunity to stake his case against the Queensland Reds on Wednesday. Having come off the bench for Cummings against the Force on Saturday. 

As much as the second-row is complete for the first Test, Chessum and others have got the time to gain the recognition but he’ll need to do something extraordinary to pull McCarthy from leading the race. He’s set the standard and it’s hard to see anyone topping it.