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Taking on is 'extra special' - McCarthy

Joe McCarthyGetty Images

Ireland are three points ahead of going into Saturday's game in Dublin

Ireland lock Joe McCarthy says taking on brings a "big game feeling" as the pair prepare for their latest Six Nations meeting on Saturday afternoon (14:15 GMT).

The sides have finished in the top two spots of the table in each of the past three seasons and are once again vying for the title this year as they meet in round four at the Aviva Stadium this weekend.

Ireland were crowned champions the past two years with the winners in 2022.

"Every week in the Six Nations is massive but this one, some games feel extra special," McCarthy said.

", how well they've been going, how strong on the side they are, there's that bit of extra big game feeling about this."

Ireland have won the past two meetings between the sides, with victorious in the three before that.

"We've looked a lot at 's strengths because I feel like you really have to respect them as a team," McCarthy added.

"They have a lot of threats across the board so you really have to get all over that."

McCarthy will start alongside Tadhg Beirne in Ireland's second row for the second game in succession after they previously paired together in the victory over Wales in Cardiff last time out.

The Leinster lock missed the first two games of the championship with concussion after an incident in training, ending the 23-year-old's streak of 11 consecutive starts.

"I took a bit of a head bang so I was sitting out for 12 days after that," he said.

"It didn't look great the next few days. My left eye looked like it got stung by a bee.

"I went into Shelbourne [Hotel] the day after and a fan was like, 'Can I get a photo with you">