THE RUGBY SEASON is four games old, but Gordon D’Arcy’s first start of the campaign came on Friday night with the number 13 jersey on his back.
That number, of course, is famously associated with his long-term midfield partner Brian O’Driscoll. The retirement of Ireland’s record try-scorer was always going to pose a conundrum for the coach of Leinster and Ireland, but while D’Arcy is happy to fill in at outside centre. He is by no means willing to publicly stake a claim to the role.
Instead, he is intent on shouldering the burden with the entire squad. If it’s good enough for the Reds, it’s good enough for the blues after all:
“We’re not trying to replace the irreplaceable,” D’Arcy says of his old partner in crime, “It’s probably what Brendan Rodgers was talking about when they lost Suarez. You don’t try and replace him you just try and build up in the accumulation through the squad.
“That’s what we’ll do. Ferg [McFadden] played 13 in the second half, we’re going to have Lukey [Fitzgerald] back at some stage, he’ll get a run there. Brendan [Macken], myself, Noel [Reid], Ben Te’o’s coming in… so everyone will chip in and do their part. We’ll hopefully make up for him in the stats over the season – if that’s possible.”
It’s an accumulation of marginal gains. A mindset that is held dear by an increasing number of sports organisation after the phrase was coined by Dave Brailsford of British Cycling and Team Sky.
If it’s a mantra D’Arcy uses personally, however, he’s keeping the tactic close to his chest. A polite but conversation-ending “no” was his simple response when asked if the decision to remove his beard for the second time this year was down to some sort of aerodynamic advantage.
Back to that 13 jersey so, and as Matt O’Connor looks for a slight change of tack in the post-BOD era, D’Arcy is happy to fill it whenever the situation demands.
“Matt’s talked about the different attributes that Ian [Madigan] and Noel Reid would give that are a little different to myself - It is nice playing outside someone like that because they tend to put you through holes and make your carries a little bit easier.
“It’s happy days playing 13, 12, whatever it is. I’ve had good conversations with Matt and Joe [Schmidt] and they’ve said Matt’s going to do a bit of chopping around depending on who’s available, who’s not available and who we’re playing.
“I fully understand the game and the transition between playing 12 and 13 is not that big for me in the context for me and the gameplan and things like that. As a starter, that’s the only time you’re at 12 or 13, the rest of the time you’re in kind of fluid movement.”
He added: “I’ve no experience really in the position – I’ve no preference. I’m just happy to play and I want to play.
“Wherever that is, I’m happy enough.”
