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No fear: little unknown territory remains for D'Arcy

We sat down with the Leinster and Ireland centre and talked about his one outstanding goal, the rugby year ahead and, yes, replacing Brian O’Driscoll.

FOR A MAN who has won 63 caps for his country and 195 for his province, four triple crowns, two Heineken Cups and one Grand Slam; the terrain ahead can only hold a limited number of surprises.

So, when Gordon D’Arcy admits no trepidation as he looks ahead at Ireland’s spring fixture list, you’re inclined to believe him.

There are minefields at every turn: his captain and midfield partner is missing, as reigning European champions, everyone has inflated expectations of Leinster. For Ireland, expectations are never low any more. The discontent which followed the World Cup exit has only festered and this year, being an even number, he will be taking his country into two of the tougher venues Europe has to offer.

This road, though, has been tread several times before and D’Arcy doesn’t bat an eyelid no matter what the hurdle, least of all the biennial trips to London and Paris.

“Twickenham holds no fear for me, I’ve never lost there so…” surrounded by microphones, he trails off for fear of blowing his own trumpet at that handy little stat which would be the envy of each and every one of his English counterparts. A bit of trivia that becomes particularly prescient in a Heineken Cup year that could see Leinster visit Twickenham twice more if they are to retain their crown.

The Stade de France is a different kettle of fish. D’Arcy has never won on French soil and, on his next attempt, he will have turned 32. While he cites it as his favourite ground to play at, he is desperate to finally turn good performances into a meaningful victory.

“I’ve always played well there, something about it just brings out the best in me. If I’m lucky enough to play there again I’m sure I’ll do the same again but I really really want to get a win in France. Bar the world cup it’s one of those things that has eluded me. It’s a really selfish, personal goal but I think it’s one that could help Ireland. If we got a win there it could be something great.”

Ireland have an awkward habit of spectacular implosion when it comes to Paris, It is now 12 years since a young tyro in a loose fitting number 13 jersey ran riot there, touching down a hat-trick of tries in a breathless 25-27 win.

Indeed Brian O’Driscoll was still capable of shredding defences before undergoing surgery on his shoulder last year. Any player in the world would miss him, how about his centre partner since 2004?

“Well maybe, we’ll have him back for the knockout stages, so maybe that won’t be an issue,” said D’Arcy with the mischievous grin of a man who knows the answer. The shadow of BOD hung over the unanswered question as his old mucker filled the space with talk of strength in depth before finally having to give the great man a mention:

“Anybody who said they don’t or didn’t enjoy playing with him (O’Driscoll) would be telling a bit of a porky-pie. Brian’s a fantastic player, but he’s not here and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

In saying this last sentence D’Arcy had the air of a man who had lectured on this subject before. Within the confines of an RDS dressing room or weekday training at UCD, the voice may have been raised high but the steely determined look in his eye would have remained consistent.

Bromance

“It would be remiss of me to say that I miss him” said the Wexford native, keen to draw a line under the O’Driscoll matter,  ”because he’s going to be back, we all know he’s going to be back, but I look forward to playing with whoever is in the 13 jersey. They have the responsibility so if they are looking at me thinking, ‘ah you wish I was the other fella don’t you?’ It’s not fair on them either.”

D’Arcy had tried to delicately side-step the word ‘miss’, experience tells him that the dressing room simply wouldn’t let him live down such a public proclamation of bromance. Alongside O’Driscoll perception of him can often get stuck in a time-warp and we forget that he too is wily old campaigner.

Leinster coach, Joe Schmidt, cited the nous of his centre as one of the chief reasons he felt no nerves about putting Ian Madigan in the pivot position in a pivotal game. Over the next five games for Ireland D’Arcy must coach a new midfield partner through the minefields, but yet again, he’s done it all before with Eoin O’Malley and Fergus McFadden. Young stars of Leinster who D’Arcy says ‘have grown’ whilst wearing the number 13 jersey where previous incumbents wilted under the expectation.

“There’s little to be gained by focusing on someone who is not there.” He chips in, disguising a little bit of frustration about BOD’s continuing presence as the subject matter. However, with a record 47 appearances together, they will always be inextricably linked.  D’Arcy would never claim to lead the team as O’Driscoll might, but that is not going to keep him awake at night, once a Clongowes boy, he is now a man confident enough to simply lead by example and guide others through, quietly, but assuredly.

“I just get on with my job and if I feel something needs to be said then I’ll say it, but for me it’s about the way I play the game and the standards I set on and off the field. As long as I feel I’m living up to my high standards and Joe (Schmidt) feels I’m living up to his standards I think that’s the best way I can lead players around me.”

Not a bad approach. After all, he’s been there and done it all before.

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Gordon D’Arcy was speaking as brand ambassador for Puma.