In a largely youthful Irish back line on Saturday, it wasn't difficult to spot the guy who had done it all before, plenty of times over. The average age of the backs that started the game against Argentina was just over 25 with a certain 32 year old centre somewhat increasing that average.
In the absence of the experienced Brian O'Driscoll calling the shots, the role that his Leinster team mate, Gordon D'arcy played was pivotal in Ireland's fluidity on Saturday. With the youthful exuberance of the likes of Zebo and Gilroy grabbing all the head lines, D'arcy is happy to go about his business under the radar but admits the lure to get involved with the younger guys is always there. "I like to get in among these lads. That youthful enthusiasm of just wanting to attack is very infectious and I thought I got a little bit of that myself today."
When asked after the game on Saturday whether he enjoys the extra responsibility that comes with being the senior member of the back line, D'arcy was more than willing to take on the mantle. The two times Lions tourist who was winning his seventy first cap for his country is well aware of his role in the side. "I suppose the onus comes on you to make the smart decisions at the right time and maybe when things get a bit loose you shore them up. You think about that kind of stuff a little bit more when you've been around the block a bit. At moments when the game is starting to loosing up, you don't need to go for that seventy yard pass - keeping it in with your forwards and keeping that momentum going forward is very important."
D'arcy was adamant that the November tests had been a worthwhile exercise and that Ireland will head into the 2013 Six Nations campaign with that little bit more experience and know how against the bigger nations. "We talked a lot in the last four weeks about what we're trying to do and how were going to build the template for this attacking platform. But that only goes so far. We saw flashes of it in the Argentina game and we can say that for sixty minutes against probably a little bit disinterested Fiji team. This was another step along the way. Not a complete performance but the foundations were laid against South Africa, solidified against Fiji and definitely built on again today. We still have a bit to do before we're ready to compete in the Six Nations."
Although he was reluctant to go as far as saying that this was the dawning of new Irish rugby era, D'arcy stated that the fierce competition for places was only going to get tougher and that each player was well aware of that. "When you look at the guys that did very well last week, that didn't even feature in today's squad. You've just got to look at Paddy Jackson and Luke Marshall for that. There's plenty of strength in depth there and I think there will be plenty of competition for places."
The Wexford native was particularly happy at the rootless streak that Ireland showed against what admittedly a disappointing Argentinean side. "I think if we had sat back and tried to defend, Argentina have the quality right across their team that would have made us pay. It was a good sign of respect from the Irish team that we kept coming back and looking for more tries and that we were able to deliver them as well."
D'arcy may have avoided branding this a new Irish era and perhaps it is too early to go that far. But what is clear is that there are plenty of guys who have played their way into contention for starting roles in the Six Nations. Much has been made of Declan Kidney's selections over recent times but the balance in which he struck up in Saturday's game should be applauded. As D'arcy himself said, these are only the foundations that have been laid for the future. A future which now looks a good deal brighter than it did four weeks ago.
