As the Pro12 season kicks into gear and the immediacy of freezing cold Friday matches across Ireland, Britain and Italy draws closer, we sat down with former Leinster and Ireland No 12 Gordon D’Arcy to cast an eye over the comings and goings in the rugby world over the last number of weeks.
Probably the biggest talking point at the start of the new season has been the appointment of Stuart Lancaster as Leinster defence coach. D’Arcy played in the Ireland setup against Lancaster’s England three times between 2012-2014, and as such has a deeper understanding than most of what the coach brings to a setup. Wexford man D'Arcy feels that the former Leeds Carnegie director of rugby is going to bring a huge amount to the Leinster setup, saying: “I think the best way of looking at it is if you take away the World Cup, which was the last 5-10% of his tenure, he was an incredibly successful coach and the most successful England coach since Clive Woodward.
“So, again taking away that last period of time, I’d say he brings an awful lot to the table. He’s coached at international level. He’s coached – behind the All Blacks – probably the most scrutinised job in world rugby. He’s coached at that level and proved incredible ability to do it. And he’s shown great strength of character to come in and work under a very young head coach. And that same compliment goes to Leo [Cullen] that he’s happy to bring in an international coach to work as a senior coach under him.”
The major shift for Lancaster, outside of switching from international rugby to club rugby, is that he fills the role of defence coach now as opposed to head coach. However, D’Arcy feels this shouldn’t be a problem whatsoever.
“I don’t think it will be a problem and I don’t think he’ll be completely pigeon-holed in that as well,” said D’Arcy. “I’d say he’s bringing in a wealth of coaching experience. I’d say he’s helping Girvan Dempsey with the backs and probably helping with the attack plan as well – a bit of everything. He doesn’t just bring defensive coaching. He was head coach of England for four years, so I think he’ll be developing a lot of facets to the game.”
Leinster’s start to the season
In terms of Leinster’s overall start to the season - a win over Treviso and a loss to Glasgow - it’s been a mixed bag from the Pro12 2016 runners-up, but D’Arcy is largely happy with what he’s seen.
“The usual restrictions apply with Leinster. Given the players they’ve had unavailable for the first two friendly season games, and two Pro12 games, I think they’re doing well with the resources that they have available to them,” said D’Arcy. “Again you see this time and time again. One of the things Leinster do is they produce young talent. You see Ross Molony, James Tracy and Josh van der Flier getting back in. “Dan Leavy getting exposure to high-quality games – this is what they have. But this comes at a cost because Leinster had a strong game against Glasgow and came away with no points.”
It’s that lack of front-liners and a therefore lack of experience that D’Arcy feels cost his former team against Glasgow.
“Because maybe a little bit of naivety in a forward pack of young guys. Leinster left without any points in that game,” said D’Arcy.
“We’ve got a few heavier guys, big lumps, back this weekend. I’d be pretty happy with the start that Leinster have done.
“Probably that clinical aspect of having a lead and that game management side of things needs improvement.
“They were ahead by, I think it was eight points, at one stage and they ended up not getting any points.
"At that 50-60 minute mark you probably needed that old head saying, ‘We’re gonna play a bit of territory. We’re gonna put these guy under a bit of pressure, we’re gonna play in the right areas of the field, and just play a bit of tactics.’
“Everything I saw was encouraging. I saw ball in hand, I saw ingenuity. A lovely pick and go from Van der Flier. I’m always a big fan of forwards playing a bit of pick and go and a lovely bit of handling. And there was a lovely crossfield kick for the try. But I think there was just a lack of real decisive mentality to play their own tempo.”
Ringrose and Carberry
Leinster’s production line of talent looks as good as ever going forward and two names that are hot on many tongues are Garry Ringrose and Joey Carberry. Time will tell exactly how much they bring to the table but D’Arcy feels they have plenty of early promise.
“I’m really impressed by both of them. Garry has always been very hungry to get better,” said D’Arcy “It’s always a lovely trait to see in a guy, when I was in there he was always asking questions. Always trying to get better and trying to become a better footballer. Trying to be diligent. All the things you want to see. He had a great breakthrough season last season.
“[It's] really encouraging to see his games so far this year. He’s had a couple of big physical hits and you can see he can mix it with that. The second season is always a little bit harder as people are more aware of you.
“People will try and mark him, so, the onus is on him to try and get better and not overplay his hand, and to do the simple things well and then when it opens up to make a decision.
“Joey likes to play flat at the line. I always loved playing with an out-half who likes to take the ball moving, but it’s a lot easier to get your timing off.
"I think you could see that when Jordi Murphy went through on one of the breaks at the weekend. Carberry took the ball nice and flat and was moving and Jordi was able to get his timing spot on. Joey has all the elements. He can kick, he can tackle, he can pass, he has all the gifts, good decision-making, calm under pressure. Just needs to get that little bit of tactical nuances in games.”
The future of the Ireland No 13 jersey
Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw, now both Leinster players, have been the two names touted as the natural successor to Brian O’Driscoll in the Ireland 13 jersey. When pressed on who he feels is the likely candidate to fill the crucial slot, D’Arcy felt at this stage there was no front-runner, saying: “It’s far too early to tell. You’d like to say there is a cut and dry centre partnership, and this is the way it’s going to translate, but whether it’s going to be like that is debatable. Bundee Aki comes into the equation at the end of this season. Resources are going to dictate things. Some times you might just need to get your best players on the pitch. That means that Ringrose might have to play on the wing.
“They’re still very, very young kids. I think Henshaw is going to be very important for Leinster. But who is the immediate 13 is not going to be decided by the end of the season. By the calendar season of 2017 you’d like to see a 13 bedded in there.
“Garry has played on the wing. He’s played at 13. Robbie has to come back in. Robbie has to play in. He won’t play a lot of rugby until closer to November and December, so Garry is going to get a lot of rugby, which is positive. It’s a great selection headache for a coach.”
Becoming a rugby writer
Since D’Arcy’s retirement he has begun a new career in finance full-time, but has also become one of the most engaging rugby writers around through his column for The Irish Times. Leaving the game behind is not something he regrets, and a love of passing on his knowledge of the oval ball, as well as reading, means that the writer’s life is one that he’s relishing.
“[I was] very glad to be finished with it [rugby]. Seventeen years and getting towards the end of my career. It was a real, real struggle to be at that high level,” said D’Arcy. “Physically it was a struggle.
“Mentally I always knew I’d be in a place where my body would get me there. Physically it was getting harder and harder to play rugby. So, when I had a phone call with Joe after the Scottish game [in the 2015 World Cup warm-ups] I knew that was it.
“I had a few offers from France and England but I was done. The column largely indulges me because I love looking at the games. I love trying to see something that someone else hasn’t seen, or, if I have seen something, can I explain it in a way to make people understand the way I see it. You see a screenshot and seven or eight things have happened previous to bring you to that point. So, it’s trying to sift through all that.
“I do a lot of reading and just get an idea for a column. I’m trying not to be diagnosing decisions and people. It’s more trying to be a little bit unbiased. Because I remember the other side when people are critical of you and trying not to be critical of people.
“I’ve been watching videos of rugby for 17 years. I’ve had loads of different coaches. I’ve played with some of the best players in the world. I watch it and a lot of it is subconscious.
“I read a lot of sports books and [books on] people in business. There are a lot of similarities between sports and business. A lot of people who have done well in sport go on to business. How they made that transition and their thoughts on sports.”
For those that love that analytical nature of D’Arcy’s column it will come as no surprise when he says the last two books he read were Start With Why by Simon Sinek and Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed. Add them to your reading list.
Gordon D'Arcy was speaking to Balls.ie as an ambassador for the National Ploughing Championships where he will take to the stage for live Q&A sessions at the eir Pavilion site.
