GORDON D’ARCY AND Brian O’Driscoll started together in the Irish midfield for the 51st time at the weekend. Both players showed glimpses of undoubted talent but D’Arcy may not have done enough to stave off the claims for Luke Marshall to start against Australia.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt admitted after his side’s 40-9 victory over Samoa that D’Arcy was ‘out of sorts’ but was keen to point out the positive contributions the Wexford native made.
He told TheScore.ie, “With Gordon, I felt it was important that Paddy [Jackson] had experience inside and outside him, so it was a good match-up for us. A couple of times [Gordon] went to run and decided to pass. One time [when] he decided to run, he could have just given an early pass to the guy in space.
He looked a little bit out of sorts but, at the same time, if you have a pretty close look, defensively he did some good work . His ability to chop tackle and put guys on the ground is massively important to us, as is his ability to read off other players. He got a bad read early in the game, when they made their first line break, but from then on in he was really covering two options and doing it really effectively.”
D’Arcy did effect two turnovers during the match and wisely opted, on 46 minutes, to go left, to out-half Jackson rather than to the imploring Tommy Bowe on the right wing, after Rory Best had stolen ball at a Samoan ruck. It proved the correct move as Jackson spiralled a kick in behind the Samoan defence, O’Driscoll made a scoop pass cameo, and Sean O’Brien did the rest. He also drew in two Samoan backs before popping a pass to Fergus McFadden for his 71st minute try.
They were the attacking highlights but handling errors and indecision with ball in hand were a common thread and Marshall, who found form with Ulster last month, must be in contention for a starting role against Australia. The 22-year-old deputised for D’Arcy in last year’s Six Nations and was one of Ireland’s best players against Scotland and France before concussion ended his campaign.
Schmidt confessed last week it was “difficult” to leave Marshall out. Selecting an inside centre to face the Wallabies will be no easier this week.
