Interview Gordon D'Arcy: Gavin Cummiskeytalks to a player who has learned to blend attacking flair and defensive grit

"Yeah, I'm happy enough. I suppose coming from two seasons ago I had such bad injuries it's nice to be back on form. But form is dependent on the players around you as well. No one is a shining light on their own. I've got great players around me.

"Felipe (Contepomi), Brian (O'Driscoll) . . . the backline and the pack are all playing well at the moment. I'm very lucky I'm in a team that can give me that platform."

Don't believe Gordon D'Arcy's opening comments at the SuperValu "Kids in Action" launch at Croke Park yesterday (a short digression: rugby players at promotional events in GAA headquarters: get used to it. Negotiations for the IRFU and FAI to use the stadium in 2008 are already under way).

On leaving Clongowes Wood College in 1998 D'Arcy was already known as a devastating strike runner from fullback. His international debut followed 12 months later in the World Cup against Romania.

By his early 20s he had cemented an unwanted reputation for occasional brilliance as a winger who lacked the all round game required at international level. The selectors agreed by excluding him from the 2003 World Cup squad.

The evolution since has been noting short of remarkable. It started during the troubled one season reign of Gary Ella as Leinster head coach. Brian O'Driscoll was injured so Ella asked D'Arcy to fill in at 13. Suddenly his true position was discovered.

Eddie O'Sullivan agreed and the Wexford man responded by winning every individual accolade in 2004, including the Six Nations player of the season, as Ireland claimed the Triple Crown for the first time since 1985.

Unfortunately, there was only room for one number 13 on the Leinster and Ireland teams so D'Arcy, again, took up a vastly different job.

The thrilling line breaks dried up in the tighter inside centre corridor. What became more evident were the sacrifices he was willing to make, and his trademarks have become those leg-pumping drives over the gain line; the cut out passes to outside runners, his defensive solidity.

There was a brief moment of humour for Irish fans during the Lions tour two years ago when Stuart Barnes criticised Clive Woodward for introducing D'Arcy at fullback.

It has become plainly evident in recent weeks he has mastered the art of playing 12. Witness the subtle demolition of an, albeit, understrength Ospreys defence last Saturday evening.

"He makes life easy for you as an outside half and, if you give him the ball in space, defences often can't get near him, which is what happened against the Ospreys," said Contepomi.

The job at hand this Saturday, back in rickety old fortress Donnybrook, is to avenge the surprise defeat to Edinburgh last October. It was frustrating viewing as a late drop goal from Duncan Hodge meant a place in the quarter-final would have to be achieved the hard way.

"You have learn from your defeats every time and if you don't you are wasting your time. There has been a couple of crucial ones. That one and the Munster game in Thomond. They're games we have to learn to be smart in.

"We learned from the Munster semi-final last year. When we went down to Agen we got a little bit of daylight. We didn't try to go for another four tries. We actually closed the game out, which is something we have learned to do."

A bonus point on Saturday would wrap up qualification if Gloucester lose in Agen. Then comes the bridge Leinster stumble upon each season.

"The hunger is always there. We've had medium success in terms of silverware. We've had two Triple Crowns and one Celtic League but that's not really a huge amount to write home about. I think even watching the other boys (Munster) win has spurred us on even more. You know, if they can do it, we can do it. We are competing at the highest level. I think we just need to find that two or three per cent to push us into the final and then on to winning.

"Individuals have all taken responsibility to get themselves into better shape and to be as good as they can be. The work ethic in Leinster is second to none."

We finish with a question about the surroundings. When D'Arcy comes to Croke Park for Wexford games he wears the jersey Matty Forde gave him. A purple and gold bandana too.

Looking forward to the French arrival on February 11th?

"One of the reasons Irish rugby is doing quite well is because we've learned not to look too far ahead. It's all about the job at hand. I know that's not the answer you really want but we haven't thought about it. We haven't talked about squad selections.

"I haven't even spoken to Eddie (O'Sullivan) this year yet. He is letting us do our job and our job is the two Heineken Cup (games). We are looking forward to playing here.

"The Leinster guys were lucky enough to be part of history - the last match in Lansdowne Road and a couple of us were lucky enough with the last international, against the Pacific Islands. I would love to be part of history here. We want to continue on the fine tradition that is here.

"I've been here when the Hill has been full for Dublin matches. It's something else. It gives you a little tingle when you are sitting in the stands so I can only imagine what it is like for the players on the pitch."

He can tell us soon.