D’Arcy backs his case for Irish selection

GORDON D’ARCY will have caught Ireland coach Declan Kidney’s eye as defending champions Leinster kept the heat on Magners League table-toppers Munster.

D’Arcy is in line to replace fellow centre Paddy Wallace for the Six Nations clash against England on Saturday after the Ulster man sustained a nasty eye injury in the win over Italy.

D’Arcy impressed as his province who kept up their bid for back-to- back Magners League titles with a clinical victory at the Scarlets.

And the 29-year-old has been backed to shine in the Croke Park clash. Leinster coach Michael Cheika said: “Gordon is keen as mustard and ready to go. He’s back and has plenty of energy and verve and is so excited about playing again, it’s hard to keep him down. He put his best foot forward to try and reclaim the number 12 jersey for Ireland and we want as many of our players to be in that team. Wallace is playing well but hopefully Gordon’s performance will be enough for him to get selected for the next match.”

Leinster lie just three points behind Munster in the domestic title race following their win at Parc y Scarlets.

Cheika’s men had failed to score a single try in the last six weeks but they put that right following first-half touchdowns from wing Isa Nacewa and flanker Cameron Jowitt. Skipper Shane Jennings and 16 points from the boot of Felipe Contepomi sealed victory after the break and dented the Scarlets‘ own title ambitions.

Cheika said: “Everyone was saying we hadn’t scored a try for a while and we were starting to think we wouldn’t score a try again. But we knew that if we just concentrated on our mental approach, we’d be okay.

“We were hungry to win but also maintained the technique, style and shape of the team. We would have liked to have got the fourth try because we haven’t got a lot of bonus points this year but we can’t be greedy. I’m just so happy to win.”

Former Ireland and Scarlets skipper Simon Easterby said: “It’s a massive blow to our hopes.”

Scorers for Scarlets: Tries: Roberts, Manu; Con: Priestland (2); Pen: Priestland.

Scorers for Leinster: Tries: Nacewa, Jowitt, Jennings; Cons: Contepomi (2); Pens: Contepomi (4).

SCARLETS: M Stoddart; D Daniel, R King (G Evans 19), J Davies, M Jacobs; R Priestland, M Roberts; I Thomas (P John 56), K Owens (M Schwalger 57), D Manu; L Reed, D Day (J Turnbull 48); V Cooper, D Lyons, S Easterby (capt).

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, F McFadden (J Sexton 50), G D’Arcy, I Nacewa; F Contepomi, P O’Donohoe (S Keogh 60); C Healy, B Blaney (B Jackman 41), S Wright (R McCormack 72); T Hogan (D Toner 59), M O’Kelly; C Jowitt (G Brown 71), S Jennings (captain – S Keogh 79), R Elsom.

Referee: A MacPherson (SRU).