‘I won’t get stung on a one-on-one ever again’

GORDON D’ARCY has vowed he won’t be beaten in a one-on-one defensive scenario for the remainder of his rugby career, as he consigns the painful memories of the French defeat to the past.

D’Arcy was blasted away by Aurelien Rougerie when Ireland last lined out at the Aviva Stadium, and yesterday he declared there will be no repeat when he goes head to head with England’s midfield giant Matt Banahan in this evening’s Grand Slam decider.

He admitted: “I got stung with Rougerie a few weeks back. I’ll play rugby for I don’t know how many years and I won’t get stung on a one-on-one like that ever again, no matter how big or small the guy is.”