D'Arcy determined to rediscover form

Gordon D’Arcy is ready to spearhead Ireland’s last-ditch effort to reach the World Cup quarter-finals by rediscovering the dazzling skills that have deserted him.

Ireland are teetering on the brink of an embarrassing group exit from the tournament with Sunday’s Pool D finale against Argentina settling their fate.

To progress they require a bonus-point victory at the Parc des Princes and must defeat the Pumas by more than seven points.

Given their desperate form so far, there is no evidence to suggest they will be the first team in the World Cup to breach Argentina’s try line – and do it four times.

Several of Ireland’s big guns have been noticeably off-key, D’Arcy among them, and the 27-year-old knows it is time to deliver.

“I’m not making clean breaks. I’m not getting the yards that I normally do,” he said.

“It just doesn’t seem to be clicking for me or us at the moment. I need to really pull one out of the bag this weekend.

“It’s very frustrating. It’s frustrating for everybody. A lot of people aren’t happy with how they played against France.

“The excuses are running out and, more importantly, time is running out as well. I don’t feel under any extra pressure.

“Making line-breaks is part of my job and it’s usually what I am very good at so I have to get back to basics.”

Argentina, fired up by the grievance of their shoddy treatment by the international game, have looked formidable opponents since upsetting hosts France on the opening day.

Well-drilled, typically robust up front and with plenty of flair behind their granite scrum, they look likely semi-finalists – if they finish top of Pool D.

It would be a major challenge for Ireland just to triumph on Sunday, but to score four tries in the process looks mission impossible. D’Arcy is refusing to concede defeat, however.

“When we have the ball we have to do everything right with it. Eddie O’Sullivan (coach) has told us we must play the game of our lives,” he said.

“If we play the game of our lives, it doesn’t matter who is out there in front of us. We will win.

“The Argentinian defence hasn’t really changed, it has always been good.

“In previous years what they have probably lacked is being a little more clinical in attack but they have that now.

“Juan Martin Hernandez coming in at number 10 has brought another dimension to their game. They are just very, very aggressive.

“They have a lot of line speed and come up in your face very quickly. With that, if you make a bust you can get in behind them very quickly.

“Once you get in behind them you have to be clinical with the passes because they scramble in behind very quickly as well.

“It’s going to be difficult enough having to beat Argentina without having the added pressure of needing to score four tries.

“The first thing is to win the match. One of the boys put it pretty well yesterday – we are going to get two scoring opportunities in each half and we have to take them.”

D’Arcy will be locking horns with his gifted but erratic Leinster colleague Felipe Contepomi, who will start at inside centre for Argentina

“Felipe Contepomi is one of the Pumas’ three massive players, along with Hernandez and Agustin Pichot,” he said.

“Pretty much any game he plays in he either has something good or something bad to do with it, so let’s hope it’s the latter one.”

D’Arcy has given his backing to under-fire coach O’Sullivan, who has been shortened to 11-4 to lose his job at the end of the World Cup.

“We’re all behind Eddie. As far as we are concerned, every decision he has taken has been the right one,” he said.