Gordon D'Arcy is named on the Irish team to face Scotland despite injury
GORDON D'ARCY'S frustration was evident as he departed the Croke Park surface early on Saturday last with a dead leg in the course of Ireland's convincing 27-12 win over Wales in the Six Nations.
However, his mood will have brightened at lunchtime yesterday (Tuesday) when he was named on an unchanged team for the last match of the series at the same venue next Saturday at 5 p.m.
The centre continues to recover from deep bruising to his leg, and a final decision on his fitness will be made on Friday after constant monitoring and treatment throughout the week.
While D'Arcy's departure last Saturday was a blow, the strength in depth of Declan Kidney's squad was clear as the returning Rob Kearney came into the fray and the Welsh challenge was overcome with relative ease.
Tomás O'Leary stepped up considerably on displays to date and crowned a sparkling scrum-half showing with a try, while his Munster colleague, Keith Earls, brought the 81,000-plus crowd to its feet twice with a brace of five-pointers.
Ireland will be strongly fancied to win another Triple Crown on Saturday when the Scots come to town, although Andy Robinson's side will be on a high after holding England to a 15-15 draw in a drab Calcutta Cup tie last weekend.
His huge fan base in Wexford will be hoping that Gordon D'Arcy will be at full fitness and able to play a full part in proceedings but, whatever happens, he can rest assured that his efforts to date have been appreciated and admired in equal measure.
- ALAN AHERNE In Croke Park
