GORDON D’ARCY MADE his Leinster debut on the right wing and scored his first try, against Connacht, as a fullback.

He enjoyed the scoring sensation against Connacht back on that late October day back in 1999 that he added another try for good measure.

The left wing was his home for the next three seasons as Shane Horgan partnered Brian O’Driscoll in the centre. If Horgan was missing, Leinster often called on the Australian centre Adam Margo.

It was not until he was drafted in, against France, as outside centre cover for the injured O’Driscoll in the 2004 Six Nations that D’Arcy played 12.

The daring and tenacity he displayed during that Six campaign, when Ireland finished second, saw him win the player of the tournament award.

He alternated between the centre positions before Eddie O’Sullivan handed him the 12 jersey and made the Wexford native a focal point of the team and the perfect foil for the marauding O’Driscoll.

D’Arcy started at inside centre for Leinster in October 2004 against Treviso and has rarely shifted from the role and responsibilities.

Space man

What D’Arcy brings to the backline in terms of defence and passing vision, he no longer contributes on the scoresheet.

He has scored two tries in 43 games for Leinster over the past three seasons and has crossed the line just seven times in 72 Ireland appearances.

A recent stats-based article on ESPN Scrum surmised that centres score once every 5.4 games. D’Arcy goes against the grain here but he enjoys an assist and teed up Jonathan Sexton [Ireland v Argentina] and Fergus McFadden [Leinster v Zebre] in recent weeks.

Sexton is in no doubt that D’Arcy can trouble Clermont Auvergne from an unfamiliar role this afternoon.

“He likes the space and it opens up a bit more for him out there so hopefully we’ll get the benefits,” he said.

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt believes D’Arcy has similar qualities to O’Driscoll, who will not return to the side until next January. He told TheScore.ie:

They’ve both got good speed, agility so it allows them to make late decisions coming in to tackle and to readjust if there is something that is slightly awry.

“I’ve seen him do a really good job for us a number of times in big games. I’d expect no different this time.”

The other man

Weighing in at 13 and a half stone is Andrew Goodman, for all intents and purposes at the Stade Marcel Michelin, the new Gordon D’Arcy.

The 30-year-old’s Heineken Cup debut certainly enlivens a CV that boasts a stint with Honda Heat in Japan and captaining Tasman Makos in his native New Zealand.

Andrew Goodman: A whirlwind season, from Trafalgar Park in Nelson to Clermont-Ferrand, continues today. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

Schmidt seems intent to test Goodman’s mettle in Europe, evidenced by his three full outings since a Pro12 debut against Ospreys in early November.

“He’s played a couple of times for us but it’s his Heineken Cup debut and I know he’s pretty excited about it,” said Schmidt.

It’s a bit daunting; obviously Wesley Fofana has been in great form. It’s not that often that there are direct match-ups but if he is not up against Fofana, it will be Rougerie.

“Either way it is a fairly big ask for him but we’re confident that he can do the job.”

Goodman may not be at Leinster for a long time but he can make it a good time by shutting down Fofana.

As for D’Arcy, he has experience of winning at Stade Marcel Michelin.

He scored a try in a 23-20 Heineken Cup win back in 2002 playing at outside centre.

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