Leinster coach Michael Cheika is priming Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy for his first taste of Celtic League action this season against Ulster on Saturday.
Gordon D’Arcy at Leinster training on Wednesday
Leinster coach Michael Cheika is priming Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy for his first taste of Celtic League action this season against Ulster on Saturday.
D’Arcy has been steadily working his way back to full fitness after general fatigue and a shoulder injury brought an abrupt end to his seven-cap Lions tour this past summer.
Now back and showing evidence of the sharpness which saw him named Six Nations Player of the tournament in 2004, the Wexford man has impressed new coach Cheika since his return to training.
“Gordon’s looking good. He’s moving fast and he’s confident,” admitted Cheika at Wednesday’s press conference.
“He doesn’t have the hallmarks of a player worried about injuries. He’s doing full contact.
“You can often tell from a player’s body language if he’s right, and he is, because he’s not holding back at all. I think he’s happy as well. He’s really flourished in pre-season.”
Celtic League leaders Ulster are well aware of D’Arcy’s talents – he scored a brace of tries in Leinster’s 31-9 defeat of them in 2001. Indeed, Ulster have not won at Donnybrook since 1999’s 26-15 victory in the Interprovincial Championship.
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