JACKSON COLUMN: Don't write off the influential D'Arcy

While one half of the world's longest-running international midfield partnership comes to terms with life after rugby as an ex-player, the other will be reporting for pre-season training in due course as per normal.

Just like you-know-who, Gordon D'Arcy made his Ireland debut in the final months of the last century, a fact which makes his enduring capacity to defy the remorseless test of time something to behold.

Brian O'Driscoll may have ridden off into the sunset but there is still no end in sight for his perennial side-kick, one year his junior at 34.

For that, legions of Leinster fans will be truly thankful at the end of a season which reaffirmed their status as the most worthy of RaboDirect PRO12 champions on top of their younger players' success in winning the British and Irish Cup.

Next season will be D'Arcy's 16th and while fate decreed that O'Driscoll sat out all but the first eight minutes of his last match nursing a calf strain, Leinster's other venerable Lion responded to the inconvenience with a reminder that his match-winning ability has not been diluted by the passing years.

As the holders brought the RaboDirect PRO12 Final to a suitably thrilling climax with the RDS packed to the rafters, D'Arcy made the third try for Zane Kirchner and then scored the fourth one himself. It was some response to the midfield re-organisation prompted by the No. 13's unfortunately early exit.

D'Arcy shifted one position further out, effectively stepping into O'Driscoll's shoes at outside centre with Ian Madigan coming off the bench into the midfield breach. Between them, they did their bit to ensure that Leinster produced a performance worthy of the occasion.

The width of the winning margin, an unprecedented 22 points, may have been very hard on the Glasgow Warriors who can take some consolation from the fact that this was a Final on a grand scale - an exhilarating occasion which added up to a high-octane demonstration of the PRO12 at its best.

Like true champions, Leinster had saved their best for last, almost as if they felt morally obliged to ensure as stylish a send-off as possible not only for the world's most-capped player but for the only player to have captained his province to three winning European Cup finals, Leo Cullen.

On such a landmark, 'I-was-there' occasion, the emotion dripping from almost every pore of the RDS went into overflow with O'Driscoll limping from the stage for the last time. During that one last standing ovation, Leinster's innate professionalism guaranteed them immunity from being the least bit affected.

"We had to be ruthless about it," said captain Jamie Heaslip. "We always emphasise the importance of guys coming off the bench, how they have to be ready to play any sort of role at a moment's notice.

"We couldn't afford to linger on the moment or be emotional. We had to make sure that Brian's last game and Leo's last game would not be in vain. Leo made a massive impact when he came on and of course he'll be with us in a coaching role again next season.

"Brian emptied his locker the day before the match. It was one those milestone moments when you said to yourself: 'Wow!' He's transcended rugby. What other rugby player gets a mention from President Obama?"

He, of course, had spoken during a White House reception to mark St Patrick's Day of 'the legendary Brian O'Driscoll playing his last match for Ireland in Paris.' Bill Clinton, a second row during his time at Oxford University, could perhaps have given Obama a little in-house enlightenment on how the outside centre's role differs from the inside centre's.

While the President would doubtless have been informed of the triumphant result, on this occasion he would have been excused for being too pre-occupied with global affairs. The Final coincided with his departure for Europe and the annual G8 summit, relocated to Brussels because of the Ukraine crisis.

Leinster, too, will have Europe on their minds soon enough and what has to be done if they are to translate their Celtic rule into knocking Toulon off what used to be their pedestal.

Irrespective of how they cater for life after O'Driscoll, D'Arcy will still be a major factor in how they fare as one of only three seeded teams in the European Rugby Champions' Cup.

Northampton, the only team to beat Leinster in Dublin all season, and Toulon are the others as respective club champions of England and France.

Without him for all but the first eight minutes on a perfect summer's evening, the manner of Leinster's victory indicates that the blue sky will remain over the RDS post-O'Driscoll.

"They don't make them like Brian anymore," said head coach Matt O'Connor. "We've been privileged to have had him."

Since the creation of what was then the Celtic League in 2001, no team had succeeded in defending the title. In achieving that particular first, Leinster had to come from behind twice to see the Warriors off.

After losing Play-Offs at the RDS in the two previous seasons, Scotland's first finalists arrived to the roars from hundreds of fans drawn to Dublin in the realistic prospect of witnessing a piece of history.

The most critical 'if only' moment happened in the 56th minute after Josh Strauss and Jonny Gray had been pummelling the Leinster barricade. In darting for the line, substitute scrum half Niko Matawalu lost the ball and with it what proved to be the Warriors' last chance.

As skipper Ali Kellock put it: "If we'd had the right break at the right time, we could have gone on to win."

Instead of going into the final quarter ahead for the third time, they conceded two Jimmy Gopperth penalties in rapid succession before Leinster engulfed their opponents in a blaze of riotous running, most of it orchestrated by D'Arcy.

For all the severity of a costly lesson in the ruthless art of scoring tries, the Warriors have ample cause to be heartened by a season when they went further than they had ever gone before. Along the way they have won new friends by the score.

The battalions from Clydeside and beyond played their part as only real rugby crowds can, generating a passion which contributed hugely to what Gregor Townsend called 'a wonderful occasion. Now that we've been to a final, we have to handle it better next time.'

Having won more matches (18) over the course of the regular season than anyone else, they are entitled to believe that their time will come. For now, though, Leinster reign supreme…

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