Opinion: Down but not out, save the Gordon D’Arcy tributes for now

82 not out, according to Rory Best.

What a shame it would be for Gordon D'Arcy's illustrious, industrious international career to end in an emailed circular from the IRFU. The 35-year-old was left out of the Ireland squad for the remaining two rounds of the 2015 Six Nations. Ireland team manager Mick Kearney, who has no hand in the squad's ins and outs, did not say the word about D'Arcy being dropped or rested. Rather, it was 'a selection issue'. Robbie Henshaw's man-of-the-match performance against Wales has soldered his hold on the Irish No.12 jersey. Ian Madigan should cover the midfield positions, from the bench, in the closing rounds and Darren Cave is the fall-back option. Speaking about his international teammate of 10 years, on Monday, Rory Best commented, 'He's had a few injury problems this year and whenever you’re not in the squad you want to get back playing well and at least build a case to put to the coaches. 'Knowing Gordon he’s probably been written off a few times in his career, but he’s got a great attitude, he’s a great player and if you see him playing back well for Leinster I don’t think Ireland have enough players to be turning people down that are playing well.' Having tussled for the starting hooker position with Jerry Flannery for six years, Best knows all about setbacks and time on the outside, looking in. D'Arcy has been on the Test scene every since 1998, when then-Ireland coach Warren Gatland wanted him to tour South Africa days after his Leaving Cert. Ultimately, he did not tour, but his Ireland debut came a year later when, as a 19-year-old, he featured in the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Back then, he was seen as a winger and someone that could fill in at outside centre. He found himself dropped for the early years of Eddie O'Sullivan's Irish reign but returned in stunning style, in 2004, as replacement for the injured Brian O'Driscoll. The Leinster duo finished that year's championship in midfield tandem. D'Arcy won player of the tournament. It was the beginning of an epic Test partnership.

Warrior at Rugby League Park

Injury, as it does in the career of every rugby player, struck in 2008 and left D'Arcy's career in serious doubt. He fractured his arm in three places and was out of the game for eight months.

He returned for the 2009 Six Nations and scored a try, off the bench, in the kick-starter win over France. The reactions and celebrations of his teammates, after that try, showed how well regarded he was in that Grand Slam-winning squad.

I had my own moments of doubt about D'Arcy in recent years but will never forget his awesome defensive display against the All Blacks, in the agonising Christchurch loss, in 2012. He had been dropped, for Keith Earls, ahead of the First Test at Eden Park. Declan Kidney was experimenting with O'Driscoll at 12 (but in the 13 jersey) and Earls outside him. Ireland were filleted by New Zealand and Earls found himself out of favour. D'Arcy came back in, with no grumbles or issues, and did a great job, at Rugby League Patrk, of neutralising Conrad Smith and Sonny Bill Williams. My respect for him soared after that game. The legs may be going, a last Test try was against Argentina in 2010, O'Driscoll is no longer around and Henshaw is in flying form. Still, it does not feel like the end for D'Arcy. Not quite yet.