D'Arcy up for a bit of bullying

Rugby:Gordon D'Arcy has warned South Africa that Ireland will be doing the bullying at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday as Declan Kidney's side look to avoid a fourth successive Test defeat in the opening fixture of their gruelling four-match autumn schedule.

South Africa are famed for their muscular approach but D'Arcy, who will be winning his 50th cap, insists Ireland will not be cowed.

"We're not really looking at them as the world champions," he said. "We are looking at them as South Africa. A physical, physical, physical team.

"Not as the world champions, but as a massive team that are coming to bully you in your own back yard. There's a bit of an adjustment in your mentality. You know you are meeting fire with fire.

"The only way to face these guys is to stand toe to toe with them. If there is any bullying to be done, we will do it."

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll has stated that his perennial centre partner will lead the team out on Saturday, but D'Arcy is keen to avoid the limelight.

"It's just a number. You can be sure I won't be leading the team out," he said. "I suppose now I'm just happy playing rugby. I was probably more comfortable with the attention a few years ago.

"It makes me very, very uncomfortable now. I've nothing new to say. There are a lot of lads on the team closing in on the hundred cap mark, which is probably much more of an achievement.

"I've been around the same amount of time as them and have half the number of caps."

D'Arcy admits that having played alongside O'Driscoll for most of his professional career, the pair have developed a superb understanding.

"I know the guy inside out," said the 30-year-old Leinster and Lions back. "It's probably the one partnership where the level of communication is lower than in most cases because we read body language.

"We trust each other implicitly. He knows if he comes out I'll swing in behind and vice versa. He knows if I'm going to hit him with a pass or not. After 12 years you'd hope that's the case.

"When we started playing he was at 13 and I was on the wing. We were always playing besides each other. We've always tried to push things, too. We have tried to up the ante."