The centre of attention at last

John O'Sullivan talks to a respected team player who is only nowgaining public acclamation, and finds him desperate to win all three'winter' tests

Long regarded as the broadsword to Brian O'Driscoll's rapier, Kevin Maggs's true value to the Ireland team, long appreciated by team-mates is now receiving public acclamation. His hat-trick of tries against Fiji and man-of-the-match award was a fitting tribute to a player who has become increasingly influential.

Maggs has been one of Ireland's most creative players in the strictest application of the word: he creates opportunities for others by commanding more than one defender's attention. His direct style camouflages the footballing nuances he has picked up en route to becoming a top international centre.

The general consensus is he is an excellent defender, the team leader from whom his fellow backs take direction. The defensive system, now considerably advanced since the teething traumas of Twickenham, has improved considerably under defensive coach Mike Ford.

Hard work and a belief in Ford's gospel have been the central tenets, according to Maggs. "When we first brought it in, well we weren't really tested against Wales because we scored 50-plus points and that doesn't test you out defensively.

"We went to Twickenham and we were ripped to pieces. Since then we have come a hell of a long way. People understand their roles more and we are more organised as a result. It has taken time, but that's hardly a surprise. These things don't happen overnight because they require a lot of hard work and that's exactly what we have put in to improve that aspect of our play.

"It's paying off but there are bits and pieces we are not totally satisfied with and that gives us a focus on the training field. You put in the work there and then expect to carry it out in match situations. We demonstrated against Australia that we can defend, even allowing for the fact that the match was played in bad weather conditions.

"The defence won the match for us really. I feel that we have improved a great deal and it is all credit to Mike Ford and the boys who have put the work in to make us defensively stronger."

Before the "winter tests" the popular belief was Ireland would do well to win two. On Saturday a clean sweep beckons, a point not lost on the players. "As a three Test series, in winning the first two against Australia and Fiji, we have done extremely well but the boys are desperate to finish off the work by beating Argentina on Saturday," says the Bath clubman.

"We want to go through the first section of the season unbeaten and that means winning against Argentina. We don't want to undermine what we have achieved in the last couple of matches by under-performing on Saturday. We are aware it will take another huge performance to achieve that but the reward is achieving an unbeaten run through these matches.

"Argentina are obviously physically strong up front, with some talented backs; they get in your face and can disrupt you. The few times I have played against them, they have really put us under pressure and we haven't been able to win. We've had games almost won but they've hung in there and beaten us in the last 20 minutes."

Maggs conceded the frustration of last season's broken arm,which forced him to miss the last two Six Nations games against Italy and France and the two summer Tests in New Zealand, motivated him through the rehabilitation slog. "My first objective was to get back in the national team after breaking my arm. Then it was to get games under my belt with my club and hit form.

"I feel pretty fresh because I was out for a long time and that has helped. I really look forward to coming over to play because of the camaraderie within the squad: they're a great bunch of lads and it's fantastic to be involved."

He also admits, under duress, that he fulfils a more responsible role within team structures. "To a certain extent, but I think everyone expects that much more of each other.

"People like Rog (Ronan O'Gara) and Brian (O'Driscoll) with their Lions experience, their standards have soared and that is passed on to the rest. You have to be constantly working on your game because they expect so much more from you. A lot of the guys would take their lead from them.

"That has also come from the management as well, we're very organised. Everyone has put in a lot of hard work and it is starting to show now. This is a great squad to be involved with for so many reasons and we'll get better."