Gordon D'Arcy is the new poster boy of Irish rugby. The smile is genuine, the delight in gracing the Test arena authentic, the sheen of the relatively new-found experience undimmed. After all, he was long destined to thrive in ancient Lansdowne Road or the more modern stadia of Twickenham or the Stade de France.

His ascension had been expected since his school days. It's just that his sense of direction occasionally took him down a cul-de-sac. Those who watched him in the colours of Clongowes Wood College might afford themselves a wry smile.

D'Arcy's performances in this season's Six Nations Championship are a manifestation of the talent that first came shining through at that time. He played then with an abandon, an utter belief in his own ability, uncluttered by patterns and structures.

He adopted a similar philosophy while playing for Ireland Under 21s; a marauding presence at fullback, his cavalier tendencies were abetted by like-minded individuals, Jeremy Staunton (outhalf) and Paddy Wallace (centre). He made a few mistakes, needed to do a little growing up, but once retuned mentally, he again trusted those basic instincts on the pitch.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan might impose rigid parameters in terms of patterns but he also cuts his midfield a little slack and Brian O'Driscoll and D'Arcy thrive on it. The latter grins: "Half the time I don't think we know what we're doing either."

As the superlatives descended in acknowledgement of another tour de force from the Wexford-born player, D'Arcy desperately tried to dodge the bouquets. His first two tries for his country on Saturday merely iced a sweet display. "Any day is a good day but well timed, I suppose, is a good way of putting it.

"Space in an international (match) always comes at a premium but we got a bit today. It was important we were able to exploit it."

His first try demonstrated the value of running good support lines, the second, initiated by himself, the importance of trailing the ball carrier.

Of the second he explained: "I passed to him (Geordan Murphy) and just carried on my run. He probably didn't need to pass it back to me and could have taken him (defender) on the outside but I'm not complaining; I'll happily take it."

A danger for a free spirit is ennui. D'Arcy doesn't want to become anaesthetised to his surroundings, to take them for granted. "I think the key to being an international is never to feel comfortable. There are brilliant players out there that will be nipping at my heels. I will have to develop my game and become a better player to survive.

"I have played five internationals and I have to step up because people know what I can do. If I want to continue to play for Ireland I'm going to have to work harder. Every day I get selected I'm still nervous prior to the team announcement; (make) the same phone call to my dad when I do get selected."

The Triple Crown triumph has capped a remarkable Six Nations Championship for the 24-year-old, who tried to define the tournament from a personal perspective. "It's the stuff schoolboy dreams are made of and it felt like being back in school again.

"You win the (Leinster Schools) Senior Cup and you do a lap (of honour). We haven't had any reason to do it. The last real thing I won was the Leinster (Schools) Senior Cup and now it is the Triple Crown. Hopefully, it won't be 19 years until the next one.

"In the middle of a game you don't actually know if you're worried or not. You are just playing your game. You have to have belief in yourself and in the team. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out but we have to have that belief, especially with the tag of favourites.

"Just being here is fantastic. It's everything I worked for, for six years to be here week in, week out. I just hope I never get too comfortable being here. David Humphreys said to me afterwards that I have set a standard for myself and it is up to me to meet that standard every game.

"You reach for the stars. You have to keep wanting to get better and better. This is a great start but there are three years to the next World Cup. If we can build on this every year, you never know what'd happen. I had a couple of friends who came today who wouldn't know a rugby ball if it bit them on the ass: they now know that Ireland have won a Triple Crown.

"It was great for the whole country to get behind us."