D'Arcy: We're up with the best

D'Arcy: Thrilled at victory

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Gordon D'Arcy insists Ireland can live with anyone in the world after their hard-fought 15-10 win at Croke Park over South Africa on Saturday.

Grand Slam winners Ireland put in a strong performance defensively, matching South Africa blow-for-blow and D'Arcy believes Ireland refused to be bullied.

He said: "This calendar year we've shown we're a physical team with a pack that can mix it with anyone in the world.

"When it comes down to the nitty gritty we can do it as well as anyone in the world."

D'Arcy also questioned why South Africa continually bombed high balls to man-of-the-match Rob Kearney when the Leinster full-back was in imperious form.

"Rob caught those balls on the run. It's a huge thing for the pack to look back and see Rob take the ball on the run and carry it straight back," said D'Arcy.

Pressure

"You have to ask why a team's game plan would be to kick the ball to him."

Fly-half Jonathan Sexton caught the attention with his nerveless display in only his second appearance, kicking five penalties and D'Arcy reserved special praise for the young Leinster man.

"It's a mark of a good player that when the pressure comes on he wants the ball," said D'Arcy.

"He always wants it - it was the same during the Heineken Cup semi-finals and final last season."

D'Arcy's team-mate Jamie Heaslip admitted Ireland's Lions contingent could take heart from the win having avenged the series defeat by South Africa.

Nine of the Lions were in Ireland's 22 on Saturday and Heaslip said: "I'm very happy with the performance. Since the last game of the Lions tour, we have targeted this as a match we could win.

"Some of us lost two games in the summer and we felt that wasn't fair justice."