That means a new man will be asked to hold a cuddly toy and hold the mascot’s hand as the team is led from the tunnel.
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For many, Jamie Heaslip is clearly the heir to the throne, but recent noises from Carton House – including Kidney’s assertion that captaincy experience at Provincial level was not an essential requirement for the job – have pointed to fly-half Jonathan Sexton and his famously inspirational half time team talks.
Outside of Leinster, many feel that Peter O’Mahony or Donnacha Ryan could lead the team as a long-term option. A category Stephen Ferris may also have fallen into before injury robbed him from this run of games.
However, as this is a temporary measure with both O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll due back for the Six Nations; perhaps Kidney would be keen on rewarding a loyal servant. A golden handshake to either Donncha O’Callaghan or Gordon D’Arcy.
Why not Mike Ross?
So, presuming the job won’t go to O’Connell (he’ll lead the team regardless), you tell us.
I would have thought that it’s nailed on O’Connell to be honest, why wouldn’t you have him as captain?
Where are you getting the idea that he won’t captain I wonder Sean?
Ah I think Sexton generally marshals the backline though in fairness, for both Ireland and Leinster.
Can’t see any reason not to have POC as captain if he’s fit, surely that’s the obvious choice?
Chris do you do anything else besides slander Munster players.. seriously nearly 70% of your comments are something negative against Munster.. then if someone says something pro Munster, you label them biased… DOC has captained the lions, more than capable of captaining his country.. he has played very well this year and if he starts it’s well deserved
Sorry it’s not just their players I’m not fond of their brand of rugby, lots of their fans, that ex-coach that’s destroying the Irish team, I could go on but in all honesty when people say that DOC should captain Ireland I can’t help myself. If anyone thinks that Doc would make a better captain of Ireland than Leo Cullen when BOD and POC are not playing then I’m sorry that’s just bias. nI don’t believe that either are good enough for to play for Ireland. nMunster have some fine players and some very good young players and as an Irish fan I’d love to see these players come through but only when they are ready. I believe that Conor Murrary was not ready to start at the world cup and if Reddan was left at 9 ( and sexton at 10 ) we would have beaten Wales. nThings like Earls saying he wants to play 13 when he’s our best winger annoys me. nIf Irish rugby was in a better place it might not piss me off so much but kidney’s a joke. nn
Have you ever captained a side? You have to be vocal what’s the point of a captain if you’re just going to sit back and not encourage or give constructive criticism to your players
I agree POC is the sensible call, but if its true Zebo is playing at FB maybe this is the start of the future for Ireland and maybe Deccie has decided to nominate his future captain now?
Ronan – are you expecting him to be playing at maximum potential when he’s only just out of the Munster academy?
Players like Zebo have huge ability and potential, as you would know if you’ve seen him play at under-age, but they need the experience of playing at the top level to maximise that potential and become polished as a player.
I’m not arguing about his potential. I simply don’t want one of the weakest tacklers (if not the weakest) in the Irish squad played at full back, out of position.
We’ve been here before with Earls at 15. I don’t want kids stuffed into the team out of position for the sake of experience, and having the confidence knocked out of them. The best place for a kid to step up to international level is in their position of choice.
I bloody hate this notion of backline cover, when there’s depth and talent in most positions waiting to be tried out.
Zebo is a massive talent, and he’ll be great. I just don’t want to see him played out of position and made a fool of. His defensive positioning on the wing is questionable, but improving, and I don’t think he’s right for 15.
FYI: I’ve seen footage of him at underage on youtube and games involving him on TG4. As it happens, I went to CBC and so I stick on a bit of Munster schools rugby on the tv.
I didn’t say I had a problem with Zebo playing, I said I had a problem with him playing at full back. This is Kidney nonsense and I’m stick of it.
If he is such an obvious choice, why is he not Munster captain?? lol. All joking apart it probably will be POC but i just have a suspicion that DK might surprise us….
Doc ” lads stop giving away stupid penalties will ya”
Rest of Irish team ” eh captian your the one giving them away”
Doc ” I know I know but that what captain’s say isn’t it, well that’s all they ever say to me anyway ”
rest of the team ” right leave him over there and we’ll talk about tactics”
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I would have thought that it’s nailed on O’Connell to be honest, why wouldn’t you have him as captain?
Where are you getting the idea that he won’t captain I wonder Sean?
All the pics from camp I’ve seen seem to show Sexton doing the talking not Poc.
Ah I think Sexton generally marshals the backline though in fairness, for both Ireland and Leinster.
Can’t see any reason not to have POC as captain if he’s fit, surely that’s the obvious choice?
How can DOC be a choice for captain, when he will only start if Ryan or POC are injured?
tuohy should B ahead of Doc in the picking order time to move on and away from o Callaghan
Chris do you do anything else besides slander Munster players.. seriously nearly 70% of your comments are something negative against Munster.. then if someone says something pro Munster, you label them biased… DOC has captained the lions, more than capable of captaining his country.. he has played very well this year and if he starts it’s well deserved
Sorry it’s not just their players I’m not fond of their brand of rugby, lots of their fans, that ex-coach that’s destroying the Irish team, I could go on but in all honesty when people say that DOC should captain Ireland I can’t help myself. If anyone thinks that Doc would make a better captain of Ireland than Leo Cullen when BOD and POC are not playing then I’m sorry that’s just bias. nI don’t believe that either are good enough for to play for Ireland. nMunster have some fine players and some very good young players and as an Irish fan I’d love to see these players come through but only when they are ready. I believe that Conor Murrary was not ready to start at the world cup and if Reddan was left at 9 ( and sexton at 10 ) we would have beaten Wales. nThings like Earls saying he wants to play 13 when he’s our best winger annoys me. nIf Irish rugby was in a better place it might not piss me off so much but kidney’s a joke. nn
Sexton is too vocal for captain. Screams at his own players a but much for captain. POC will be captain, if he’s not fit then Heaslip will be.
Have you ever captained a side? You have to be vocal what’s the point of a captain if you’re just going to sit back and not encourage or give constructive criticism to your players
Exactly sparky you need a vocal captain, you need someone to scream orders at yah
I agree POC is the sensible call, but if its true Zebo is playing at FB maybe this is the start of the future for Ireland and maybe Deccie has decided to nominate his future captain now?
If Zebo gets the nod at full back I’m giving serious consideration to setting fire to my ticket, and I’m a Munster man.
Ronan – are you expecting him to be playing at maximum potential when he’s only just out of the Munster academy?
Players like Zebo have huge ability and potential, as you would know if you’ve seen him play at under-age, but they need the experience of playing at the top level to maximise that potential and become polished as a player.
All rugby legends had to start somewhere!
I’m not arguing about his potential. I simply don’t want one of the weakest tacklers (if not the weakest) in the Irish squad played at full back, out of position.
We’ve been here before with Earls at 15. I don’t want kids stuffed into the team out of position for the sake of experience, and having the confidence knocked out of them. The best place for a kid to step up to international level is in their position of choice.
I bloody hate this notion of backline cover, when there’s depth and talent in most positions waiting to be tried out.
Zebo is a massive talent, and he’ll be great. I just don’t want to see him played out of position and made a fool of. His defensive positioning on the wing is questionable, but improving, and I don’t think he’s right for 15.
FYI: I’ve seen footage of him at underage on youtube and games involving him on TG4. As it happens, I went to CBC and so I stick on a bit of Munster schools rugby on the tv.
I didn’t say I had a problem with Zebo playing, I said I had a problem with him playing at full back. This is Kidney nonsense and I’m stick of it.
If he is such an obvious choice, why is he not Munster captain?? lol. All joking apart it probably will be POC but i just have a suspicion that DK might surprise us….
Doc ” lads stop giving away stupid penalties will ya”
Rest of Irish team ” eh captian your the one giving them away”
Doc ” I know I know but that what captain’s say isn’t it, well that’s all they ever say to me anyway ”
rest of the team ” right leave him over there and we’ll talk about tactics”
Wellity wellity, looks like this was relevant after all!
Heaslip by a country mile in that case.
birdseye at this stage
POC injured? Surely he’s the obvious choice