Who will be Irish Captain under Joe Schmidt?

Ruck Inspector

Who do you think Joe will pick as captain for Ireland?

trouttrout

Big fan of starting threads eh?!

POC for me, not contest really

thomond2006

Jo...you know the rest.

CGD

He will stay with Heaslip, why change and cause more contreversy and dis illusion a player. He isn't Kidney you know:)

KERSPLAT!

He'll stay with Heaslip I reckon

rrpc

Two of the choices are in the closing stages of their careers and another isn't automatic first choice in his position, so it looks like the poll is heavily skewed towards Jamie Heaslip*.









*I don't really have a problem with that

Buer

I doubt a change will even be considered let alone made. Heaslip is the man in place. He has been Schmidt's captain at Leinster for many games. The other contenders are well down the road and close to retirement.

ambid

Depends on fitness. If POC is likely to miss much time with injuries he may stick with Heaslip. Otherwise I imagine he'll be keen to avoid the impression of a Leinster bias.

Ruck Inspector

rrpc wrote: »

Two of the choices are in the closing stages of their careers and another isn't automatic first choice in his position, so it looks like the poll is heavily skewed towards Jamie Heaslip*.


*I don't really have a problem with that

Just thought these four were the only realistic options?

Tox56

Yeah Heaslip has been Schmidt's choice when there is no Cullen, even if BOD is on the field, so I doubt BOD will come into the equation

rrpc

Ruck Inspector wrote: »

Just thought these four were the only realistic options?

Which kind of means that there aren't any other options right now. That's the way I see it too.

Otacon

Who do I think should be Irish captain? O'Connell

Who do I think Schmidt will choose? Heaslip

Whoever he goes with, I don't see it making much of a difference to the team or their performance.

trouttrout

I'd have POC to lead us to 2015 with a view to Heaslip taking over then but I'd have no problem with sticking with Heaslip

tolosenc

Heaslip should be captain, and Heaslip will be captain.

vienne86

I reckon he will stick with Heaslip. I doubt he would have got rid of BOD, but I don't think he will re-instate him either. Heaslip is obviously going to be around for a while, whereas the other three have all had injury woes in the last year, and may have more.

Buer

trouttrout wrote: »

I'd have POC to lead us to 2015 with a view to Heaslip taking over then but I'd have no problem with sticking with Heaslip

If POC was going to take over (and I wouldn't make that call), I wouldn't give it to Heaslip. It would be a 36 year old finishing up and a 32 year old taking over. Although I'm sure POC will be intending to play until then, there's far from any guarantee that he won't ship another significant injury and have to call it a day.

I'd look to give it to someone like POM after 2015 if he has continued to progress as he has.

seanmacc

vienne86 wrote: »

I reckon he will stick with Heaslip. I doubt he would have got rid of BOD, but I don't think he will re-instate him either. Heaslip is obviously going to be around for a while, whereas the other three have all had injury woes in the last year, and may have more.

I'd say BOD would of taken a back seat himself. I'd say he probably would of wanted to take a back seat position last season but Mr. Kidney took that decision away from him.

Now that he's not captain he'll have more of a chance to focus on his own game anyway.

Fireball07

I think POC is probably the best captain, but with an uncertain injury record, I wouldn't be surprised if he stuck with Heaslip.

I think Heaslip was the logical choice at the time, I do think he's a good captain.

PhatPiggins

Would he make Heaslip Irish captain if he's never trusted him to be the Leinster captain?

Rory Best should get it for playing and political reasons.

.ak

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Would he make Heaslip Irish captain if he's never trusted him to be the Leinster captain?

Rory Best should get it for playing and political reasons.

He has? He's made Heaslip captain when Leo isn't available.

its_phil

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Would he make Heaslip Irish captain if he's never trusted him to be the Leinster captain?

Rory Best should get it for playing and political reasons.

He has trusted Heaslip many times. Leinster have lost one game while Heaslip was captain against Clermont in the Aviva.

For playing reasons? He's not even assured of his place with Strauss there and political reasons? WTF are those?

Grimebox

ambid wrote: »

Depends on fitness. If POC is likely to miss much time with injuries he may stick with Heaslip. Otherwise I imagine he'll be keen to avoid the impression of a Leinster bias.

I imagine this won't even be close to his selection thought process

wicklowwonder

Heaslip is the man in possession and there is no reason to take it off him. I can see Matt O'Connor giving him the job next year with Leinster as well.

jamiedav2011

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Would he make Heaslip Irish captain if he's never trusted him to be the Leinster captain?

Rory Best should get it for playing and political reasons.

Based on what?!

jamiedav2011

wicklowwonder wrote: »

Heaslip is the man in possession and there is no reason to take it off him. I can see Matt O'Connor giving him the job next year with Leinster as well.

Don't think so, I reckon Leo will stay as captain as Jamie will be away for vast chunks of the year.

Similar to reasons Howlett was captain for Munster this year.

wicklowwonder

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Don't think so, I reckon Leo will stay as captain as Jamie will be away for vast chunks of the year.

Similar to reasons Howlett was captain for Munster this year.

Leo will surely be only to play 50% of games next year at most with age...

ambid

ambid wrote: »

Depends on fitness. If POC is likely to miss much time with injuries he may stick with Heaslip. Otherwise I imagine he'll be keen to avoid the impression of a Leinster bias.

This would be evidence of bias.

Bias means that he would make any decision whatsoever based on the fact that Heaslip was a Leinster player under him.

If he made the decision that he couldn't choose a Leinster player as captain that is a biased decision.

Instead what we want is him simply not to factor into the decision that fact.

SkadooshJ

I think he will change it and someone will get it that nobody expects.

wicklowwonder

SkadooshJ wrote: »

I think he will change it and someone will get it that nobody expects.

Stephen Archer...

jamiedav2011

wicklowwonder wrote: »

Leo will surely be only to play 50% of games next year at most with age...

Well he played the majority of games this year, and has looked fine, so don't think that's a concern.

The fact that Mike Mac is there might relegate him slightly, however you'd have Jenno to step in as captain in that case.

Fireball07

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Well he played the majority of games this year, and has looked fine, so don't think that's a concern.

The fact that Mike Mac is there might relegate him slightly, however you'd have Jenno to step in as captain in that case.

There is a possibility that in a fully first-choice Leinster team that neither Cullen or Jennings would be starting? Suppose it depends on how O'Connor sees them but I also wouldn't be surprised if there was a change there.


Still though, Heaslip is as closed to a nailed-on starter with Ireland as anyone...and has an excellent injury record, plus leadership qualities. It'd make sense to keep him.

Teferi

It should remain with Heaslip and I reckon it will.

thebaz

BOD or POC , heaslip needs to go back to playing , not a captain in my mind, super ability , we need him back at his best. long term I'd say , after he settles in france , sexton should be captain, maybe post WC.

brinty

Who do I think it will be? Heaslip

Who do I think it should be? O'Connell

Who would I choose? Kearney

Joe has picked Jamie to captain Leinster and will see no reason to change that. I think Heaslip needs to rediscover his best form in a green jersey. He's not played well in green for a long time. Thats not a pop at him cos some will think it is and I'm not going down that route as we'll have the whole DK didn't play him the way Leinster use him blah blah. This is a new team with a new coach. Let Jamie concentrate on his game and let captaincy to someone else.

Joe should choose O'Connell as he delivers no matter the colour of the jersey (lets not forget he's been a Munster, Irish and Lions captain under several different coaches) is inspirational in all he does and he leads by his actions and deeds. It will also help avoid the whole claims of Leinster bias from Munster supporters, which will be made!!

If it was me I'd personally pick Kearney. I think he has the ability, the presence and can see most of the game from the 15 position. He's a captain within the squad already, he's media friendly and speaks very intelligently, he's not afraid to challenge the status quo (ala 2009 and questioning the Munster players). At 27 i think he has the likelyhood to be there for another 5/6 years potentialy through to 2019 and makes a good long term choice.

Glass Prison 1214

I think Kearney would be a terrible choice, I have never seen anything from him to suggest he is captain material.

Fireball07

Glass Prison 1214 wrote: »

I think Kearney would be a terrible choice, I have never seen anything from him to suggest he is captain material.

Yeah, would never make Kearney captain. Not captain material imo, and a full-back aswell.

jamiedav2011

I'd agree, don't think RK would make a good captain at all.
Very good speaker though.

its_phil

Full backs as captain is not a good choice IMO. The amount of time it can take for the full back to come up and talk with the ref is too long, with the ref ready to move the game on by the time the captain is up to question calls.

The last thing a captain needs to be is media friendly too. It's what he does with the team that matters

.ak

I actually think RK would make a good captain. Has a good head on him and is a leader in any squad he's in. However back three players shouldn't be captains.

Neil3030

I'd give it to Sean O'Brien. Sure he's rarely making any bullistering 70-yard runs these days, so clearly he has nowt else to be doing...

Larbre34

Who's a guaranteed starter until 2015? Probably only SOB if fit. You could easily see a starting backrow of POM Henry and O'Brien going forward so Heaslip by no means a certainty unless he sustains his recent form to the green jersey...

If Sexton had stayed in Ireland he might have been given it

irishbucsfan

I wouldn't have picked Heaslip in the first place, but he's captain now so I would give him a bit more time. I think Joe will as well.

silverbirch66

I'd give it to anyone bar Heaslip.
No Irish captain should wear a set of headphones around his neck for the coin toss.
I'd nearly give it to Best if push came to shove,tbh.Be none of that auld crap from him.Id rather see him in a bowler hat at the toss,than watch Heaslip with his cans.

trouttrout

silverbirch66 wrote: »

I'd give it to anyone bar Heaslip.
No Irish captain should wear a set of headphones around his neck for the coin toss.
I'd nearly give it to Best if push came to shove,tbh.Be none of that auld crap from him.Id rather see him in a bowler hat at the toss,than watch Heaslip with his cans.

good god there's so much wrong with that post. Bowler hat line in particular

silverbirch66

trouttrout wrote: »

good god there's so much wrong with that post. Bowler hat line in particular

That was a joke about the bowler hat,mr.trout.:rolleyes:
Everything else is 100%

trouttrout

silverbirch66 wrote: »

That was a joke about the bowler hat,mr.trout.:rolleyes:
Everything else is 100%

Wearing headphones to a coin toss as a reason not to make someone captain? Nonsense

wicklowwonder

silverbirch66 wrote: »

I'd give it to anyone bar Heaslip.
No Irish captain should wear a set of headphones around his neck for the coin toss.
I'd nearly give it to Best if push came to shove,tbh.Be none of that auld crap from him.Id rather see him in a bowler hat at the toss,than watch Heaslip with his cans.

Who cares if he wears headphones? Does it matter that much?

rchendz92

From those, I'd go with Heaslip. If he hadn't left, I'd go with Sexton, but I think playing abroad and therefore not with other Ireland players will mean he is an unlikely captain.

bilston

POC, Heaslip and Best are the three contenders.

They have plus points and downsides.

1) Will POC stay fit until 2015
2) Does Heaslip really want it? He openly admits he doesnt watch rugby away from his own games. Maybe that doesn't matter if his standards continue to be high within the squad as a leader and a player.
3) Is Best a certain starter? Strauss will put pressure on him.

Id probably stick with Heaslip and POC, Best and BOD (should he stay on) can be his lieutenants.

Teferi

silverbirch66 wrote: »

I'd give it to anyone bar Heaslip.
No Irish captain should wear a set of headphones around his neck for the coin toss.
I'd nearly give it to Best if push came to shove,tbh.Be none of that auld crap from him.Id rather see him in a bowler hat at the toss,than watch Heaslip with his cans.

Fully agreed. He doesn't look intimidating enough with the headphones on. We need him scaring the coin to death.

silverbirch66

The only thing he should have wore is a scowl at the toss.Let the english hoards know they are in for a fight.Our turf.

Not coming out in bare feet listening to some rapper banging on about "bitches" and "ho's" and such like.

How would anyone take him serious,is beyond me.