AS THE CALLS for 23-year-old second row James Ryan to be installed as Ireland captain grow in the wake of the World Cup, former skipper Brian O’Driscoll has encouraged incoming head coach Andy Farrell to be patient.
Rory Best retired from rugby after Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final exit, leaving the Ireland captaincy unoccupied.
Farrell will need to make a decision on a new official leader before the 2020 Six Nations, with many supporters and some in the media calling for Ryan to be handed the role.
The Leinster second row captained virtually all of the underage teams he played on but has not held the role at senior provincial level yet. Ryan looks a certainty to captain Leinster and Ireland in the future, but O’Driscoll said Farrell should consider giving the 23-times capped lock more time to develop at Test level.
“I don’t know James, I’m merely looking from the outside at what I see and what I hear from the lads about what sort of person he is. That’s such an important aspect, what sort of person they are,” said O’Driscoll in Tokyo yesterday.
“It’s clear as daylight that he has the immediate respect of the senior players and that’s a very important standpoint.
“He’s absolutely capable of being captain of this team – some will say what’s the rush? Maybe give Johnny Sexton the captaincy for a year and let James become the mainstay and leader in that pack for a year before giving it to him. There’s no rush.
“Will he be the captain for the World Cup in 2023? All things being equal, you’d be hopeful. I think that makes sense but if he’s going to be captain at 24, he’s 23 now, so he has a few years to get that right.
“I can see a reason for both; for giving it to him and not as well, and I don’t think there’s a wrong in either. But maybe just look at giving him an opportunity as pack leader for a little bit longer, albeit being the main voice in there.
“Who knows what’s going to happen with Pete [O'Mahony] and that, but give him [Ryan] that leadership within the forwards and then maybe he’s the obvious choice for a year down the track.”
O’Driscoll knows from experience how tough it can be captaining Ireland at the age of 23, having done so in 2002 under Eddie O’Sullivan.
“It was,” said O’Driscoll. “I was 23 and I didn’t really know how to be a captain. He’s been a captain of underage teams. I didn’t really captain underage teams and I was leading by the way I played and the way I trained, more than what I said.
“Clearly I don’t know how much he speaks in team meetings. I presume he’s a smart guy and it sounds like he’s pretty level-headed and is a good orator, so that helps. But ultimately it’s about how he plays, how he trains and how he carries himself.
“Captaincy is a lot more than what you say to your team-mates. It’s how you live your role and I think all the messages that I’ve heard about that, he’s a phenomenally good pro and he’s a rugby anorak.
“More is more for him and that’s a good place to get the respect you need as a captain.”
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Give the captaincy to sexton? He’ll be lucky to be in the squad never mind be captain come the 6 nations. Hasn’t played like the world player of the year once since he got the award and started cashing in on it.
@Jim Demps: Yep Sexton, Murray and POM all got by on reputation. Ryan’s a good choice for captain, only other option might be Stander…
@Umpaloompa: we’re also on the verge of losing the best SH in the country right now to Saracens which is worrying.
@Umpaloompa: agreed, let them sit out the six nations with their respective provincial teams. Give the younger guys a chance to show themselves. Cooney/Marmion and Carbery/Byrne need to show their value to Ireland.
The older guys need to play their way back into the Irish team demonstrating form. No form, no play.
@Jim Demps: and still no one has stepped up to take the shirt off sexton. Just point out one big game that any of our other 10 have stepped up and made a difference. ( maybe Ross Byrne in europe or Ross in the pro 14 semi )
@Chris Mc: so Ross Byrne should be the new Irish 10 and captain?
@Jim Demps: where did he say that?
@Jim Demps: not at all, but you want sexton replaced, my point is no one has stepped up to take the shirt. Carty didn’t take his chances, joey’s been injured more than sexton and apart from a few flashes of brilliance he’s made as many mistakes as sexton. Hopefully he’ll get a run without injury and we’ll all find out if he’s the real deal or the emperors new clothes
@Chris Mc: outside of injury carbery was excellent last season. Had a kicking percentage of somewhere around 97% which is phenomenal. To put that into context sextons kicking percentage for the World Cup was 80% and not a single penalty kicked. Was there another starting 10 in the tournament that didn’t kick a single penalty? You say nobody has stood up and taken the jersey off him, I’d say that Schmidt never gave anyone the chance and picked sexton irrespective of form.
@Chris Mc: have any of them really had a chance to do this? How many “big games” have the rest played in? We appear to be very conservative in our selection and our style of play seems to hugely change depending on the players selected. Should this be the case? Surely professionals are capable of executing a playing style and a game plan? Maybe we dont have the player depth and the coaches know this, I dont know. But they wont get any better not getting game time. I would write off the next 6 nations or 2 and focus on evolving our game plan and playing style and blooding the players who will have to execute that over the next 4 years. What is the point in players like Sexton being part of that now? He wont be there for the next world cup. He barely played any rugby before the world cup. For me his inclusion in the future will just stifle other players development.
@Jim Demps: there’s a slight difference in kicking in the pro 14 and a World Cup. Did Carbury’s kicking not cost munster a home tie in the HC? Again jim he’s unproven in big games. Let’s just hope for Ireland sake your right
@Gerard Smith: sexton has been injury prone for a few seasons no so there’s been plenty of chances to step up. Even at club level neither Carty or Carbury played in too many big games.
Sexton is past it but no one has claimed his shirt.
@Chris Mc: kicking at goal is kicking at goal. Not like the wind is different in japan. Munster haven’t lost a home game since 2017.
@Chris Mc: I really hope he doesn’t ge the captaincy. The way all the Leinster players are being attacked and slagged off at every given chance by the muppet trolls and their sidekicks is sickening. He would be crazy to open the door for them. And that is my honest opinion.
Munster have not won anything in what 10 years ::will you stop talking Sh@# :: Joey is good but as what was said he is worse than Sexton with not being able to play ::I really don’t give a Sh@# about how he plays for an underperforming Club I want him to show us how good he is with Ireland:: After we got beat you have been in heaven all your dreams come true ::Joe is that Joe is shi@# :: he should have done this or that :: that is what you would have done::
I am not belittling you because you can have your Opinion :: IMO
@David: yea I’d say it’s for the best cos I’d imagine every other leinster fan on here must cringe at yourself, Martin & Chris mc’s thin-skinned over-reactions to every comment about leinster & their players past and present. It’s a bit of a laugh for the rest of us though
@Tim Magner: it’s definitely a laugh alright
@Jim Demps: watch it Jim, we’ll be called biased troll cronies
@Jim Demps: munster haven’t won a title since the Jurassic period
@Chris Mc: you sound like a child. I remember when you used to contribute to the rugby conversation but uv just turned into Martin Jr. Sniping and childish remarks. I’m going stocking you on mute, couldn’t be bothered engaging with a grown man who makes comments like that.
@Tim Magner: will you two get a room for God sake, ganging up on an individual. Pathetic.
If you’re going to give it to him eventually might as well give it to him now. He seems like he’s more than capable of handling it.
@Martin Kennedy: Ryan has demonstrated capability in the past so give it to him or Levy (when fit).
Sexton is behaving like ROG at the end of his career, all heart and no head! He’s a liability with a very high error count. Shouldn’t be part of the 23 setup until he improves, which may never be the case again. He’s been a wonderful Fly Half and great for Irish rugby, the best Fly Half we’ve ever had. Time to move on.
@Con Cussed: Levy does also stand out. Great player and leads by example. We missed him a lot since his injury. Will be interesting to see how Farrell handles the Sexton sunsetting period. Dropped to the bench like ROG with Carberry starting? Can’t see him doing it this 6N but can’t be far off. ROG played the bench role for a season or two.
@Martin Kennedy: I don’t think Sexton should be in the mix, Murray neither, it sends the wrong message to the younger players. Reward form, they improve bring them back! We have enough quality fly/scrum halfs in the country that need exposure to international rugby. If they don’t win, sure we’ll be disappointed but they will improve if coached well.
@Con Cussed:
POM ::CJ;; Earls:: Rob:: :: ??
I think there could be no more discouraging act from a new head coach than to start a clean slate by appointing an injury ravaged 34 year old in severe decline as the new captain.
Says a lot about the current leadership group that no one stands out as captain. In a WC you should have about 4 ‘captains’ on the pitch. I don’t agree with interim captains. Farrell, as closest to the group, needs to pick his man and back him 100%. And I think he needs to be young, or at least younger than Sexton, who would only get it for time served, not exactly a progressive move for next WC.
@Mark Dooley: James Ryan is a standout captain, everybody said it, even BOD. This has been said since his U20 days. So not correct to say there are none. Beirne, Levy, Chris Farrell, Ringrose are some others. To be captain you can’t expect to play every game due to knocks and injuries. What you do have to be is “in form”.
@Con Cussed:
Needs to be on the first team :: some of your ones will be not on it !!
Sexton as captain? Really? I think Munster vs Leinster last year is enough evidence of why that’s a horrible idea
I really think this is nonsense. Sexton out of form and not leading by example in any form, might be a good talker but we need the person who will talk the talk and walk the walk. If James Ryan becomes captain, I can see him and Farrell battling for the Lions 2021 captaincy. He has experience of captaining and holds the respect of his peers and oppositions. Give it to Ryan.
I wouldn’t listen to BOD. He was a terrible captain. Cared more about his hair and his deal with Powerade for the majority of his tenure
@Septic Head:
And of course Septic he was a shit player :: regarding Captain how do you Know :: His fellow players were happy to listen to him :: so how do you know ::
Leave him with the knowledge that he is a future captain and let him develop with what I hope is change. Let’s not put him in the firing line straight away to be scrutinised mercilessly as he surely would be from all angles. Driscoll is right, no rush.
@David: Picking the world cup team in 2018 and now suggesting a captain should be appointed years in advance regardless of future performances? Do we ever learn!
Hard to blame Schmidt entirely for having undroppables and refusing to change when fans are encouraging the mindset.
@Rochelle:
Do you really think what you say makes a blind bit of difference !!
“when fans are encouraging the mindset.” you are living in a strange troll world !!IMO