Jonathan Sexton: Potential skipper
It's been reported that pivot Jonathan Sexton has emerged as the favourite to lead Ireland against South Africa in Dublin on Saturday.
With regular skipper Brian O'Driscoll ruled out through injury and lock Paul O'Connell in doubt, Ireland coach Declan Kidney is set to name a new leader for this weekend's Test against the Springboks.
Other potential candidates include Jamie Heaslip, Cian Healy and Keith Earls, however Leinster star Sexton is rumoured to be the front-runner to wear the captain's armband.
Sexton has never captained his province or country but was responsible for rallying his Leinster team-mates in the 2011 Heineken Cup final against Northampton with a stirring half-time speech.
"I think what you always want is a player that the other players will respect, on and off the pitch," Kidney told the Irish Independent.
"A player that they will listen to, that has a good tactical appreciation of what's needed out on the pitch. Usually the captain has to have a relationship with the referee. So there's quite a number of things.
"It's easy to just announce somebody, to ask a guy to carry it. I rarely go up to a guy and say, 'will you just captain the side?' because it is another load on him and first and foremost you want to make sure that he's comfortable with it. We've a few lads that could step in."
Comments
leinster_goy says...
Sexyboy is a class act - consistently the best fly-half in the NH for the past 3 years, and can only get better. he's already destined for the Leinster captaincy once Cullers hangs up his boots. at this point, the Lions 10 shirt is his to lose. seems logical that he should captain the national side too
Posted 09:24 07th November 2012
ciaran1792 says...
I do think Sexton would be a great captain and I am not saying this cause I am a leinster fan. ROG and POC have been captain before and tend to fall short at international perhaps its time to be radical and pick someone for the future. I would also be thrilled to see Felix Jones at 15. Downey at 12 and Bowe at 13. Trimble wing Paul Marshal 9 and throw a youngster like Jordi Murphy as 7 and Dave Kearney in to the deep end. Also Id have Tuhoy and Ryan as 4,5. We wont have BOD and POC for ever we need to develop stability in those key areas well that's my opinion anyway. I also want to see Henderson given a go.
Posted 19:52 06th November 2012
black47 says...
D4tress. I'm not for Earls either, so who would you suggest to fulfill your criteria?
Posted 14:00 06th November 2012
D4tress says...
Earls is one more dodgy game from losing his place on the Munster team - who thinks he's anywhere near being captain of Ireland? Where do you get this rubbish?
Even Kidney (who's as biased as they come) says:
1) A player that the other players will respect
2) A player that they will listen to,
3) that has a good tactical appreciation of what's needed out on the pitch.
4) Usually the captain has to have a relationship with the referee
Earls fails all four tests. He's a joke of a player.
Posted 10:49 06th November 2012
black47 says...
If there a God in heaven Jamie Heaslip will never be captain of the irish team. The most overrated forward ever in the history of irish rugby. High profile but very low ability to back it up. When has he ever made a break with purpose from the base of the scrum? More interested in his blingy restaurant than his rugby
Posted 21:55 05th November 2012
melkdave says...
Truth be told id be surprised if Sexton is named captain,i feel Kidney will plump for DOC myself .We al know how his itching to play him ,and this is the perfect excuse .His experiance and ect ect .Myself id rather Kidney played Ryan and Tuohay at lock,and have T.Bowe as captain from 13 .But we all know how contray Kidney can be in his selections ect.Im just praying that D'Arcy doesnt get near the 22.Id play Trimble and Bowe at centre myself before allowing D'Arcy annother game start lol.Hold on thinking about it ,that doesnt seem so bad to me at all ,ireland fans what do you think,radical yes but i think definatly workable and unexpected?? Both have played centre before at international ,can tackle ,and make yards with ball in hand ,plus have pace..Your thoughts please ,was a bit of a joke ,but i now honestly think it could work rather well
Posted 20:50 05th November 2012
papachinzo says...
Johnny is definitely NOT captain material... Jamie Heaslip will be the skipper.
Posted 16:23 05th November 2012
Norm says...
have been a critic of Sextons performances in the green up to now, but I think yes he should be given the armband, could be best thing that could happen to him. Sink or swim and right now I think he would grasp it and run with it. Difficult task though and could be a poison chalice. Then again how many times have we been amazed at ireland when they havce been written off before the whistle
heaslip? No bloody way, until he starts putting in something approaching a stellar game he should be happy to be on the field. Definitely time he ante'ed up again.
Posted 15:46 05th November 2012
99call says...
I dont think Sexton or Earls will ever be captain material, we wouldnt be having this conversation apart from the string of injuries, the chances of lossing 3 captains to injury at the same time are so low but unfortunately it may happen so if POC cant play then it has to be Heaslip
Posted 13:46 05th November 2012
carpelone says...
A good option, even though fly-half is always busy doing other things (kicks, preparations of moves, etc.).
Posted 13:45 05th November 2012
jtimkins says...
Earls? but he's not even from Lonster. . . .
Posted 11:39 05th November 2012
black47 says...
Sexton as captain is just as big a laugh as Earls. aside form victory against England in 2010 he has yet to perform as well in green as he does in blue. Munster players had to listen to Leinster moaning in Ireland camp in summer 2008 that the red meant more than the green. It's well and truly the other way around now. Count the Leinster players who perform better in green than blue.
Posted 11:37 05th November 2012
rockman says...
I thoroughly agree with mcdb06 and DaveJ, Earls as captain must be a piss take! The Guy shouldn't even be near the team. A captain at any level has to be in the thick of the action so therefore it has to be Heaslip or johnny.
not surprising that earls is being considered by Kidney though. Kidney just loves 'earlsy' as he calls him. Anybody else see this article last week?
http://www.irishrugby.ie/guinnessseries/27588.php
A joke that he calls Keith Earls by a nickname yet refers to every other player by their proper fill name. A coach should not be pally with his players. A coach should be feared by them. GET RID OF KIDNEY!
Posted 11:11 05th November 2012
BODsGODmisspelt says...
First I've heard of Earls being mentioned for the captaincy. Where did you hear this? From a Munster fan perhaps? Ridiculous
I'd say Sexton
Posted 10:08 05th November 2012
DaveJ says...
Keith Earls as a contender to captain Ireland , BAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
deep breath
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Well that comedy gold just brightened up my Monday morning.
Posted 09:16 05th November 2012
mcdb06 says...
I'd say it'll be Heaslip.
Earls?? Are they taking the p*ss?!
Posted 09:09 05th November 2012