JAMIE HEASLIP HAS been selected as Ireland captain for the November test against Samoa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.
However, Paul O’Connell will skipper the side long-term, Joe Schmidt says. Heaslip is now set to function as Ireland’s vice captain.
The Leinster No. 8 first led Ireland this time last season, although he was initially chosen by former head coach Declan Kidney. That selection came with Brian O’Driscoll out injured but Kidney did stick with Heaslip even after the legendary centre had recovered his place in the starting team.
Speculation in recent days had suggested that new coach Joe Schmidt would entrust Heaslip with the job, particularly with a view to building towards the 2015 World Cup. However, Schmidt has backed O’Connell to perform the role in the long term.
O’Driscoll is included in the starting team to take on Samoa, although O’Connell’s recent troubles with a calf injury mean he is restricted to a bench role. That means Heaslip, the new Ireland vice-captain, will lead the side out on Saturday.
Ireland won just two of the seven games Heaslip captained last season, although that losing record cannot be attributed to his leadership skills alone. The 29-year-old has started this season in superb form, picking up where he left off at the tail end of the 2012/13 campaign.
Without being involved in the Ireland camp, it is hard to judge exactly how good Heaslip is at motivating his teammates, but he is well-regarded within the squad. Schmidt has spoken about building a leadership group and it is obvious that the likes of O’Driscoll, O’Connell, Rory Best and Jonny Sexton will continue to contribute to that.
In the longer term, Paul O’Connell’s selection as captain will be a popular choice. The 2009 Lions skipper is an inspirational figure and one of Ireland’s leading players when he is at his best.
What are your thoughts on Schmidt’s choice of captain? Is O’Connell the right man to lead Ireland?
