Ireland could well be led by a new face on their summer tour to America and Japan.
There will be a host of new faces – players and coaches – on Ireland’s summer tour and there may well be a new captain to lead them.
Ireland will not be able to call on regular captain Rory Best or Peter O’Mahony, who led them last November against Canada. Both men are part of Warren Gatland’s 41-man Lions squad that will travel to New Zealand at the end of this month.
Schmidt had been leaning towards O’Mahony had Best been selected and had the Munster man missed out. With both men off to face the All Blacks, Schmidt was tipped to go with Heaslip when he named his touring squad.
That decision is not so clear, however, as Heaslip does not look like playing for Leinster again this season. As reported in The Irish Examiner, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen was doubtful if Heaslip would line out in blue again. He said:
“It will be very, very tight
“We will see how he goes. It’s less likely than likely at the moment.”
Heaslip has not featured for province or country since Ireland’s Six Nations loss to Wales on March 10. He was due to play in the championship finalé against England but his back seized up minutes before kick-off and forced Schmidt into a late re-jig of his back row.
Initial reported as an ankle issue, then upper hamstring, Heaslip’s back was the real issue. He went in for surgery and having been laid up for a while, is back on the comeback trail. Still, coming in cold after three months out is hardly ideal.
Fortunately for Schmidt, there are several senior Irish players that have not made the Lions tour and who could step in. Schmidt may be tempted to give a couple of big names the summer off but experienced heads will be required to guide so many uncapped players.
Here are the other captaincy candidates:
Donnacha Ryan
It remains to be seen whether Ryan, who is Racing 92 bound this summer, will even make the Ireland squad but Schmidt is short on quality second row options. If these are to be his final games in green, Ireland could find no better man to lead them.
Andrew Trimble
The Ulster winger is the longest serving member of the Irish squad and has captained his province in the past. A respected member of the squad, Trimble would be a safe pair of hands to lead his country. And, as he told us, he rarely gives sensational press.
Refreshingly honest from @andrew_trimble
Fair play for saying it.https://t.co/aKux0Deqss— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 29, 2017
Schmidt would love that.
Rob Kearney
Calm, composed and well respected, we could picture Kearney charming a couple of penalties out of referees. Forwards are often the preferred captaincy options but Kearney would have a good lay of the land from his back field perspective. Injury issues may see him rested from Test duty this summer, though.
Dan Leavy
It would be a lot to lay on Leavy’s young shoulders but he was a highly capable captain for Ireland U20 and has taken to each task with gusto this season. One of Leinster’s best players and a contender to start each Test.
Other candidates of note: Devin Toner, Cian Healy, Keith Earls, Niall Scannell.
