Warren Gatland said, in 2013, that is British & Irish Lions captain did not have to play every big game. He then selected Sam Warburton and shoe-horned him into teams until injury struck.
At present, the leading candidates to captain the Lions in New Zealand next year are – Rory Best, Dylan Hartley, Sam Warburton and Chris Robshaw. There are no outstanding Scottish candidates [Greig Laidlaw would not make the matchday 23 when all are fit].
Jamie Heaslip and Alun Wyn Jones are two other decent options but both will be under severe pressure for their
What about a player that has developed into a truly world-class operator, has the respect of opponents and peers, carries out his coach’s instructions to a tee, controls games with authority, has a creative streak and who has taken up leadership responsibilities over the past two years?
That sounds pretty good. That also sounds an awful lot like Conor Murray.
The Irish scrum-half outshone his nearest rivals – Ben Youngs and Aaron Smith – over the past two months to confirm himself as the world’s best 9. Right now, he appears to be the nailed-on Lions scrum-half but some big challenges await.
Last night, as he beheld Murray carving Leinster up at Thomond Park, Irish golfer Shane Lowry struck on a fantastic idea.
Conor Murray for the Lions captain? What do we think of that??? Probably one of the only guys who is guaranteed a starting spot…
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) December 26, 2016
The responses were somewhat of a mixed bag.
What about our Rory?
gatland won't have a no.9 as captain. Perhaps @RoryBest2 from what he s done this year
— peter black (@P16BLK) December 26, 2016
Hold yer horses
long ways off yet….3weeks ago Hartley was looking like a shoe in captain 😂😂😂😂
— Don O Sullivan 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@Donosully1O) December 26, 2016
What about experience?
No experience as a captain.itll be Best or AWJ
— Derek Fallon (@Derekfallon) December 26, 2016
This lad had a perfect response to that one
https://twitter.com/1892_john/status/813495018996568064
Murray is a player that the next generation of Irish players are looking up to already. Earlier this year, he told us:
“You’re one of the older or more experienced heads in the team now and, I don’t think about it much, it’s just the way I play. And off the pitch, helping lads out, is just a natural thing. Perfectly comfortable in it and enjoying it.”
The Limerick native will be 28 by the time the Lions set off for New Zealand, next summer. He will have completed his seventh Six Nations campaign and his eight senior season with Munster.
He has taken every single challenge in his stride since being flung in at the deep-end.
Lions captain? Why the hell not?
