Caelan Doris' Ireland captaincy might have been a year too late, suggests former star
by Derek Foley · Irish MirrorAndy Farrell may have waited a year longer than he should have but the Ireland coach got to the right decision about the Ireland captaincy eventually.
Caelan Doris is the right man to lead the side through to the next Rugby World Cup in 2027 - and maybe to the one after too.
Yes, he is a little younger than the recent back-row forwards, players such as Peter O'Mahony, Jamie Heaslip, Simon Easterby and Anthony Foley, when they took the role.
READ MORE: IRFU calls on Ireland fans to light up Aviva Stadium in special pre-All Blacks clash show
But, says former international full-back Rob Kearney, this will prove to be one of the best decisions of the already highly-rated Andy Farrell regime.
"Yeh, I am a massive fan of Caelan's, I think it definitely is a natural progression," says the 95 times capped Ireland (2007-19) star.
"There could have been arguments to have made him captain last season, you know, if you were building four years out from a World Cup and placing your trust in who is going to be the next guy.
"I think he was always going to be an outstanding candidate, your no8 is part of the spine of your side."
Doris had all the skills and in one way is reminiscent of Italy great Sergio Parisse albeit Kearney suggests the Irishman is far more valuable - both are superb players but Doris is a far better team player.
"Parisse was head and shoulders better than all of the other 14 guys on the field that he was playing with so therefore a huge amount went through him.
"He took a lot of responsibilities on himself, sometimes he took on a little bit too much, you would see him kicking the ball an awful lot.
"Whereas Caelan is surrounded by 14 other genuine top class players and of those 14 you probably have got five or six who are world class.
"So I don't think he is going to be that one fulcrum point that everyone has to go through because of everybody that is around him."
Ireland have talent all over the park and Farrell's matchday selections and tactics are tailored to suit.
"If you look at your team, the hooker is very important, one of your locks, your no8, your axis of no9 and no10, one of the centres and, generally, the no15 is important so Caelan has grown an awful lot into his position.
"He played a little bit of no6 too but no8 probably suits him a little bit more, so I think his ceiling can be raised even higher again.
"It strikes me he is the type of player that, having been given this new sense of leadership and captaincy, this could bring even more out of him."
Sign up for the latest sport news from our Irish Mirror sport newsletter here and receive special updates on the Ireland rugby team during the November internationals.