Declan Kidney could have a hell of a job picking the Irish captain for the Scotland game this weekend, with skipper in waiting Rory Best facing a race against time to be fit.
The Ulster hooker suffered damaged ribs in the bruising stalemate with France in Paris on Sunday afternoon and is struggling to reach full fitness ahead of the Scotland game on Saturday, with the six-day turnaround dramatically reducing his capacity to recover in time.
With Paul O’Connell set to miss the rest of the campaign and Brian O’Driscoll hors de combat since October, Best was expected to take over the skipper’s mantle for the remaining games against Scotland or England, but Declan Kidney may now be forced to look elsewhere.
We’ll know for certain the identity of the next captain when the Irish team is named at lunchtime this afternoon and if Best doesn’t make the starting XV, the likes of Jamie Heaslip, Donncha O’Callaghan, Rob Kearney or even Jonathan Sexton are likely to assume the captain’s armband, with Sean Cronin filling the void in the front row.
The potential absence of Best, allied with the definite absence of O’Connell and Conor Murray, is making what had already been a tricky-looking game against the Scots appear to be even more like what Stan might call a potential banana skin.
Lest we forget, the Scots came and spoiled our Triple Crown party on what was the last Six Nations international to be played in Croke Park two years ago. Andy Robinson has already named the Scotland team for the weekend’s encounter, which you can see here.
Ireland take on Scotland on Saturday at 2pm at the Aviva Stadium.
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