We need to talk about captaincy

Furlong could be left-field choice to lead Ireland towards World Cup

LSexton and O’Connell can help Furlong reach the next level

AST month Andy Farrell summoned 50 players to a oneday training camp at the high-performance centre in Abbotstown.

A gruelling schedule is on the horizon this season and the Ireland head coach took the opportunity to assemble a sizeable squad for an early briefing ahead of a daunting autumn schedule and a 2022 campaign, which will push this coaching team and the players to their limits.

It may have been a 24-hour get-together but the make-up of the group offered an insight into what Farrell and backroom team are planning ahead of November.

Notably, there was no sign of Ross Byrne.

The four out-halves summoned to the capital were Johnny Sexton, Joey Carbery, Billy Burns and Harry Byrne. And that would appear to be the pecking order at No10 at the moment.

Nothing has happened in the opening three rounds of the United Rugby Championship to suggest otherwise.

If anything, Sexton’s status as top dog has been solidified in recent weeks. He may be 36, but he has been the form Irish outhalf thus far.

The uplift in tempo and intensity in Leinster’s ranks when he was sprung from the bench against Zebre last weekend was notable. The fact that Harry Byrne once again broke down with a hip injury — a worrying trend in his fledgling career — will have concerned the Ireland brains trust.

Then there’s the form of Carbery, which was shaky in his two starts against the Sharks and Stormers. His defence is a major concern at the moment.

Burns has been steady for Ulster but he has failed to convince at Test level. Likewise, Ross Byrne. Jack Carty, meanwhile, doesn’t seem to be on Farrell’s radar. A maiden call-up for Ben Healy looks unlikely at this stage.

So, it appears that Sexton will start against Japan in less than a month’s time before the All Blacks roll into town the following week. In terms of long-term planning, relying on Sexton doesn’t seem the wisest move.

The Leinster playmaker has wondered aloud several times recently if this is going to be his final campaign. Saying that, he has looked fresh, fit and rejuvenated after a summer off. The Lions snub has clearly stoked the fires as well. Sexton never lacks for motivation but he looks even more focused at the moment.

He will continue to dominate this debate until Carbery and Co start putting on real heat. For now, Sexton remains the main man. He looks nailed on to start for Ireland in the autumn and few can argue with such a move.

The big question is whether Farrell will also retain Sexton as captain. This is one area where he needs to start thinking a bit bigger and a bit further down the line.

There is no question that Sexton remains the form playmaker across the four provinces at present. Will that remain the case this time next year as the national team gear up for the final straight of this World Cup cycle?

Farrell was part of Joe Schmidt’s coaching team, which leaned heavily on a 37-year-old Rory Best at the 2019 World Cup. It felt like that tournament in Japan was a step too far for the veteran Ulster hooker. Are Ireland really going to head to France with a 38-year-old captain?

Players need to grow into leadership roles as well. They need to find their own style and gauge the vibe of the playing group through the week. They need to develop a rapport with referees in games. Mastering the extra media commitments can be a challenge as well.

Warren Gatland didn’t quite see it that way. The Kiwi caused a major shock when he handed Conor Murray the Lions captaincy after Alun Wyn Jones was supposedly ruled out of the South Arica tour with a dislocated shoulder. The fact that the Munster scrumhalf had never led out his country during his 89 Test appearances didn’t seem to bother the Lions boss at the time.

Jones would make a miraculous recovery and Murray would never get the honour to lead the Lions, but it demonstrated Gatland’s nous for calculated risks.

He clearly saw something in