Skipper.

Brian O’Driscoll reckons Munster flanker Peter O’Mahony “ticks all the boxes” when it comes to replacing Rory Best as the next Ireland captain.

Best revealed last week that he will likely retire after the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year, leaving Ireland without a captain after the showpiece event. O’Mahony and Johnny Sexton have both held the armband in Best’s absence in recent years, but O’Driscoll reckons O’Mahony could be the man for the job as opposed to his old Leinster teammate.

“Pete’s your shoe-in No 6. He’s respected and gets down and dirty every single game,” O’Driscoll told Off The Ball

“He doesn’t really dip below 6 out of 10 performances – always a 7 through to a 9/10. Munster captain, lots of experience and a very old head on young shoulders. I’m not talking about now. I mean four, five, six years ago.”

“He was old before his time. So I think he ticks all the relevant boxes.”

James Ryan is another name who has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the captaincy and while O’Driscoll believes the lock will “undoubtedly” be Ireland captain at some stage – it’s perhaps a bit too soon for him.

“I was too young at 23 to get it. It was work it out as you go,” he said.

“But it was too great an honour to turn down.”

“I probably wasn’t the world’s greatest orator, comfortable in stage situations. I used to stress about the captain’s meeting the night before the game. I was comfortable on the pitch.”

“James Ryan is undoubtedly a future Ireland captain,”