Skipper.

Today is set to be a very special day for Caelan Doris after he was named captain of his country in Peter O’Mahony’s absence as Ireland get set to take on Italy in Round 2 of the Guinness Six Nations.

The 25-year-old back-row forward is also set for a rare positional switch after being named at 7 in what looks set to be one of the most important games of his career to date.

While Doris has lined out at 7 in the past, it’s the first time he has been given the honour of skippering his country and he has revealed he received a phone call this week from none other than former Ireland captain, Johnny Sexton.

Sexton led Ireland for many years before hanging up his boots after the World Cup in France last year and his advice to Doris was simple…

“Delight was the initial feeling but also nerves and excitement and finding my feet in the new role,” Doris said on being named captain.

“There’s been a bit of mixture of all that but it’s a pretty cool honour to have for the week.

“I was even on the phone to Johnny there during the week. There are a few key figures for us who aren’t involved this week but I’ve been leaning on them big time.

“The main one (piece of advice) has been ‘Be yourself’.

“The tendency is seeing Pete and seeing Johnny doing such a good job in how they do it and thinking, ‘How can I emulate that?’

“But their message has just been ‘be yourself’ – being authentic is the best way to lead and finding my own way to do it, which is challenging at times but it’s been good.”

No doubt Doris is ready for the task. Undoubtedly, it won’t be the last time he leads his country.