Keith Wood suggests an interesting choice for next Ireland captain
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Skipper.
Ireland are in need of a new captain following Johnny Sexton’s retirement and the legendary Keith Wood has put forward an interesting name to replace him.
Peter O’Mahony has been linked with the role following his decision to step down as Munster captain, while the Leinster co-captains Garry Ringrose and James Ryan have also been suggested as potential candidates.
But Wood has thrown a name into the hat that hasn’t been mentioned yet in hooker Dan Sheehan.
Wood, who captained Ireland at hooker, reckons Sheehan is a “generational talent” and his position is ideal.
“I don’t know him, so it’s hard when you’re looking at him, but I think he is a generational talent and we’ve been calling him that since he was about 23,” Wood told Off The Ball.
“I think he has a level of composure that I like a lot. For me, I like having a hooker there because he is always going to be beside the referee.
“You either have a hooker or you have a good second-row. Even a number eight at times, although I’m not as keen on a number eight being captain because they have to make a huge amount of immediate decisions, so you’re looking at levelling out the bases under which you’re going to be under pressure.”
Wood added that he is not a fan of Leinster’s decision to name co-captains.
“Having done it with club and country in the same year, I’m not a fan of it. I think you need to have a respite at some stage,” he added.
“I don’t like the co-captain thing at all, so I would just make it Ringrose at Leinster and, if you do that, Sheehan is the standout in Ireland for me.”