O’Shea airs concern about captaincy dynamics

Conor O’Shea has questioned whether Ireland’s players will look to Brian O’Driscoll rather than new captain Jamie Heaslip for leadership when the pressure is at its greatest.

Declan Kidney controversially opted to appoint Heaslip skipper for the 2013 Six Nations, ending O’Driscoll’s nine-year reign in the post in a decision that disappointed the Lions centre and O’Shea believes O’Driscoll’s influence may yet undermine Heaslip.

“It’s one thing Heaslip captaining when O’Driscoll’s not in the team, like he did in the autumn internationals, but he’s now got Brian beside him,” he said.