Sean O’Brien coy on Ireland captaincy role

For Gordon D’Arcy today could mark the end, for Jack Conan it is a beginning and for Sean O’Brien it is merely another peak in a remarkable international career.

O’Brien will don the armband for the first time against Scotland, though he was coy about declaring his candidacy for the permanent gig once Paul O’Connell moves on to Toulon and dismissive enough about the extra duties that will come with the new layer of responsibility.

He’s probably right to play it all down because a man could wreck his own head in thinking about the individual wants and needs of the team he leads today what with players aiming to make their own marks ahead of the final selection meeting for the World Cup.

“It’s done during the week,” said O’Brien of the peculiar difficulties in harnessing a collective mentality at times like these. “I don’t think anyone is on an individual battle or trying to go out and win the game on their own.

“It’s a collective game plan that we have to implement and if lads are going off on their own it won’t work out in their favour or the team’s. We realise that as a group.It is about backing each other up and making sure we execute as a group.”

His selection at eight, like that of Simon Zebo’s at 15, shows the line of thought being pursued by Joe Schmidt who is looking for versatility, even in his best and brightest, but it also allows for the selection of Conan on the blindside. O’Brien isn’t surprised to see him move up the rails this quickly and, in keeping with his light touch captaincy style, won’t be seeking his clubmate out for a last-minute pep talk before they make for the Aviva pitch.

“Jack knows the deal now. He knows what is expected. He is in the environment he knows there is nothing I can say to him only go out and enjoy it. It is his first cap so he should certainly go out and enjoy it.

“I won’t be saying a whole lot to him, just letting him go out and play his own game.

“When I first saw Jack coming into Leinster, he had a great attitude and a lot of skill. Since he was thrown out there he has been playing well and has been very consistent. It is no surprise that someone who is that consistent and doing their drills well comes to notice (of the national team).” For all of them, even O’Brien who will surely hold private hopes of emulating the standout effort of last week’s captain Jamie Heaslip, the standard has been set.

Anything less than the sleek levels of individual and collective excellence of Cardiff will be a let-down.

“Looking at it, it was obviously good that lads looked fit and they got a good blow-out. They executed some of the stuff we had done during the week very well and it was just good to give lads their first game and first taste of rugby this year. That’s what we want to do as a group now.”