After 42 not out, Conan primed to fill leader's boots

With Caelan Doris' run of 42 consecutive appearances for Ireland coming to an end, likely replacement Jack Conan knows the whole back row must step up.

Jack Conan at the IRFU High Performance Centre. Pic ©INPHO/Ben Brady

While the Ireland captaincy for this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Wales has aroused debate since it was confirmed Caelan Doris will miss the trip to Cardiff through injury, there has been little argument over the right man to fill the No.8 jersey.

An in-form Jack Conan is primed and ready to occupy a position he would regularly fill in most Test teams having made considerable impacts off the bench in the bonus-point victories over England and Scotland.