Delighted Doyle handed captaincy

KEVIN DOYLE has spoken of how honoured he feels to have been given the captain’s armband for this evening’s game against South Africa at Thomond Park.

“It’s a massive honour, my first time,” said the Wolves striker who will also be earning his 29th cap. “Obviously I realise it’s because a number of the lads have been sent home to prepare for the weekend – and some of them have far more caps than me – but still it’s a massive honour and I’m delighted. It came as a bit of a shock, it never entered my head. I’ve only been a few years in the squad, but I suppose I’m one of the older lads now, which is strange. But very few people get to captain their country and that it’s a friendly game doesn’t make any difference to me. I want to remember it and relish every second of it.”

Doyle, who briefly captained Reading last year during an injury crisis, said he had not prepared any inspirational words.

“I’m not one to give a rousing speech but we usually do a circle before the game and I’ll say what’s appropriate at the time,” he said. “And once the game begins I’ll try to do what I always do and just get on with the game. I’ll try to do things right and react in the right way to the referee and so on.”

The former Cork City man added that he hadn’t had a chance to tell his Wolves manager Mick McCarthy the news but he said he expected some good-humoured ribbing from the former ‘Captain Fantastic’.

“I don’t know how many times he was captain but he did a great job and I’m sure I won’t have the privilege of being a captain as many time as he was and in major tournaments like he was but, still, it’s an honour for me.”