Johnny Sexton has returned to the Ireland camp of late, as the process continues to find his long-term successor.
Sexton retired immediately after the defeat to New Zealand in last year's Rugby World Cup final, after almost 15 years lining out for his country. Since Ronan O'Gara's retirement in 2013, Sexton had been in effect the undisputed choice at fly-half.
In the buildup to this year's Autumn Internationals, it was revealed that Sexton had returned to aid Andy Farrell's coaching team in preparing the next generation of Irish 10s to ultimately take up his mantle at fly-half.
Sexton does of course bring winning experience and bags of pedigree to the role - but former England international Austin Healey has explained why he does not see it as a positive step from Ireland.
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Austin Healey explains major issue he has with Johnny Sexton's Ireland coaching role
6 October 2023; Jack Crowley and Jonathan Sexton during an Ireland rugby captain's run at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
The task of succeeding Johnny Sexton as Ireland's fly-half is most certainly a heavy one. A host of contenders are waiting in the wings, with Munster's Jack Crowley having started every game since Sexton's retirement.
Leinster prodigy Sam Prendergast was named in the matchday squad for Friday's test against Argentina, a man heavily tipped to carry on Sexton's legacy for both province and country.
Both men will have received guidance from Johnny Sexton in recent weeks - but that is not something that Austin Healey necessarily sees as a positive.
The former England scrum-half appeared alongside Brian O'Driscoll on TNT's coverage of Ireland v Argentina and explained the major problem he saw with Sexton's involvement with Ireland.
Do you think a bit of it is about authority? And stepping into the shoes of probably the most authoritarian player Ireland have ever had in Johnny Sexton?
If he's in the squad as well, I still think that's a bit of a problem.
If I'm any one of those three 10s, I'll ask Sexton to be there myself, but I don't want him there telling me what to do if I'm about to take over the 10 shirt.
He's in camp, he's giving instruction, he's sort of semi-coaching in a lot of ways. You need these guys to be their own person, to have their own authority. Particularly the forwards will notice that. You need a guy who shouts at the forwards, and they trust Sexton, he was one of the best at that.
If Sexton is there, it's like the Alex Ferguson scenario at Man United. Every manager was always looking up into the stand, as were the fans.
It's time to move on, for me.
No holding back from Healey, and the comparison with the Manchester United situation is an intriguing one. The image of Alex Ferguson staring down disapprovingly from the stands as manager after manager has attempted to succeed him in the United hotseat is a situation Ireland will be hoping not to emulate.
Alongside Healey, Brian O'Driscoll brought an equally intriguing perspective, suggesting that Prendergast may stand to gain more from Sexton's involvement than Crowley does.
"I want to see Crowley today doing that - barking orders, calling the multiphase," said O'Driscoll. "Sometimes, as an outside centre, that's your job, calling in plays, being an extra set of eyes but I want Crowley to take a bit of ownership.
"I would say about Prendergast that he's the most like Johnny Sexton because of that ability to see the pass, see the space. So, maybe, he's more akin to developing that little bit of extra encouragement he's going to get. Whereas the others have been in camp under Johnny and it's more challenging."
The figure of Johnny Sexton looms large in Irish rugby - one can only hope that it is not an overbearing one for the next generation of Irish outhalves.
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