We may be less than a month out from the start of the 2024 Six Nations, but there has still be no announcement on who will captain Ireland in the tournament.
The position has been vacant since Johnny Sexton's retirement after the Rugby World Cup last year, with Andy Farrell giving no indication as to who will be his replacement.
There are no shortage of potential candidates.
Peter O'Mahony would be next in line for the role, although his advancing years may mean that a more long-term solution could be sought. James Ryan and Garry Ringrose are also sure to be in the mix, with those two players having been appointed as co-captains of Leinster earlier this season.
However, some feel that we may see a bolter for the role over the coming weeks.
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Bernard Jackman back 'dark horse' to be next Ireland captain
While the trio mentioned above would be seen as the favourites to be the next Ireland captain, Bernard Jackman has a feeling that another member of the squad could be primed for the role.
Speaking on the RTÉ's Saturday Sport, the former Ireland hooker said he suspects that Caelan Doris may eventually be the man that is chosen by Andy Farrell to captain the side.
It's a big call for Farrell. I think there's a strong chance that it's going to be Caelan Doris.
I think there's a chance it'll be him because he's nailed on to start, [his] age profile. It would be a bolter from Farrell.
The other alternative is that Peter [O'Mahony] comes back and plays and they go for a short-term fix.
I don't know, there aren't a lot of fellas that you'd go, 'he should be captain'. I think Doris could end up being a bit of a dark horse.
It would certainly be an interesting choice.
Caelan Doris is less experienced than many of the other candidates for the role, with the Leinster player having been capped 36 times at test level. In saying that, that is still an impressive tally for a player that is only 25-years old.
He would certainly be a long-term solution, with Doris looking like a banker to be a starter for Ireland for the best part of the next decade. As well as that, he has shown some impressive leadership skills at both international and provincial level.
As Jackman points out, it would be a big call from Andy Farrell. It could also end up being a very shrewd one.
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