Ireland may have bounced back from their humbling loss to New Zealand with a three-point win over Argentina on Friday night, but their performance against a lesser opposition was once again concerning, lacking the clinical edge Andy Farrell's team had become so well known for.
While change has been plenty since that clinical Ireland went crashing out of the 2023 RWC to New Zealand last October, the most significant of them has been the passing of Johnny Sexton's captaincy to Peter O'Mahony and now Calean Doris.
Doris first captained Ireland when he led them out in Ireland's second test over South Africa in July, but the ongoing Autumn Series marked the Leinster man's first set of tests since assuming the role on a permanent basis from Peter O'Mahony.
The transition from the straight-shooting O'Mahony to the younger Doris has been mostly smooth, but there was an interesting exchange caught on ref mic towards the end of the Argentina game that shows the changing dynamic of the Irish captain
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15 November 2024; Caelan Doris of Ireland after the Autumn Nations Series match between Ireland and Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Ref Mic picks up interesting moment between Doris and O'Mahony
The moment between the referee, Peter O'Mahony, and Doris, which captured the clear change in dynamics from Irish captains of old to the younger Doris, occurred as the referee was dishing out Argentina's second yellow card of the day for a reckless shoulder to the head of the Irish captain.
Doris had been securing a ruck in the 75th minute when Argentina's Kodela recklessly threw himself at Doris sending him flying backwards.
𝐘𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝! 🟨
Argentina will finish the game with 14 men with Francisco Gomez Kodela shown a yellow for a dangerous clear-out. #IREvARG | #AutumnNations pic.twitter.com/gqI41igdGS— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 15, 2024
While initially, Paul Williams allowed play continue, it wasn't long until the incident was flagged for TMO review. As Williams returned to the big screen to review the incident, a voice that sounds very similar to Peter O'Mahony can be heard drawing the referee's attention to an issue in the previous play.
Something which the referee Paul Williams didn't take too kindly to, cautioning Doris: "Caelan I'll just talk with you" before Doris quickly apologises on behalf of his teammate: "Sorry sir".
After the TMO review resulted in a yellow card, referee Paul Williams re-approached Doris to explain his position on the situation, pointing in O'Mahony's direction during the process.
Thank you for trusting the process.
I was just saying thank you for trusting the process, and remember one voice only.
The exchange which could be heard over the airwaves only added to the abnormality spotted by the Irish Independent's Tony Ward during Friday's game.
Writing in the paper, Ward was miffed by the sight of O'Mahony leading Ireland's team-talk in the dying moments of the game, despite captain Caelan Doris still being on the field.
While the exchanges give a fascinating insight into the changing dynamics of the Irish captaincy, it is worth noting that even in their most successful period, Andy Farrell always relied on the leadership of a group of the country's senior players, leaning on them to lead his side.
Fortunately for Doris, he's already achieved one thing his predecessors seemed to get on only the rarest of occasions - the thanks of a referee.
A moment that could be indicative of how Caelan Doris' style of captaincy could be very different to that of both Peter O'Mahony and Johnny Sexton.
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