Kidney: Considering options

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New Ireland coach Declan Kidney has hinted he may choose a replacement for Brian O'Driscoll as captain.

Last season proved to be a difficult one for O'Driscoll, despite Leinster's Magners League success and Ireland's gutsy summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

The talismanic centre shouldered much of the burden as Ireland slumped alarmingly in the World Cup and RBS 6 Nations championship, the men in green ending the season eighth in the IRB world rankings.

With Ireland needing some strong performances against Canada in November in order to boost their rankings ahead of the 2011 World Cup seedings, Kidney may relieve O'Driscoll of the burden of responsibility.

The aim would be to free up the 29-year-old to rediscover his best form on the pitch at a crucial time.

Candidates

Munster duo Paul O'Connell and Ronan O'Gara would be prime candidates to take on the armband.

"Brian and I have been talking and taking a look at things. Come November we'll take a good look at it and we'll see how things are going," said Kidney, who has an extended Ireland squad together this week in Cork.

"At the moment, I think it's important that he just gets a chance to concentrate on his own game - because he's been shouldering things for the last five years.

"We'll see how things go. He's done a very good job (as captain) - you don't win three Triple Crowns and just throw that away too easily!

"At the same time, you want to give him a small bit of space.

"Without naming a captain ... it wouldn't be usual anyway to name a captain at the start of a (coaching) set-up. We'll just see how things go and give him a chance to enjoy his own rugby."