Gatland criticises O'Driscoll captaincy

Warren Gatland is now Wasps' director of rugby

Former coach Warren Gatland has criticised the selection of Brian O'Driscoll as Ireland captain for the RBS Six Nations Championship.

The Lions centre was chosen by Gatland's successor Eddie O'Sullivan to lead the Irish in the autumn internationals after hooker Keith Wood was ruled out through injury.

After the successes of the autumn, O'Driscoll has been handed the role for the opening championship match against Scotland next Sunday.

But Gatland, now director of rugby at Wasps, believes Ireland's prospects of success will be affected by the appointment and argues the job should have gone to forward Anthony Foley.

"Ireland have earned the right to be ranked alongside England and France among the top three countries," said Gatland.

I think he could contribute far more without the burden of captaincy

Warren Gatland

"But I believe their prospects of justifying this status will be seriously undermined by the choice of Brian O'Driscoll as captain of the side," he wrote in Dublin newspaper, the Sunday Independent.

"Anthony Foley would be my choice. Even though O'Driscoll did a fantastic job in the autumn matches, the demands on him, both on and off the field, will be far greater in the 6 Nations.

"I wouldn't want my best player to be running from his position at centre to seek clarification from the referee about some decision in another part of the field.

"This is what made Keith Wood ideal. But even after years of experience, Woodie's game also suffered under the strain of captaincy.

"Though Brian clearly relished the experience of leading his country to a memorable win over Australia, I think he could contribute far more without the burden of captaincy, certainly at this stage of his career".

Ulster's James Topping has been drafted into the Ireland 'A' squad for Saturday's game against the Scots on Saturday 15 February (1930 GMT).

He replaces Ted Robinson of Connacht who has a hamstring injury.