Joe Schmidt might have named a 34-man squad for the upcoming Guinness International series, but for now he is yet to name an Ireland captain.

However he has suggested that there is a shortlist of 6 - 8 names.

Could Brian O'Driscoll return as captain or will the fact that he is only committed to one more year count against him? Jamie Heaslip replaced his Leinster team-mate in Declan Kidney's final year in charge but there are no guarantees that Schmidt will pick him.

The issue was discussed on Wednesday Night Rugby on Off The Ball and both Keith Wood and the Irish Times' Gerry Thornley believe that the next captain must be able to play at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

And for them, there is one standout choice:

"You'd be looking for someone who would be there for the next couple of years at least. That brings it down to Jamie Heaslip and Paul O'Connell. I would go with Paul O'Connell," said Wood.  

Thornley added: "Paul O'Connell clearly intends to play on to the next World Cup. It shouldn't be a factor but given the fact that Joe Schimdt is a former Leinster head coach, making a Munster player captain adds a certain balance. There's always merit in having a captain in the forwards. I just think that Paul O'Connell would be a natural leader of the team. My guess is he would be the most natural fit. You would also have Heaslip as part of the leadership group."

The lads started off Wednesday Night Rugby by assessing  the reasons why Welsh provinces' have decided to back English and French plans to create a breakaway European competition...