Bernard Jackman believes Andy Farrell has made the right decision to name Peter O'Mahony as Ireland captain for the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, even if it's just a short-term choice.
The Munster flanker was today named as the successor to Johnny Sexton as Ireland captain, heading up a 34-player squad for the championship ahead of the opener away to France on Friday 2 February.
O'Mahony, who stood down as Munster captain in November, has previously filled in as Ireland skipper 10 times across his 101-cap career.
"The captain of Ireland should be on a central contract..." - Bernard Jackman talks about Peter O'Mahony's contract situation at Ireland and Munster.
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Jackman says with Ireland heading into an uncertain short-term after the retirement of Sexton, O'Mahony's appointment makes a lot of sense.
"He's the clear-cut candidate to be the next captain," Jackman told the RTÉ Rugby podcast.
James Ryan, Garry Ringrose and Caelan Doris had all been tipped as potential captains in the long-term for Ireland, with Ryan having regularly covered the role in recent years.
But Jackman says with Farrell set to take a sabbatical from coaching Ireland leading up to the 2025 Lions tour, O'Mahony's experience may have factored into the decision.
"There was a question whether Farrell would try and blood the most likely captain for the next World Cup, and maybe Peter is going all the way to Australia [2027 Rugby World Cup], and that's the goal that has been set out for him and there's that continuity that Farrell wants.
"Or, he's said that this is a tricky campaign, with France and England away, and we want to have the most experienced players, and the most suitable to captaincy. And he is suited to captaincy.
"From a Farrell point of view it makes sense short-term, and I suppose it's a long way to the next World Cup. He probably feels like if Peter drops out of this team to form or injury, he'll find another successor. It's a great honour for him."
With O'Mahony named captain, it adds another layer of intrigue to his contract situation.
The 34-year-old's current IRFU central contract is set to expire at the end of this season, with reports this week that he's yet to be offered a new deal by either the IRFU or Munster.
Should the IRFU decide against renewing his deal, it would leave Munster having to take on a substantial salary to retain their player.
"My understanding is he wants to keep playing, and keep playing for Munster," Jackman added.
"Effectively he goes from being a zero-cost player to being a cost. If you're trying to cut your overall budget, contracting players you already had for free is counter-productive.
"Is this is a game of chess that Munster are playing, or is it just the situation that they have to manage the books next year? I don't know, but this has changed the whole situation now."
Jackman added that if O'Mahony's captaincy extends beyond the Six Nations and summer tour of South Africa, it should fall on the IRFU to renew his deal.
"There's an argument that you re-contract him on a central contract. The captain of Ireland should be on a central contract, and he is at the moment, for this Six Nations. If he is going to be captain next year, he should be on a central contract.
"If that decision is taken away from Munster, and it's done by the IRFU, well Munster are going to benefit from Peter O'Mahony next season as well.
"I'll be shocked if Pete O'Mahony isn't playing for Munster next season if he wants to play, and his body holds up. It's just who pays him now becomes less clear, but it's more probable that he will stay."
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