Declan Kidney hails skipper Jamie Heaslip

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has admitted that he has been impressed by new captain Jamie Heaslip.

The 29-year-old succeeded Brian O'Driscoll as the skipper before the Six Nations - a move which has proved controversial after two defeats from their opening three matches of the competition.

However, at a time when Ireland have been heavily damaged by injury, Kidney believes that the Leinster man will learn from his experience.

"When things aren't going as well as you want them to, you push the comments that are out there to one side and get on with your job," Kidney said.

"Jamie has done that and done it very well. There's a bit of adversity around the place and it's the measure of a man as to how he deals with that.

"Jamie's making strong decisions for us and all we need to do is execute on those decisions."

Ireland face France at the weekend.