A front-row captain requires front-row thinking, but Allan Alaalatoa says he will suppress his love of the scrum's dark arts to lead the ACT Brumbies to glory.
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The Brumbies unveiled Alaalatoa as the leader of their new generation on Tuesday, making him the first prop in the club's history to be given the full-time job.
His rise to the role shouldn't come as a surprise, especially considering he was named after one of Australian cricket's great leaders - Allan Border.
Someone has even updated Alaalatoa's Wikipedia page to suggest his new Brumbies nickname is "Captain Grumpy" because of his links to Border.
But the 25-year-old was a bundle of laughs on his first day in the gig, describing himself as a joker of the pack and drawing inspiration from a trio of former Brumbies skippers to develop his own leadership style.
The first challenge will be a pre-season trial against the Melbourne Rebels on Thursday before round one against the Queensland Reds on January 31.
First thing's first: does a front-row captain bench the rolling maul to make the scrum a weapon of choice?
"Five metres out from our own line ... scrum," Alaalatoa grins, tongue firmly in cheek.
"Obviously it depends on the game and whether we're losing or winning and by how much. Momentum as well.
"I've been playing for the Brumbies for six years now, I have a good feel for those momentum shifts in a game."
MORE BRUMBIES NEWS
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has put a support network in place to help Alaalatoa navigate his first season in charge.
Lachlan McCaffrey, Tom Cusack and Joe Powell will be vice captains, while Tom Banks and Scott Sio are in an extended leadership group.
The thinking is they will help ease the workload on Alaalatoa, as well as having readymade replacements to step in whenever Alaalatoa isn't on the field given tighthead props rarely, if ever, play an entire 80 minutes.
"We've got good leaders in other positions who will be able to support him, it's certainly not a one-man job," McKellar said.
"Whether it's Christian or Al, you always need good support [around the captain]. It is an extra mental load, it can't just be left to one man. But props are the smart ones."
Alaalatoa made his Brumbies debut in 2014 and his Test debut two years later.
Over that period he has been able to learn off Ben Mowen and Stephen Moore, who both became Wallabies captains, and most recently Christian Lealiifano.
"It's a huge honour. I was overwhelmed [when McKellar called]. To add your name to that list is very special," Alaalatoa said.
"The only thing that changes is that you have to speak to the ref, and the coin toss at the start. I'll see how I go with my gambling.
"I just want to lead by my actions. I'm been grateful to have had Stephen Moore, Ben Mowen and Christian Lealiifano. I saw how they went about their job ... to take what I learnt from them, I'm in a great position.
"People say [I'm a natural leader] ... I've always been someone who talks on the field, and a relaxed joker off the field. I've got to find that balance.
"But being captain won't change who I am. I've been picked for who I am ... that's a reminder for me, to be the best version of me and put it out there every day."
SUPER RUGBY TRIAL
January 23: ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at Greenfield Park, Albury. Game one at 3.45pm, game two at 6.15pm.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND ONE
January 31: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.