Tadhg Furlong will take over the Irish captaincy for this weekend's visit of Fiji to the Aviva Stadium, and the Leinster tighthead says it's something he never believed would be possible.
Head coach Andy Farrell is expected to make a number of changes to his side following last weekend's win against South Africa, with usual captain Johnny Sexton one of several frontline players to be rested.
It had been expected that Furlong would also sit out the visit of the Fijians, with the prop having suffered an ankle injury at the weekend, but he's shaken off that knock to retain his place in the squad, as he looks to build some more gametime.
It was also confirmed this afternoon that the Wexford native will captain Ireland for the very first time on what will be his 62nd cap.
And Furlong, who turns 30 next Monday, says he never expected to be handed the honour.
"Never even thought of it," he said of the appointment.
"I never even put the idea… You know when you dream as a young fella, you want to play for Ireland, you want to play for Leinster, you want to play for the Lions, I never even dreamed of captaining Ireland."
When pressed about what his dreams were as child, the tighthead stayed very much on brand.
"Spuds, gravy, the mother's Sunday roast," he laughed.
The role is clearly no joke for him though. Having established himself as arguably the best in his position in the world in recent seasons, he's recently joined the squad's leadership group alongside the likes of Sexton and Peter O'Mahony.
And he says it's been an eye-opening experience.
"I suppose there was a time where players were about doing their jobs, putting the blinkers on and getting about with their business.
"People have changed, rugby has changed, in terms of more rounded, holistic environments, and wanting peoples' opinions, wanting people to be themselves, wanting people to want to learn and not be afraid to ask for advice and be vulnerable a small bit.
"I had no clue of it. None of it. It's something I didn't know how to approach at the start. I think as a leadership group we didn't, we were quite quiet. 'What does Faz want?', was questioned. But as we grow and the years went on, it came a lot more naturally to us."
Having been asked to lead the team on Monday, he admitted he kept it quiet from friends and family until it was announced by the IRFU on Wednesday afternoon, as he worked towards getting his ankle right following his first half knock on Saturday.
"Is it something I'd like to do? I haven’t even thought of it. I didn’t even think it was on my radar. I just want to make the most out of the weekend."
And after taking a minor role in yesterday's session he trained fully today, and says he's fit and ready to go this weekend.
"It feels good, thankfully, I'm good to go thankfully.
"It's class, it's class," he added of the captaincy. "It's not something I ever thought was on my radar. To get an opportunity is special, you know?"
The role is a leap into the unknown for him too.
Saturday's game will be his first as a captain in a professional environment, and while he's led teams in underage grades, he says he'll have to make some changes from his last outing as skipper in an Ireland U18s game.
"It was a lot of blood and guts, banging tables back then.
"I've been lucky to be involved in a lot of good teams with a lot of good captains, it's trying to fit your way in and enjoy it as much as possible.
"It forces you to think outside your own game. Your blinkers are off. You need to be across how the squad is feeling, our game, how we're messaging, younger players coming through etc. How do we make them feel a million dollars from the minute they walk in the door so they can put their best foot forward.
"I suppose it's a little bit of everything and I suppose you learn a lot about yourself in respect of, you are outside your comfort zone a lot. You’re putting yourself in situations where you might be working with a player and he mightn’t exactly know that you’re working with him, small chats. It’s about having conversations and putting yourself out there, you know?"
With Sexton likely to return next week against Australia, Furlong's stint as Irish captain will be a short one for now.
And although time is on his side to do it again in future years, he says he admits his position on the pitch isn't always conducive to captaincy.
"To be brutally honest with you, I'm a prop. If I’m playing, I’m playing for 50/60 minutes, and I’ve my head in the ground for most of the game.
"I think there’s a reason front rows, and props especially, aren’t captain all that often. It’s because of that, and I think that’s the reality of it.
"Is it something I’d like to do? I haven’t even thought of it. I didn’t even think it was on my radar. I just want to make the most out of the weekend.
"I suppose in time when you look back, it's something no-one will ever take away from you, you know? So it’s definitely up there."
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