An emotional Ardie Savea says he aims to lead by example after being appointed All Blacks captain for next weekend's Rugby Championship clash with the Wallabies in Perth.
Savea will celebrate his 53rd appearance for his country by taking over the leadership after coach Ian Foster selected the all-action loose forward to replace stand-in skipper Sam Whitelock.
Whitelock will miss the game as his wife is due to give birth, while regular captain Sam Cane has been ruled out as he continues to recover from surgery on a pectoral injury.
"To be able to lead such a team, it's out of this world when I think about it," 27-year-old Savea told reporters.
"And to be able to tell Mum and Dad was huge. Two people that migrated from Samoa to create a better life for their kids - sorry, I'm getting a bit emotional - to be here for them is pretty special.
"I'm still in awe. It's a team that you dream of as a kid, and being able to lead is amazing. I'm lost for words and really grateful."
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Asked about his leadership style, Savea said: "A big thing is just being myself and leading the way I usually lead, which is just trying to do it through actions.
"I'm not a quiet dude but I usually go about things in a quiet way, so I won't change much."
The All Blacks will be seeking to complete a sweep of their three Tests against the Wallabies in Perth next Sunday, having already beaten them twice in Auckland to retain the Bledisloe Cup yet again.
