Nick Champion de Crespigny's phone was blowing up after he was appointed Wallabies captain, but none was as special as the legend John Eales.
Champion de Crespigny will join a special list of players when he leads Australia out against Japan on Saturday in Tokyo.
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This includes one of the Wallabies' greatest ever skippers Eales, who claimed a World Cup title and several Bledisloe Cup titles.
"It was very special to me, very honoured. John just told me to be myself and trust my instincts and really embrace and enjoy every moment come Saturday," Champion de Crespigny said on Friday.
"It's somewhat surprising and not something [I was expecting. I think as a little boy you always look up to the Wallabies, and I was fortunate enough to grow up and watch Eales, George Gregan, and Michael Hooper captain this country.
"You look up to those guys since you were little, so it's a massive honour and privilege, and yeah, something I don't take lightly.
"...There was a little bit of surprise but I was very honoured and privileged to be asked by Joe just before the team announcement and the support from the group and the other players has been phenomenal."
The captaincy caps off a remarkable 18 months for the Western Force backrower, who made his name in the Top 14 with Castres.
A desire to pull on the gold jersey brought him back home, thrust into the Wallabies side for the first British & Irish Lions Test in Brisbane.
Now, Champion de Crespigny is left to soak in one of the highest honours in the game.
"[A] massive motivation for me coming back from France was to be able to represent my country and it's something I always believed I'd be I could do if I put the right things in place," he believes.
"I've been very fortunate to be within this group at the moment and in telling myself I was going to be captain, I think it's a massive honour and privilege and something I don't take lightly.
"I just want to be able to put the team first in everything I do."
