Before his fifth and potentially final test as All Blacks captain in 2021, Ardie Savea insists he's growing in the role, as his side prepare to face South Africa on the Gold Coast.
With Sam Cane, Sam Whitelock and Aaron Smith unavailable for the Australian-based Rugby Championship, Savea has acted as the All Blacks captain during their campaign.
A potentially more left-field choice by coach Ian Foster, with vice-captains Beauden Barrett and Brodie Retallick, and Crusaders captain Codie Taylor around him, Savea's success as the All Blacks skipper is indisputable.
From the four matches played under Savea, the All Blacks are unbeaten, with Saturday's second test against the Springboks certain to be another gruelling examination of his leadership.
And with the All Blacks to depart for the northern hemisphere, where they'll play tests in Europe and the US, Whitelock is expected to rejoin the side for their end-of-year tour.
But Savea is thankful for the opportunity to grow as a leader, after captaining the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2021.
"It's been amazing and challenging at the same time," Savea says. "I just try to trust and be myself, but honestly, the leaders I have around me complement me... we all complement each other.
"I'm confident the more I've sat in the saddle. It's not too much of a burden for me, I just kind of go with the flow kind of thing and rely on my other leaders to do their thing, their job."
Savea and the All Blacks aren't having any trouble predicting what's in store for them on the Gold Coast.
In last week's 19-17 victory at Townsville, the Springboks employed their trademark high-pressure kicking game, scoring their only try of the match as a direct result.
And despite criticism and "boring" tags being placed on Jacques Nienaber's South Africa, Savea is certain there won't be any deviation during the return clash.
But hoping to finish the Rugby Championship unbeaten, Savea insists his side are prepared for the aerial bombardment that's to come.
"We're kind of expecting the kicking game again, but in the back of our minds, we're ready for anything.
"We've got plans around that, we've just got to be on our toes as players and as a team, and just adapt to what comes.
"They put us under pressure [with] the way that they played, so it's around just being calm around that space [and] navigating that."
Join Newshub for live updates of the All Blacks v Springboks Rugby Championship clash from 11pm Saturday.
