Brodie Retallick was surprised to learn he will captain the All Blacks in tonight's Rugby Championship test against Argentina on the Gold Coast.
Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport Ltd 2021
The 86-test lock is leading the All Blacks for the first time in the absence of Ardie Savea, who suffered a head knock against the Wallabies last week.
Retallick only found out on Thursday night.
"I actually got a message from Foz to come down and see him before the team got named," he told media on the eve of the test.
"I thought I actually was going to get dropped because that's generally what happens the night before if you're not going to be in the team he lets you know.
"I walked in there and goes 'Ardie's not going to play, you're captain' so it was pretty much as simple as that."
The 30-year-old was named as one of Savea's vice-captains for the Rugby Championship and has been a co-captain at the Chiefs, but he concedes he doesn't have a lot of leadership experience.
"I'm probably a little bit inexperienced with the captaincy role but...I've been around some great leaders and trying to learn from them.
Photo: Daniel Carson/Photosport Ltd 2021
"We've got great leaders within this team as well.
"Nothing's really changed. Just a few extra messages here and there and lead through my actions."
Brodie Retallick was not a part of the All Blacks side that was stunned by Argentina in Sydney 10 months ago, but acknowledges valuable lessons have been learned from that test.
"They're probably played off the ball a little bit and people lost frustration with that and got taken off their game.
"There has been a real focus on us this week to make sure that we get our skill sets right and accuracy in our role to hopefully negate that."
Retallick believes the All Blacks are better prepared to face the Pumas in 2021.
"We're a different team at the moment. We're playing just great footy compared to last year.
"We just can't get caught up in all of the niggle and physicality and off the ball stuff and do what we do, play rugby and get our set piece right."
The Pumas celebrate their maiden win over the All Blacks in November 2020. Photo: Photosport
Tonight will be the 14th time Retallick has played Argentina and knows it will be won and lost up front.
"Set piece time is massive for the Argentinians. We all know they love to scrum.
"There's been times where they've had dominance up front; set piece, maul time and we've been lucky to get away with our skill sets.
"Their scrum from what we've seen in the video tape is very strong at the moment. They're big boys that just want to run straight at you and win the gain line."
The test is the first of a Rugby Championship double-header on the Gold Coast.
The All Blacks will play Argentina from 7:05pm (NZT), with the Springboks and Wallabies to square off at 10:05pm.