James Ryan has described his selection as Ireland skipper for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Italy in Rome as "very cool".
Ryan, 27, takes over in the role from Johnny Sexton, who misses out due to the groin injury he suffered in the 32-19 victory over France the last time out.
Sexton will travel to provide assistance, but Ross Byrne will start at out-half at the Stadio Olimpico.
Leinster second row Ryan has skippered his country on six previous occasions, starting with the Autumn Nations Cup loss to England in 2020.
He was also handed the responsibility by Andy Farrell for the victories over Georgia, Japan, USA and Argentina, and last captained Ireland in last year's Six Nations defeat in Paris.
“It’s obviously a huge honour, it’s very cool, it’s a great moment for me and my family to captain my country this week," said Ryan. "It still hasn’t sunk in.
"We’ve got a good group there, a core leadership group that has been there for the last couple of years. I have big shoes to fill. He will be travelling over with us so this weekend so it’s great to have him around.
"I’ll be able to lean on guys like Garry (Ringrose) and Peter O’Mahony as well so hopefully it all works out."
Asked what sort of leader he is, Ryan replied: "I suppose you’d have to ask some of the other guys but I just try to lead by example, which is a boring answer but hopefully leading by actions this weekend.
"Being named captain is a huge honour but I’ve still got to bring the best version of myself, my best game. Being focused on my game is as important.
"The first time I captained Ireland against England, the first thing Faz told me was to focus on myself and not let it be a weight on my shoulders, to delegate if I needed and focus on my own game.
"So I don't know if it's that, but I haven't done it in a while now so for me it's just reinforcing that understanding this week that just like everybody else, I've got to get my stuff right."
But he admits he will take plenty from the way Sexton takes charge of the side.
"Probably the leading by actions things is the big one, the way he sets the standards in games but also every day, how competitive he is on the training pitch and the difference he makes when he’s training and when he’s not," said Ryan.
"I’m probably looking at his competitive instincts and the way he leads with his actions, that would be the main thing."
Farrell will be looking for his side to produce without their veteran talisman as they strive to win their third game of a possible Grand Slam run.
"That’s one of the things that Faz is brilliant at, it’s not 15 or 23, it’s all about the group - so I think the squad depth is one thing that has come on the last couple of years," assessed Ryan.
"Tadhg Furlong is one example, a big player for us who is injured, but how well has Finlay Bealham gone? He’s just an example.
"If there’s an injury or someone pulls out late there’s a no-excuse mentality in the group. Everyone has to be ready to play and fill that void so that’s just the mentality of the team at the moment.
"Everyone's got to be ready to play and to fill that void. So, yeah, that's the mentality of the team at the minute."
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