Tadhg Furlong says it like he sees it, usually with a smile on his face.
And so it was as he addressed the latest achievement in a world-class career.
"Wait until you see the team sheet and you'll know why I'm captain," he grinned. "It was just a process of elimination!
READ MORE: 'It could be my only time' - Tadhg Furlong on getting the Ireland captaincy for Fiji clash
"I can't name it yet, wait until you see."
Andy Farrell names his side this afternoon to take on Fiji at the Aviva Stadium and Furlong will lead the much-changed team for the first time.
On the back of the intensity of last Saturday's win against South Africa, Johnny Sexton, Peter O'Mahony and James Ryan are being rested for next week's final Autumn series clash with Australia.
When Furlong says that this could be his only time to lead the team out, he does so in with a laugh while also making a serious point.
"I don't try to be someone I'm not," he explained. "But then I wouldn't use social media really, either.
"Just be yourself. I always viewed interviews as a chat more so than throwing party lines out.
"You have to toe the line with certain things but, in general, it's just being honest. You can never be caught out if you're honest."
While playing down the honour, the 29-year-old is aware of what it means to others - to family and friends, clubs like his beloved New Ross - for a player who didn't come up through the traditional schools pathway to become Ireland captain.
His phone was hopping when he came in from training, unaware that the IRFU had made public his achievement.
"I can understand because I was one of them," Furlong said.
"Shane Horgan would have come through, Seanie (O'Brien) comes through...I immediately identify with those people because they're from a similar background. John Hayes the same. It's easy to identify.
"We're lucky that there's so much more of us coming through, especially in the professional game.
"You don't have to look all that far anymore, whereas it was only two or three back in my day.
"It's more accessible now. It's not like it's just Sean O'Brien and Tullow. It would be a Wexford RFC fella looking up to Brian Deeny, who's playing in Leinster.
"It has become far more local than regional and it's only good for the game."
Furlong is not a "mad emotional" player and it took time for him - and plenty of other players - to get used to Farrell's methods, the emphasis put on being open to questioning things and open to showing a more vulnerable side.
Before that it was about keeping his head down, focusing on his own game. Now he is an integral part of Ireland's leadership group.
And Furlong might even get emotional when he walks out onto the Lansdowne Road turf.
"Maybe," he said. "Sometimes it hits you.
"You think you're not and next thing, for a big game and the anthems, it just catches you.
"It's not in your consciousness but, next thing, I'm always looking up and thinking, 'The amount of people here to see us, class'.
"On the way to the game, you see a young fella with a flag waving at us, and it's the best thing in the world because he's after seeing the Irish rugby bus.
"I love the bus on the way in.
"Everyone’s different, but I love to look - the sirens are on, and you can go past cars and they’re beeping, or you go past people outside pubs and their arms go up.
"It’s class. It’s our people. You identify with them.
"As much as you’d love to be them, supping a pint of Guinness, you're getting ready for a game when you’re going through absolute hell in your body and your head, knowing what’s ahead of you.
"You identify with that and that gets to me."
READ NEXT:
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
