Kieran Read's future could take a dramatic leap forward this week as the Canterbury loose forward is on the shortlist for skipper should Richie McCaw be rested against Italy.
The 24-year-old is the logical long-term choice to succeed McCaw and selectors have used overseas tours before to blood young leaders.
In 2004, when he was just 23, McCaw stood in for regular skipper Tana Umaga who was rested against Wales.
A year later, when Umaga was again asked to take the week off, McCaw led the side against Ireland.
With five tests in five weeks, and the selectors having assured all 33 tourists of game time, there is an expectation the likes of McCaw, Dan Carter, Brad Thorn and Mils Muliaina could be rested against Italy on November 14.
The Italians, while they played well in Christchurch this June, are not expected to cause the All Blacks too much trouble.
England and France come in consecutive weeks after the Italians - contests that will force the All Blacks to dig deep. Without a break this week, McCaw, Carter, Muliaina and Thorn would go to Twickenham for their fourth test in four weeks, then their fifth in five against France.
Such a workload is practicable but carries risks that critical elements of the team will be fatigued and sore against the two most fearsome opponents.
There is also interest within the coaching group to start grooming future leaders.
Senior pros such as Andrew Hore, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Conrad Smith already have a role in the leadership set-up.
The desire is to push along the younger generation, the obviously talented Read who has a long future as an All Black.
Just as McCaw was developed as Umaga's successor, so too might Read begin the process of readying himself to take over from his Crusaders team-mate.
Such a move would have the full backing of Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder, himself a former All Black captain.
"If you are going to blood a young captain, [the Italy test] is the ideal opportunity," says Blackadder.
"It's a one-off, a caretaker role where there will be a wealth of experience to help him.
"I don't think it's the same pressure as being asked to captain the team in a Tri Nations test at home.
"Reado has experience as captain of both Canterbury and the Crusaders so I think, even though there would be more pressure and it's a big step up, it would be more about the privilege and the honour."
An argument could be made that as Read has only 14 test caps and has been an All Black for only 12 months, elevating him to the captaincy this week would be too soon.
There are two responses. The first is; if not Read, then who? In the past year, Rodney So'oialo and Muliaina were called in when McCaw was injured and Keven Mealamu was captain in Edinburgh in 2008 when McCaw was rested.
All three are older than McCaw. Muliaina and So'oialo were deemed the most suitable direct replacements to hold the fort. Mealamu's appointment was part reward and partly because no young pretender was quite ready.
If we accept the appointment has to be with an eye to the future, then options are thin. Anthony Boric captained Harbour this year and has composure and maturity but is a long way from a guaranteed starting place.
Adam Thomson has no recent captaincy experience, while Liam Messam just needs to be left alone to focus on becoming the world class player he so clearly could be.
And that's it - there isn't really anyone else, which is not to say Read would be promoted by default.
Blackadder believes his protégé is a natural captain who could already handle the responsibility of captaining the All Blacks long-term.
"He's a real contributor," says Blackadder. "We use him as a leader in our team. Whenever Richie is injured or unavailable, we turn to Reado. I think the All Black selectors will be aware of his influence and attitude because he wants to have input into the team and that comes through.
"He is in a battle for a jersey, though, so I don't think they should rush him. I don't think they should clutter him with too much. A one-off would be good."
Captaincy of the All Blacks, should it come this week, would signal that Read, of the current squad, is the man most likely to succeed McCaw when the openside quits.
It would also mean that since 2002, loose forwards from Canterbury have been preferred as national leaders.
Reuben Thorne assumed the captaincy in 2002 and 2003, leading the team in 23 tests. McCaw led the side for the 42nd time this morning.
The skippers
All Black Captains 2000-2009
* Todd Blackadder 2000 - 10 tests
* Anton Oliver 2001 - 10 tests
* Taine Randell 2002 - 3 tests
* Reuben Thorne 2002-03, 2007 - 23 tests
* Tana Umaga 2004-05 - 21 tests
* Richie McCaw 2004, 2006-present - 42 tests
* Jerry Collins 2006, 2007 - 2 tests
* Rodney So'oialo 2008 - 4 tests
* Keven Mealamu 2008 - 1 test
* Mils Muliaina 2009 - 3 tests
Kieran Read. Photo / Getty Images
Kieran Read's future could take a dramatic leap forward this week as the Canterbury loose forward is on the shortlist for skipper should Richie McCaw be rested against Italy.
The 24-year-old is the logical long-term choice to succeed McCaw and selectors have used overseas tours before to blood young leaders.
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