Beauden Barrett has been promoted to tour captain for the All Blacks in regular skipper Kieran Read's place for the first week of this year's end-of-year tour, but who will lead the side against the Barbarians still remains in the air.
Both Barrett and coach Steve Hansen confirmed today that the first-five had taken over the leadership role in Read's absence.
"In Kieran's absence, Steve gave me the heads-up yesterday," Barrett said.
"It's exciting - I'm really looking forward to the week ahead. First week in the northern hemisphere to play, hopefully, some attractive footy."
But Barrett reminded media at this morning's press conference not to jump the gun with how Barrett's role as tour captain differentiates from being the skipper on game day.
"The team hasn't been named so I don't where I am, where that fits in to the whole matchday 15 or 23."
When media tried to find out who the leader would be, Hansen remained just as transparent.
"Beauden's the vice captain so he's here so he'll lead or drive the team from a captain's point of view this week," Hansen said.
"He's the head leader at the moment in the group on the ground and then we'll pick a captain from the squad we pick."
Members of the All Blacks' leadership group who won't join the team until next week include Read, Sonny Bill Williams, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett and Sam Whitelock.
Anton Liener-Brown was also pencilled in for a week off but was called into the squad to cover Jack Goodhue after the Northland midfielder fell ill.
The senior members will join the squad for their Test against France next week after they play the Barbarians at Twickenham next Sunday morning.
The All Blacks kick off that match at 2:30am NZT on Sunday 5 November.
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