Highlanders wing Hosea Gear admits that he is enjoying his stint as the Dunedin-based franchise's captain while Andrew Hore is on the sidelines due to suspension.
Gear has skippered the Highlanders in all three their pre-season matches - against the Crusaders, Chiefs and Blues - while Hore, who was announced as the Highlanders 2013 captain last year, serves a five-week ban for striking Wales lock Bradley Davies during a Test for the All Blacks in Cardiff last year.
Hore will miss the Highlanders' season opener against the Chiefs in Dunedin on Friday.
The Highlanders have a bye in Round Three which means the hooker will only return to action against the Cheetahs in Invercargill on March 9.
Gear admitted that he was thrilled to be captaining the Highlanders.
"It's been challenging at times but I'm fortunate that we've got a lot of experienced guys in the side," he told Fairfax Media.
"That definitely takes a load off my shoulders. Trying to get the boys to gel together is the most important thing for me."
So how is he coping with the idea of handing over the captaincy duties when Hore returns?
"I'm sort of getting used to it, eh," he joked.
"It's like I said, I don't think my role will change much. We are more of a group as opposed to one guy leading the team."
Comments
kenzo says...
I understand your concern mate but the reality is that there isnt enough experienced otago players anymore after the player exodus. Tom donnelly could of been an option but he shipped off to the crusaders so were left with southlanders and wellington misfits which is fine by me until the next generation of otago players begin to mature. If it means anything andrew hore is otago born anyway. I would love to see another otago golden age ala 1998 but good things take time and the focus needs to be on rebuilding.
Posted 04:25 19th February 2013
PREEST says...
I feel it would be better to have someone who is actually from Otago to captain the Highlanders.
Maybe it's just me, but I am getting a little concerned that our game is following in the steps of soccer with players being bought and sold and moving from province to province. I remember when every player in a squad was from the actual area the team is from. I understand it's about money, but it is a growing trend...
Posted 13:14 18th February 2013