Taking on Lions captaincy an easy decision, says Sam
SAM Warburton has revealed it was an easy decision to say yes to being British & Irish Lions captain for the tour of New Zealand.
The Wales flanker accepted straight away when he was offered the job by head coach Warren Gatland last Thursday.
He will become just the second man after England’s Martin Johnson to captain two Lions parties, having also done the job in 2013.
Warburton was replaced as Wales captain by Alun Wyn Jones for the Six Nations, but responded with an outstanding championship campaign. And that meant he felt comfortable in accepting the Lions captaincy when asked.
“I said yes straight away,” revealed the Cardiff Blues star.
“It was an easy decision. Obviously people are wondering why I wasn’t Welsh captain but now I’m Lions captain.
“It all goes back to just making sure you are playing well. I didn’t feel comfortable being Wales captain for the Six Nations. I didn’t feel I was playing my best rugby.
“I would find it difficult to lead a bunch boys out when you are not hitting your straps. That’s the one thing I always prioritise as captain.
“But I have been really pleased with my form and the way I am playing since the start of the Six Nations.
“That made the decision to say yes to the Lions captaincy a lot easier. I know I can look after the performance.
“Because I didn’t feel that same way in January, that was the main reason behind that with Wales.
“When they asked me about the Lions this time round it was an easy decision to say yes because I feel in a good place with my form and the way my body feels.”
Warburton continued: “As a player I have to feel I deserve my place in the Lions team. If I felt deep down I wasn’t playing well and just scraping into the squad, I would have said I don’t think I am the right person to do it (the captaincy). I wouldn’t have been in the right frame of mind.
“But because I do feel I am playing well and I feel very confident about my game at the minute, that is why I said yes.
“It is all about how I am playing. The captains I have really respected are the ones that play really well and empty the tank. I want to feel I am able to do that and at the minute I feel I can.”
Reflecting on doing the job for a second time and heading for New Zealand, he said: “I am definitely a lot more relaxed this time around. I found it really tough in 2013. I was only 24. Since then, I have gone through a lot and I don’t feel the pressure I felt four years ago.”