FRONT-ROWERS are rarely handed the captaincy reins, but Test prop Benn Robinson is suddenly in strong contention to be the Waratahs' skipper for the opening month of the Super Rugby tournament.
Although Rocky Elsom has been named the Waratahs captain, he is scheduled to miss the first three or four rounds of the tournament because of a hamstring problem.
In Elsom's absence, the Waratahs will have to use an untried leader for several important matches, including their opening game against titleholders Queensland Reds at ANZ Stadium on February 25.
Waratahs coach Michael Foley told the Herald yesterday he was considering Robinson, recently adjudged the best loose-head prop in rugby, as the man to lead his team until Elsom returns.
When Foley was asked if Robinson had captaincy potential, he replied: ''Benn is definitely captaincy material … In his position, Benn is one of the best going around … he is world class.
''He is coming back from injury, and probably would have been more prominent if he had been with the team a little more. But that won't stand in the way of him maybe taking that [captaincy] role on in the first few games of the year. He is very well respected by the team. He is always well received. So that is definitely a possibility.''
Robinson, who missed the World Cup because of a knee injury, will not play in tonight's trial match against Samoa in Tamworth, but is expected to be available for next Friday night's game against Tonga in Sydney.
Berrick Barnes is also in contention after being named captain for the first half of the Tamworth trial, where he will play at No.10. The back-up Waratahs line-up will play the second half, and be led by Barnes's No.10 replacement Daniel Halangahu.
Foley said Barnes deserved the first chance to lead the team this season because of his experience and heavy involvement at training.
''What we have talked a lot about recently is what we are expecting from our captain on game day,'' Foley said. ''A lot of the training we've done has involved our No.10s - Berrick and Daniel - taking responsibility, and it has worked well. And, obviously, your No.10 is central to what your team does on the field.
''We felt this first trial was a good opportunity to give them a chance [at leadership], and do exactly what they have been doing in training, by being themselves. The first trial involves us doing very much what we have been doing at training. We've told our two No.10s that we are expecting a lot from them, that they have our total support, and now it was a case of going out there and going for it.''
Earlier this year, Foley appointed a leadership group, which includes Elsom, Robinson, Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Dan Vickerman, Rob Horne and Tatafu Polota-Nau.
And good leadership is required because the Waratahs are about to head into the unknown, having little knowledge of the Samoan team or the Tongan line-up they face next week. Some coaches would be worried by that; not Foley, who believes it will be a refreshing exercise.
''The Pacific Islanders provide us with unpredictability. They are sides we don't often play. So we are going into the games almost unprepared for who we are playing, and with no analysis. Then we will see if we can still control the game,'' Foley said.
Foley was speaking at yesterday's Super Rugby season launch in Sydney, where a series of television advertisements indicated which players are regarded as the province's prime marketing tools.
Polota-Nau and Barnes front the Waratahs campaign, while the Melbourne Rebels are using their big-name signings - Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor - as their public face.
David Pocock, the new Western Force captain, will push the television message in Perth, while James Horwill and Will Genia head the Reds campaign. Pat McCabe, Ben Alexander and Ben Mowen are the big names in the Brumbies push.
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