Wynne Gray: Rising leader a suitable fit as captain

When he first stepped on to the All Black stage six years ago, Mils Muliaina was a reserved young man. Very polite, but with the air of someone who was perhaps unsure of his tenure or uncomfortable about being in the spotlight.

Since that substitute debut against England and a start at fullback the following week, Muliaina has been a stone-cold selection certainty in the All Blacks. There have been switches to the wing and centre but for the bulk of his international career, he has worn the No 15 jersey.

As his career blossomed, so did Muliaina. The shyness disappeared, he became more expressive, more of a leader. Those qualities were recognised at the Chiefs when Muliaina filled in as skipper last season for the injured Jonno Gibbes, and was then promoted to the job fulltime this year.

Every time he spoke after the Chiefs' games this season, he was impressive. It was the same again yesterday when, despite carrying the bitterness of defeat in the Super 14 final, he delivered a sincere, mature speech to those in the crowd and the global television audience. It was classy; the sort of leadership he has shown within the All Blacks, a sign of the sort of good character which has seen him promoted to national captain against France in just under a fortnight.

With regular captain Richie McCaw and occasional leader Rodney So'oialo injured, Muliaina has been appointed to be the nation's 64th test skipper. He is only the second to captain the side from fullback, following Masterton's Joe O'Leary, who twice led the All Blacks against Australia in 1913.

He has shown how well he can lead. He has demanded a great deal from the Chiefs: he has asked them for plenty and shown the way.

Fullback may not be the ideal position from which to captain a side, but Muliaina will have his lieutenants throughout the team and there will be enough stoppages in play for him to deliver his instructions.

Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko and Tony Woodcock are likely to be the only survivors from the All Blacks' World Cup loss to France two years ago, and will take to Carisbrook intent on revenge and determined to celebrate their new skipper's elevation.