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Cape Town - Warren Whiteley says he has dreamed about captaining the Springboks, despite that not being his major focus right now.
The Lions skipper is set to miss the rest of the Super Rugby season with a shoulder injury, but seeing Johannesburg-side through to the play-offs remains his main priority at the moment.
Whiteley has been in superb form for the Lions in 2016 and, as a result, has broken into the Springbok set-up in a big way.
He was instrumental for the Boks off the bench in the second Test against Ireland in Johannesburg and then he started the series-decider in Port Elizabeth.
Because of his clear leadership ability and commitment on the field, Whiteley has been tipped as a future Springbok captain.
His style, on and off the field, has been likened to that of former Bok captain Gary Teichmann.
"It’s a huge compliment and honour to be compared to Teichmann," Whiteley told Sport24 in a question and answer-style interview.
"I originally hail from Durban and he was a boyhood hero of mine. It’s a massive task to live up to the player and captain he was, but I appreciate the comparison.
"In terms of the Springbok captaincy, I can’t deny that I have dreamed about it. As a player, the ultimate is to captain your team.
"But, for me, it’s about first proving myself at international level and being the best player in my position before I can captain. I’ve only started one Test match and, first and foremost, it will be about establishing myself."
