Lealiifano backed for Brumbies captaincy

The 30-year-old flyhalf will finish his loan spell with Ulster this weekend. Lealiifano also missed most of last season due to his battle with leukaemia.

Lealiifano shared the captaincy duties with Sam Carter last year and Alaalatoa expects that combination to continue this year.

"They haven't named it yet, but if I was to have a bet I'd bet that those two [Carter and Lealiifano] would be captains," said Alaalatoa.

Even if Lealiifano is not wearing the captain's armband, the Brumbies will still see him as an important leader within the group.

Alaalatoa added: "He'll [Lealiifano] probably still be the captain or more importantly the boys will see him as our captain, that's probably the main thing," he said.

"As long as the boys see him and Carter as our captain then nothing will really change if he has the captain next to his name or not.

"In terms of having that pressure on him they might not give him that title, but the boys will still respect him and give him that high authority of being that top leader of the team."

Source: Sydney Morning Herald