Wales coach Steve Hansen's decision to name Martyn Williams, Colin Charvis, Robin McBryde and Stephen Jones as joint captains for the summer tour to Australia and New Zealand provoked a media furore. Accusations of indecision have flown around, but the straight-talking Kiwi has no time for the doubters.
"Some may consider it indecisive, but they could also call it innovative," Hansen told BBC Wales Sport.
"We want to grow the leadership in the team. We did it at Canterbury (Crusaders) with Todd Blackadder, Daryl Gibson and Aaron Mauger, and the Australian women's hockey team have used the system.
"People who don't understand sport get too hung up about the captaincy - you want 30 leaders ideally. You need one guy to stand up, but there's a thing called empowerment." Katrina Powell, one of the four captains of the Australian hockey team that won the 1998 World Cup, feels that the unusual system can work in appropriate circumstances.
 The Hockeyroos won the World Cup with four captains |
"We had four experienced, stand-out performers and were able to spread responsibility," she said. With other experienced players having moved on, though, the 'Hockeyroos' have now reverted to Powell as their sole captain.
Weaknesses
Hansen also had words for the young, uncapped players in his squad - and for those left at home.
The coach was adamant that the omissions were not for disciplinary reasons.
"We're trying to grow performances, but there's no doubt that our players have weaknesses," he said.
"Some things - like explosive speed - are difficult to work on when you're continually playing.
"We had the opportunity to take some younger players, and someone like Adam Jones can really play a role - he's improved hugely this season.
"A back-row player like Gareth Delve can be brought in earlier. He's very explosive, gives us another line-out option and is a ball carrier. "Bath have done a very good job of nurturing him and we all think he's ready for the next step."
MMIX
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