Kelly Brown admitted yesterday he would "love to" mark his comeback from a serious ankle injury by leading Scotland out against Japan at Murrayfield next Saturday, although Greig Laidlaw looks likely to retain the armband.
The Saracens flanker/No.8 was captain during last season's RBS 6 Nations Championship and kept the role when Scotland opened their summer tour to South Africa when they took on Samoa in Durban, but suffered ankle ligament damage after just 20 minutes of that game, although the 31-year-old remained on the field until half-time.
"It was in a ruck about halfway through the first half," Brown recalled. "I felt a pop but it wasn't sore, so I stayed on. I could tell it wasn't quite right and at half-time I came off and decided that was it."
Brown headed back home for an operation and Laidlaw took over the captaincy for the next two games.
With the Edinburgh player almost guaranteed to start as scrum-half and first-choice goal-kicker against Japan, he looks the likeliest candidate to carry on as captain as well. However, Brown said he would be happy to do the job if asked. "There's no doubt it is a huge honour," said the 58-times-capped Borderer. "I've been lucky enough to do it in the past and if I get to do it again I would love to."
Brown, who was speaking at the launch of a Caledonia Best competition offering a chance to watch the autumn Tests from a pitchside Murrayfield dugout, may have a fight on his hand for a starting place, let alone the leadership role.
Competition for places in the Scotland back row is probably more intense than it has been for some years, and the number of potential candidates grew again last week when Scott Johnson added the London Irish duo Blair Cowan and Kieran Low to the squad.
Brown said: "There's no doubt it is getting tougher. There is a lot of competition for every place. There's no-one who is absolutely nailed on to start. The squad is growing, the depth of talent is growing, and that has to be a good thing."
Brown also stated he was untroubled by the lack of game time he has had at Saracens since he was declared fit a few weeks ago. The forward has only started three games this season but said: "I'm not concerned at all. I've been fit for six matches and I've been involved in all six. Saracens are similar to Glasgow in that we mix and match the side.
"I know the coaches were wary not to rush me in, so I went bench-start-bench-start-bench-start. That was always the plan and I now feel I'm back to speed, fit, strong and fresh.
"If I had come back and started all six matches after working so hard in rehab there was a danger I would be a bit tired. But I feel fresh and good to go."
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