Flanker Dan Lydiate has praised British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton for leading by example at international level.
Warburton, who guided the Lions to a successful series victory in Australia in 2013, also captains Wales and will do so for a record-breaking 34th time against Ireland this weekend.
The 27-year-old Lydiate shares a room with his skipper when on Wales duty and knows first-hand the influence he has on the side.
And Lydiate insists Warburton, 26, is getting better with age.
"He came into the captaincy quite young and as the years progressed he's grown into it," said Lydiate.
"He was quiet on the field when he started and we just followed his example. But now the older he's getting the more input he's given to the team."
Lydiate will come up against Ireland’s Sean O’Brien – a fellow Lion – on Saturday and the Welshman says there will be a lot of respect on show.
He added: "It will be blood sweat and tears during the match, and after the game we'll shake hands and have a good catch up.”
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