John Eales said today Australian vice-captain George Gregan was the right man to replace him as skipper of the Wallabies.
Eales (31), a veteran of 83 tests and Australia's most successful rugby union captain, is to retire after the final match of this year's Tri-Nations Series and Bledisloe Cup when the Wallabies host New Zealand at Sydney's Olympic Stadium on September 1st.
"George is tailormade, definitely," Eales was quoted as saying in the Herald Sunnewspaper this morning.
"He has fantastic leadership qualities. He's been a constant in the Wallabies to absolutely rely on. He's been vice-captain for a number of years and his form right throughout has been at A-plus level of consistency.
"I've no doubt George should step into that role".
Gregan (28) captained the ACT Brumbies, coached by Eddie Jones, to the Super 12 title in May.
Jones took over as Wallaby coach from the retiring Rod Macqueen last month.
Eales also nominated New South Wales Super 12 captain Matthew Burke, lock David Giffin and centre Daniel Herbert as key men in the Wallabies's leadership team in recent years.