Six Nations 2013: England, Scotland and Wales captains describe the thrill of leading their countries CR I look at someone like Richie McCaw. To have won over 100 Tests, including the World Cup, and a huge amount as captain, speaks volumes about him. A lot of it is experience from who you play against, for example how someone like Jean de Villiers dealt with a situation. KB From the past, I liked the no-nonsense style of Finlay Calder. I've also played with some great captains, guys like Jason White, Steve Borthwick and John Smit. But I've learnt bits and pieces from all the captains I've played under. As a kid, I was a ballboy at Melrose. They had a load of Scotland stars then - Craig Chalmers, Bryan Redpath, people like that - but Robbie Brown, the captain, was the unsung hero and an inspiration to me. SW The biggest help to me has been Ryan Jones, who was captain when I first played for Wales and is still in the squad even if he is not playing tomorrow because of injury. He still has a big leadership role within the squad, not because that is what the coaches have told him to do, but because that is what he is like naturally. Describe your captaincy style in six words. CR It is best to speak to other people about it. I try to lead from the front and by my actions. KB Actions speak louder than words. Fact. SW "I think I lead by example." Is that six? Only joking! Natural, positive, optimistic, determined, calm and collected. What are your pre-match rituals? CR If I am at home, I normally have spaghetti bolognese the night before a game. I think when I was a kid, I heard it was a good meal to have and just stuck with it. I always look forward to it. But I try to stay clear of superstitions and stay level-headed. You don't want to be worried about not putting a sock on the right way. KB I'm always one of the last out for the warm-up. I make a point of taking some time for myself, sitting quietly with my head down, just thinking things through. I have done the lucky pants thing in the past. But then, as soon as you lose you have to change them, so I don't get too obsessive about things like that. SW I like to be one of the last to leave the dressing room after we have arrived at the ground. I just sit in my spot with my headphones on preparing myself. On the morning of a game I always receive a text from my dad with some words of encouragement, and it will always end with the words "Refuse to be denied," which is the title of my favourite song by Anthrax. That's become my motto. What do you do to relax and switch off from captaincy? CR When I get home I talk to my girlfriend or family about anything but rugby. I might take my dog out - it isn't the manliest of dogs, it is an Affenpinscher called Rico - to get away from everything. I might play golf - although I am very much a fair-weather golfer. KB Going home is enough. I'm married, with two young kids, and I just switch off from rugby when I'm there. I would say I play golf, but because of the children that's gone right out the window. But that's fine. There will be plenty of time for golf when I'm retired. SW I enjoy spending time with my fiancée Rachel and my family. My sister Holly has a baby boy called Harrison and I've seen a lot of him recently. I also play the drums. What has been your best moment as captain? CR The first time I led the guys out at Twickenham. I had never played an international there before so the first time I ran out, against Wales last year, with the flame-flowers going up, the crowd erupting, was a special moment. There is nothing quite like 80,000 people singing alongside you. KB I'm still waiting for it! I've been captain for three games and haven't had a win yet. It was a pretty good experience first to be named as captain, and then to lead the side out at Murrayfield against the All Blacks in my 50th Test. But I really do feel that I want to make the nation proud by winning. SW Two moments - last year's Grand Slam victory over France in Cardiff and the Triple Crown over England at Twickenham. The Triple Crown was the first thing I'd won as a Wales captain and it was a complete joy. The Grand Slam was both awesome and confusing. I'd only lasted a half after hurting my shoulder and I had to go off to hospital. And the toughest moment? CR Probably the same Wales game. You never like to lose at home, especially how we did. The first 15 minutes of the first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg was pretty ferocious as well. The crowd were up, we were in the heartland of South Africa rugby and experienced a pretty tough time. KB Losing to Tonga in November was pretty bad. Andy Robinson resigned the next day and I was really low about it all for a week. I was in a pretty dark place and I spent a lot of time thinking about what had happened, and why. I looked at myself to figure out how I could improve, and I spoke to a lot of the guys who were doing the same. SW The obvious answer is the red card I received in the World Cup semi-final loss to France in 2011 and that was really tough. But so was last autumn's campaign, when we lost all four matches and came under serious pressure from the press. Losing the final match to Australia in the last seconds was almost tougher than the red card. What sort of relationship do you have with your coach? CR You need to be open with your coach. You are a kind of mediator between the team and the coaches and if you feel a vibe and the guys are maybe tired, for example, you need to be honest and say we need to ease off for a bit. It is just about being honest with each other. KB Scott Johnson is a big character, so mostly I just sit there and laugh at his jokes. Apart from that, we are very open with each other. I will give some input here and there, but selection matters are for the coaches. Regarding tactics, I certainly don't feel inhibited about making my views known. It's a two-way thing. SW I have a really good relationship with Rob Howley. We talk all the time, but in terms of selection policies I have no say at all. In terms of tactics I am involved, but then so are quite a few other players who are in charge of, say, the kicking game or the line-outs. There are a lot of leaders on a rugby field these days. As for preparation there is a Captain's Run the day before the game, which I lead. What bonding exercises do your team go through to build team spirit? CR One of the best was when went for dinner last year and Stuart (Lancaster) presented us with letters from our family and friends about what it meant to see their son play for their country. At that moment, everyone had this collective unity and passion to go and play. KB One thing we've brought in is the club night, which happens once a week. It's a social evening, where we put all the tensions and pressures to one side, get to know each other a bit better and enjoy each others" company over a game of darts or dominoes or whatever. When I was a Glasgow player, we did bonding exercises with the Royal Marines in Arbroath. It was pretty fierce, boot-camp stuff: not very pleasant at the time. SW The training camps we have had in Poland have been the best. They were so tough they have always bonded the team really well. The worst? That's not for me to say, but when Alun Wyn Jones fell off his quad bike during the World Cup I could see the headlines coming. Thankfully he was uninjured. Are you in charge of arranging the pre and post-match entertainment for the squad? CR After the game we have ice baths and showers. We might have a couple of beers in the changing room if it has been a good day. Do we have a fine system? It sounds silly but not many boys are late. This is not the place to be late. KB Certainly not. We have a tradition of putting young guys and newcomers to the squad in charge of things like that. They get a lot of grief for their efforts, but it's actually a pretty good way of getting them up to speed and making them feel part of things. I'm a great believer in rugby's singing tradition. I enjoy it so I'll find any excuse to belt out a tune. SW We have various committees for those sorts of things. For instance the newcomers in the squad will always be in charge of laundry at the team hotel, making sure everyone knows the pick-up times. In terms of entertainment Gethin Jenkins is always involved because he has all the music playlists (and Jamie Roberts for the backs). Jon Davies and Lee Byrne look after the DVDs for bus journeys. What will be the last words you say to your players before kick-off on Saturday? CR We want to hit the ground running. Nothing is won in the first game but you can lose a lot on the first game. The New Zealand game gave us a massive injection of momentum but we want to move forward and raise the standard once again. KB I've got them worked out inside my head. But that's where they are staying for now. SW I honestly don't know. I don't like pre-planned speeches. It will probably be more tactical than emotional. There will be enough emotion anyway. Chris Robshaw is an ambassador for the QBE Coaching Club, a partnership between QBE and the RFU to recruit and train 2,015 new level two rugby coaches by 2015. For more information please visit www.QBErugby.com