Six Nations 2015: Wales captain Sam Warburton 'grown into role'

Sam Warburton (left) captained the British and Irish Lions to a series win in Australia in 2013

Flanker Dan Lydiate says the best is yet to come from Sam Warburton as he sets a new record as Wales captain.

Warburton, 26, will lead Wales for the 34th time in Saturday's Six Nations match against Ireland in Cardiff.

The Cardiff Blues flanker took over the captaincy aged just 22 in the run-up to the 2011 World Cup after Matthew Rees was injured.

"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."

Warburton will overtake Bristol forward Ryan Jones to become his country's most capped captain on Saturday .

Wales have named an unchanged side as they chase a win which would keep them in the title race.

Ospreys flanker Lydiate has shared a room with back-row colleague Warburton on international duty with Wales.

But Lydiate shares his main love outside the game, farming, with the man who will be wearing the Irish number seven shirt on Saturday, Sean O'Brien.

Leinster's O'Brien was a team-mate of Lydiate's on the successful British and Irish Lions tour to Australia in the summer of 2013.

"It will be blood sweat and tears during the match, and after the game we'll shake hands and have a good catch up," Lydiate added.

"You had down time on tour so the boys were trying to get to know each other, so we'd always chat about farming with [England hooker] Tom Youngs and [Ireland hooker] Rory Best."