North Harbour outside back Matt Duffie says he was shocked to hear his name read out as one of four new caps for the All Blacks' end of year tour.
The 27-year-old former Kiwis and Melbourne Storm wing only found out the news when he watched the live stream of the announcement with his partner, and has been fielding congratulations ever since.
"It has been a crazy couple of hours," said Duffie. "My phone just lit up straight away, messages from all my friends and family and people who I have known along my journey.
"When my name got called out we just jumped around the lounge, screaming and balling our eyes out."
Being in the All Blacks squad was something that Duffie never thought would be possible after a run of horrendous injuries during his NRL career.
After the 2011 season, he had left shoulder reconstruction which was only the beginning in a string of problems for the winger.
During the 2012 season, he dislocated the same shoulder which required more surgery, and then after returning from that, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee.
The following year in 2014 during a pre-season training he ruptured his ACL in the same knee.
After 847 days without playing for the Storm, the winger made a successful return.
"I had a couple of bad injuries, bad years I guess and obviously the doubt kicked in and I didn't think I'd be able to play rugby at any level.
"To be in this position now is very exciting and grateful for all the help I got along the way, and it is nice to repay the faith to those people who helped me when I was injured."
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was full of praise over the winger, saying his constant improvement since joining the Blues earned him the call-up.
"He's a very good finisher, he's got pace, he's good in the air, he can play wing or fullback, and he's got a sense of maturity about him that will fit in very well with what we're trying to do at the moment," Hansen told reporters.
"He has done well with lots of injuries during his time at the Storm. I know they didn't want to let him go, they rated him very highly.
"Over the last couple of years, he's grown and grown and become very consistent."
Duffie is one of three players in the All Blacks squad who have also played NRL.
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