All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor may be looking over his shoulder on this Northern Hemisphere tour, but he's doing it with a smile on his face.
The Crusaders front-rower has been among New Zealand's best international performers this year, showing off a repertoire that few knew existed in his previous role off the bench.
With both hands, Taylor has taken the chance provided by Dane Coles' injury-enforced absence over the past 12 months, but must now withstand the comeback of a player who has revolutionised the hooker position in recent years.
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Coles, 31, returned to the All Blacks team for last week's romp over Japan, showing he was ready to take his place back in the top line-up with his team's opening try, scored in the corner on the end of a back-line movement.
"I was stoked for him, mate," Taylor chuckles. "He was seagulling - that's what we do best.
"Just his energy out there, you could sense he was ready to get stuck in. I think it was a great stepping stone for him to get back into some serious test footy.
"He does what he always does - he performed in a black jersey."
Coles has been plagued with injury over the past couple of years. He suffered a knee injury against France in Paris last November and missed the entire Super rugby season in recovery.
But he's also suffered several concussions that took a mental toll on the player nominated as one of the world's best in 2016.
He hasn't been around the All Blacks camp for several months, usually lurking as a highly paid waterboy, but is now back to his full role - giving lip to coaches, staff and teammates.
"You can tell that he's back in his own mindset and his personality," says Taylor.
"Probably, when he was under those injury clouds, he withdrew a bit to allow the likes of [Nathan Harris] and myself to come in and stamp our own mark, which was awesome of him to do.
"But to see him back bubbly is a good sign, because it means he feels 100 percent and he's ready to go again."
"It is inspiring for someone about for that long to come back and it's like he never left - it's very inspiring."
A feature of this champion All Blacks programme is the 'all for one, one for all' mantra that sets the tone across the park. Just as the midfield squad compete with and encourage each other, Taylor sees Coles' return as a positive for his own aspirations.
"I just want to perform in the black jersey, whether that's starting or whatever," he says. "Ideally, I'd like to be out there first, as any All Black does.
"We just want to represent our country and do it proud.
"For me, I've got my own things I want to work on and really develop, and that drives me every day to get better, because I know you're never the finished product."
The hooker selection will be a particular point of interest, when the All Blacks team to meet England is announced on Thursday.
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