After months without an official game, All Blacks loose forward Akira Ioane was unsure if he could still play rugby.
The Blues powerhouse missed the opening two months of the Super Rugby Pacific season, but his return last week came at a time when the franchise is on a roll and another jersey is primed for the taking.
Ioane had simple goals for his first game back.
"I just wanted to make sure I could still play rugby," he told Newshub.
He proved just that in the win over Western Force, running seven times for 22 metres, beating two defenders and scoring a try in 69 minutes, although the speed of the game, was a brutal reminder of what's required.
"The lungs were gone," he said. "Body was alright, just my foot a little bit sore, little bit achy... probably the most I've done on it to date."
The freak training accident just days before the Blues season-opeiner left him with fractured foot in three places.
"One of the boys flung around in a tackle, and then landed on top of my foot with his knee and took me out."
After two months on the sidelines, Ioane rejoined a Blues team in an unfamiliar position - they've now extended their unbeaten run to nine games.
"It was hard watching the boys doing so well," he said. "When the team's going well, you just want to be part of it."
His return comes at a time when another blindside flanker jersey is also up for grabs - no-one's really put their hand up for the All Blacks No.6 jumper yet.
"There's still a lot of things I need to work on, but I'm happy with how I played and how we got the 'dub'," he said.
As they look to secure a finals spot, the Blues will be delighted they can call on Akira Ioane.
Join us at 7pm Friday for live updates of the Blues v Rebels Super Rugby Pacific clash
