After answering an SOS call earlier this week, Patrick Tuipulotu is a sight for sore eyes in the All Blacks camp, slotting onto the bench for Saturday's second test against Ireland.
Tuipulotu has returned to New Zealand after a stint in the Japanese Top League, missing the Blues' run to the Super Rugby Pacific final.
But coach Ian Foster has named the lock in the No.19 jersey against the Irish at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium in a week that sees the All Blacks short on numbers in the second row.
Senior lock Sam Whitelock was ruled out with concussion after the first-test victory, while Tupou Vaa'i will also miss the encounter, after testing positive for COVID-19. Josh Lord is also missing, after a knee injury brought about a premature end to his season.
Those injuries have seen Scott Barrett return to the second row, as Tuipulotu takes a spot on the bench with just days of training under his belt.
Foster insists he has no concerns over Tuipulotu, who needed NZ Rugby board dispensation to join the side.
"[He's] really good," Foster said. "We kept in touch with him over there.
"He was working on speeding up his movements in his game and certainly he's done that.
"He's leaner and he's excited. It is earlier than expected, but these things happen nowadays.
"He's done a lot of work in the last 2-3 days and it's great to see him back."
Foster isn't the only one relieved to see Tuipulotu. Blues captain Dalton Papalii has been named in a positional shift to wear the No.6 jersey and finds comfort in the sight of his predecessor guiding him over the course of the test week.
"I've missed him, eh" said Papalii. "Building a relationship with him, especially going to the Blues and now to this place, he's always looked out for the young fellas coming through.
"We respect him hugely, so seeing his face coming into the environment has been huge.
"It uplifts the morale around, seeing a person of that stature. It's pretty awesome to have him back."
Fellow lock Brodie Retallick is another to welcome Tuipulotu's return, with the All Blacks second-row cupboard worryingly bare through injury and COVID concerns.
"On Monday, we were all falling down," joked Retallick. "It's been a tough couple of weeks.
"I've played a fair bit of footy with Patty and he's been away in Japan. It's great to see him back in here.
"He's a massive frame. When he gets forward, I'm sure he's looking forward to the opportunity."
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