No sooner had the ink dried on Dalton Papalii's new two-year deal with NZ Rugby, he was named to make his first test start of 2022 in the second test against Ireland at Dunedin on Saturday.
After recommitting through 2024, the Blues skipper marked the occasion in fitting fashion, handed the No.6 jersey for the first time in his burgeoning 12-cap international career.
While Papalii typically plies his trade at openside flanker, he's no stranger to binding to the other side of the scrum, where his combative approach is equally effective - learning from some of the greatest blindside enforcers during his rise through the ranks.
"I've been following guys like Jerome Kaino growing up, and then actually playing with him at the Blues and getting a few tips off him," Papalii said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge."
The 24-year-old takes over from Scott Barrett, who has shifted into the second row to cover for the injured Sam Whitelock, with Tupou Vaai's unavailability leaving the All Blacks thin on locking options.
But as far as Papalii is concerned, this is less a temporary move or stop-gap measure, and more an opportunity to stake his long-term claim on a position that has seemed open for the taking through the past two seasons.
Ardie Savea, Todd Blackadder, Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson and Akira Ioane have all been part of the rotation at blindside, with Foster and his fellow selectors seemingly yet to settle on a concrete option.
"Everyone always says you go in the jersey, it's not yours, you're just carrying it on, leaving your legacy in it," said Papalii. "There's an opportunity for me to put a stamp on the No.6 jersey and leave my mark there.
"I want to play my own game and add my own flavour…leave a bit of a legacy in that jersey."
But for Whitelock's delayed concussion, Foster acknowledges he likely would have stuck with first-test starter Barrett, whose no-holds-barred play paid dividends at Eden Park.
That said, he insists Papalii's mobility and ball-carrying prowess are well-suited to the more expansive rugby that normally takes place under the Forsyth Barr Stadium roof.
"Different No.6, isn't he, but it's a hard ground under a roof and we expect the game to be fast," sais Foster. "I think Dalton is a very physical player in his own right, but he's also pretty quick and offers a different sort of skillset in that space.
Papalii is adamant he'll have minimal onfield adjustments for his role on Saturday, except for an even greater focus on playing the enforcer - a role he's quickly established as one of the hallmarks of his play.
"I think it's all the same, but the No.6 is, in my opinion, more of a hitman," he pointed out. "You've got to try and smack someone really early on.
"I'm just going to add my own flavour to it, and still go out their and do my job… do the basics well, and the one and two percenters will come along after that.
"I've just got to nail that first and maybe I'll get a few hits."
Join Newshub for live updates of the second All Blacks v Ireland test from 7pm Saturday.
