Overlooked in Ian Foster's plans, TJ Perenara's opportunity to represent the Māori All Blacks in two matches against Ireland has seen the halfback tick off a long-held item on his career bucket list.
Perenara was a notable omission from Foster's 36-strong squad for the All Blacks' three-test series against the Irish, paving the way for him to represent the Māori All Blacks for the first time.
The halfback, who is of Te Arawa and Ngati Rangitihi descent, made his debut as a co-captain off the bench in the Māori All Blacks 32-17 victory against Ireland in Rotorua, and will start in the No.9 jersey for the second encounter, later this week.
After the opportunity for Perenara to represent the Māori All Blacks in the past has taken a back seat to his lengthy career with the All Blacks, this tour has seen the 30-year-old finally have the chance to connect with his culture.
And the opportunity to continue to learn in the Māori All Blacks' environment is something Perenara is relishing.
"It's been a very special time for me and my family, to be involved in an environment that I've wanted to be part of for a very long time," Perenara told Newshub.
"It's special. [I'm] probably really lucky to be doing it now, where I've started my te ao Māori and my te reo Māori journey, where I'm not afraid of things I don't know.
"A few years ago, if I'd come into the environment, my whakamā [embarrassment] around not knowing my te ao Māori, not knowing my te reo Māori might have held me back a little bit.
"But to be able to be here and seek the stuff I don't know and really take that in is something I'm really grateful for."
Perenara's involvement hasn't just been beneficial for himself either.
The halfback's place in the Māori All Blacks camp has been hailed by coach Clayton McMillan, grateful for Perenara's impact on and off the field.
"He's taken a real leadership role - which has been important," McMillan said. "Coming into the campaign, it was a concern of ours that we'd lost a number of players that have been part of our leadership spine in recent campaigns.
"Having him coming in has been a real blessing. He's been smart about how he's gone about that.
"He hasn't come in and wanted to run the show. He took his time to familiarise himself with the Māori environment, being new in there.
"Some players he wasn't familiar with, so he's been smart around that. But you know when he speaks, people listen."
What's more, Perenara is thankful for the opportunity to turn out for the Māori All Blacks, as something he can take pride in for the rest of his career, and pass down to his whānau.
"It's massive," Perenara added. "It's something that I've spoken about with my whānau for a very long time.
"Just being a part of the environment is so fulfilling. Being able to go home, tell stories and explain to my wife and my whānau about how privileged we are in this environment, and how privileged I am to be Māori.
"It's something that I'll cherish for a long time."
Join Newshub for live updates of the Māori All Blacks v Ireland from 7pm Wednesday
