Recalled loose forward Luke Jacobson will bring his renewed sense of confidence, when he rejoins the All Blacks camp for next week's Bledisloe Cup opener at Melbourne.
After missing selection for the Ireland series in July and the start of the Rugby Championship, the versatile Chiefs enforcer has been named as an injury replacement for Shannon Frizell, who damaged his ribs during the demolition of Argentina on Saturday.
In 2018, the Cambridge native burst on to the Super Rugby scene with a highly physical enforcer approach that quickly earned him promotion to test level.
He was named in the Rugby World Cup squad in 2019, but his dream was squashed by concussion issues that plagued him for the next two years.
Now with a full campaign with the Chiefs under his belt and his delayed onset concussion behind him, Jacobson believes he's rediscovered the ruthless edge in contact that was once his calling card.
"It's probably what got me in [to the All Blacks] the first time, being dominant on defence, and I feel like I maybe started to shy away from that with some of my concussions," Jacobson said.
"But now that I've built my confidence back up with that, I've been trying to increase my impact in the contact area."
After Jacobson's non-selection in July, coach Ian Foster gave him an edict to improve his presence on the offensive side of the ball, which he's since made a priority,
Jacobson hasn't played a test since the win against Italy in November's European tour, but with both Frizell and Ardie Savea missing - the latter will stay in New Zealand for the birth of his child - the timing is ripe for him to return to the international arena.
Akira Ioane would likely claim the No.6 jersey, but Jacobson's ability to play both the back and side of the scrum should see him in line for a spot on the reserves bench.
But the ever-humble 25-year-old insists his expectations to add to his 12 test caps are tempered, with his focus on whatever role the squad requires.
"I'm not expecting anything going in there," said Jacobson. "I'm just looking forward to taking the opportunity with both hands.
"I feel like I can just go in there and give it my best crack with nothing to lose, so that's what I'll do."
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