After a 2021 that didn't go to plan, winger Caleb Clarke is taking nothing for granted, as he enjoys a resurgence in the All Blacks No.11 jersey.
Following a test debut at 21, Clarke's international career hasn't followed the traditional past.
Impressing in his early displays for club and country, Clarke put his All Blacks ambitions on hold last year, opting to chase his Olympic dream with the NZ sevens side, but was overlooked by coach Clark Laidlaw and didn't feature for the All Blacks at all in a COVID-hit season.
Since returning to 15s this year, Clarke hasn't taken a backwards step. The son of former All Black Eroni Clarke was a standout for the Blues on their run to the Super Rugby Pacific final, despite missing the deciding loss to the Crusaders with injury.
After winning his All Blacks spot back against South Africa last month, Clarke has made the jersey his own.
In his last outing - the 53-3 victory over Argentina - Clarke scored one try and made seven runs for 50 metres, as well as winning one turnover and making four tackles on defence.
Named again on the left wing for the All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup opener on Thursday, Clarke has spoken about moving on from the upset of 12 months ago.
"It's been real good fun, focussing on each day, not looking too far ahead," Clarke said.
"Reflecting on last year, I just wanted to try and put on that black jersey, even though I was still playing for the Blues or thinking about sevens, and I hadn't even played a Super Rugby game yet.
"The biggest learning I've taken out of the past is just being grateful for each day, having fun, being around the boys. That's helped me play to my best.
"You don't want to let the jersey down, don't want to let the boys down - that's the biggest thing.
"I'm just happy I get to play. I had to come out of injury to put this black jersey back on.
"I'm just happy to be on that field now."
In a year that's so far seen the All Blacks struggle to record back-to-back wins, consistency can't come soon enough for Clarke.
The All Blacks' patchy form giving Australia arguably their best chance at trans-Tasman bragging rights in a long time. The last time the Wallabies lifted the Bledisloe, all the way back in 2002, Clarke was just three years old.
With a 20-year streak on the line, Clarke is fully aware of what it means to keep the Cup in Kiwi hands.
"It means heaps," he said. "Probably just as much as every single one of us in the team, I want to keep winning it back.
"For the boys that have been here for the longest, like Sam Whitelock, you see how much it means to him. As young ones, we just want to do the jersey proud and bring it back.
"We heard from Smithy - Wayne Smith - who was part of a team that lost it. He talked about how hard it was to get it back.
"We don't want to be the team to lose it as well. It means a lot to all of us."
Join us from 9:45pm Thursday for live updates of the All Blacks v Wallabies Bledisloe Cup test
