The All Blacks have found their No.6 for this year's Rugby World Cup, as Shannon Frizell took his chance with both hands in Saturday's Rugby Championship victory over South Africa.
Since the retirement of Jerome Kaino in 2017, the All Blacks have tried many in the quest for a hard-hitting blindside flanker, with mixed results.
Akira Ioane, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali'i, Ethan Blackadder and even the likes of Scott Barrett have all been tried with varying success, although none have been able to command the jersey outright.
But in the first two tests of 2023, 29-year-old Frizell has done all he can to show he's the man to pack the blind side of the scrum in Ian Foster's first choice plans.
Frizell made a team-high 13 tackles on defence, and sent Go Media Stadium Mt Smart to its collective feet with a try in the first half, sending Springboks fullback Willie le Roux flying with a Jonah Lomu-esque bump-off.
That came off the back of a win over Argentina that saw the loose forward impress in a jersey that was expected to be Scott Barrett's for this year.
Now, Frizell's displays have all but given him first rights on that No.6 shirt moving forward, with his coach in awe of what occurred against the world champions.
"He's just taken the challenge on board," said Foster. "It's a jersey he wants. I was delighted.
"I thought last week was one of his best tests, the Argentinians are a tough team and he was strong.
"He was strong. But to do it again this week is pretty special. I thought he should be pretty proud."
While rotation is likely to follow at some point before the World Cup - with home and away tests against Australia before a rematch against the Springboks at Twickenham, Frizell's efforts have made his teammates stand up and take note.
"He was awesome, wasn't he?" asked Brodie Retallick. "I put my head up and saw him running down the sideline on the replay with Willie le Roux.
"It's what you want from a No.6. It's awesome from him."
The All Blacks will enjoy a week's break, before preparations begin to face the Wallabies in Melbourne on July 29.
