Cory Jane just hopes he can keep up when an 11-month hiatus from Test rugby ends against Australia on Saturday.
The 30-year-old confessed to being surprised when All Blacks coach Steve Hansen told him he will start, believing he may have been called south simply to have his fitness assessed and be part of the Bledisloe Cup Test build up in Dunedin.
Instead, he has been rewarded for his diligent recuperation from a knee injury, which required reconstructive surgery in March and saw him return to provincial action this month.
“I’ve gone straight from two ITM Cup games to a Test under a roof against Australia, so you know it’s going to be fast,” he said.
“I might struggle a bit.”
It was only when Hansen shoulder-tapped him that he realised he had some fast catching up to do.
He had noted from afar that the unbeaten All Blacks of 2013 were playing a different structure to last year, with the outside backs retaining their width rather than roaming for work.
“It’s been exciting to watch, I just can’t wait to be part of it and get comfortable in the team again.”
Season standout Ben Smith’s shift from right wing to centre this week has opened the door for the 43-Test veteran.
“It’s good that he’s been playing good,” Jane said of Smith.
“It’s also good that he’s moving into centre.”
Jane was back to wise-cracking best in front of the media on Wednesday, joking that he had snuck into a sleeping Smith’s room the previous night for a cuddle to “absorb” some of his form and thank him for his shift of position.
He also described himself as a sex symbol, although he lamented the small size of his legs.