First Test jitters and several years waiting in the wings have paved the way for Ben Smith to become a first-choice All Black fullback.

Smith’s form in the June Tests against England were of such quality that it propelled him past incumbent Israel Dagg and into the No.15 jersey for Saturday’s opening Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia.

He’s come a long way since he made his Test debut against Italy in Milan in 2009, when one of his first acts in the game was to drop the ball.

“That’s just one of those things. It can happen at any time. It’s just how you bounce back from that and, at the time, I was probably pretty young and learnt a lot from the opportunities that I got over there,” he said.

Smith didn’t get back into the team until 2012, but he was a major star for the All Blacks on the right wing last year and his form against England meant his standing as the best fullback in the country ahead of Dagg couldn’t be denied.

“We see Israel’s form where it was, but what has happened is that another guy’s come in and really gone to another level,” coach Steve Hansen said.

“We wouldn’t be doing our job right for the team if we didn’t pick Ben at fullback on his performances in the last two Tests. They were sensational.”

Hansen said Cory Jane’s good form on the right wing in the third Test against England helped sway his decision in Smith’s favour.

Smith said he wasn’t tempted to take up a lucrative overseas contract in his years waiting for an opening in the All Blacks.

“For me, I was always quite keen to get back into the All Blacks. No one wants to leave thinking ‘what if I might have stayed?’.”

He said he was looking forward to playing Australia and making the most of whatever counter-attacking opportunities came his way.