Luke Jacobson set to return for the All Blacks

Injury has limited Jacobson's chances, and after missing out on the 2019 Rugby World Cup when having to come home from Japan before the campaign had started, he has plenty to play for. He got on the field as a replacement in the final quarter of last weekend's Test in Melbourne.

"It was awesome to be back out there, it was a little bit of a hiatus last year, and I hadn't played [for the All Blacks] since the middle of 2021. I might have forgotten about how quick it was. I don't know if the game opened up a bit or if it was usually that fast; I was heaving.

"It was wicked to be out there and a pretty cool time to come on as well. The boys were getting a roll on. It was still hard out but I think the boys took a little sting out of the pack in that first 40 [minutes]."

Although it had been two years since he last played a Test, Saturday was not as nerve-wracking as his debut was.

"There's always a bit of uncertainty on the bench, you don't know when you're coming on but it was cool to get a decent stint out there."

Having to wait for game time was not an issue. Jacobson had focused on training and doing his best to be ready should a chance come at either blindside flanker or No8. He was comfortable with that because it was what he had been doing all his career.

"I was reasonably happy at the weekend so if I get another crack I've just got to do the same again."

Jacobson said the Australians would have taken some positives out of some of their breakdown work in Melbourne and would look to do even better in Dunedin.

"On the flipside we probably weren't as good at that sort of stuff as we would like to be so we'll be looking to take a step up there and I'm sure they'll come out and try to take it up front as they do and we'll be ready for that."

He felt the issues lay with the height of the ball carriers, especially in the first half.

Across the three Tests the All Blacks have played, they had encountered different styles among their opponents in the Rugby Championship yet still managed to put out efforts they could be proud of.

"As an All Black team we've got to keep moving forward, looking for that next step, the next bit of growth which we're looking for. The review was pretty thorough so there's a few things taken out of that we'll be able to focus on this week and hopefully nail down."