As the All Blacks reflect on a challenging year while in isolation at their downtown Auckland hotel, there are a few Blues players who will feel more satisfied than most.
And of those – wing Caleb Clarke, loose forwards Akira Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu, and prop Alex Hodgman – a quick display of gratitude to Blues coach Leon MacDonald may be in order during their many hours of free time because his careful handling of all four, but Clarke and Ioane in particular, allowed them to shine in the black jersey when earning their first test caps.
It was MacDonald who convinced Clarke to quickly come back to the Blues once the New Zealand sevens season was wrecked by the coronavirus, and the 21-year-old showed he would be a force in Super Rugby Aotearoa with a performance and try in his first game against the Hurricanes at Eden Park that foreshadowed what was to come several months later for the All Blacks against the Wallabies. And that was despite the fact he had trained specifically for the 15-player game for only three weeks before the Hurricanes match.
Clarke's mental and physical shifts while with the sevens team over summer were significant after he made his Blues debut as a 19-year-old three years ago. He also has a perfect role model in his dad, former Blues and All Blacks midfielder Eroni, who has instilled in his humble son a sense that he belongs at any level despite his youth.
But MacDonald should be given credit too because he has transformed the Blues from a team of perennial under-performers to a tight outfit that finished second behind the Crusaders in Super Rugby Aotearoa, one that should be looking towards next season with a renewed sense of optimism given their achievements this year and recent performances of their men in the black jersey.