Cruden - I want to earn back respect of public

Aaron Cruden trains ahead of Sunday's test against England. Photo / Getty Images

Aaron Cruden has admitted to his surprise at being named as starting first-five against England on Sunday, adding that it gives him the perfect opportunity to win back the respect of his teammates and New Zealand rugby fans after his high-profile mistake saw him miss the All Blacks' trip to Argentina and South Africa.

Not required in the final Bledisloe Cup encounter of the year at Brisbane three weeks ago either, he made his return with a good 50-minute performance against the USA Eagles at Soldier Field last weekend, but starting at Twickenham ahead of Beauden Barrett and Dan Carter is something else entirely.

Cruden gets nod for All Blacks

Asked if he was nervous about his test rugby future following his time-keeping lapse in Auckland before the squad's flight to Buenos Aires, Cruden said: "Yeah, absolutely, I think you'd be silly not to and that certainly was the case. It probably alludes to [my comment at] not expecting to be named in the starting XV for this weekend so I guess you never know, putting yourself in a little bit of jeopardy like that what you could potentially lose, and that was definitely at the forefront of my mind."

Asked how the team reacted to his return, Cruden once again replied with candour, saying: "They were really good. We dealt with it as a team. The boys have been great, the management have been great for me, but obviously I was pretty nervous and apprehensive coming back in after what I'd done, but the boys, as Shag [coach Steve Hansen] has often said in the media, are family.

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"I know I stuffed up and I'll be working hard in these next couple of weeks and already since I've been back in the environment to earn back the respect that I lost and not only to the people in this team but also the rugby fans back home in New Zealand. This weekend is really the first opportunity I have to do that and I'm really excited by it."

Cruden has been backed by Hansen to improve his goalkicking display after he kicked only four from nine shots at Soldier Field, and the 25-year-old will have the familiar presence of not only Aaron Smith inside him at halfback, but also returning Chiefs teammate Sonny Bill Williams outside him at second-five.

Manawatu teammate Smith said: "It's good to have Cruds back, [his is] a calm voice I know very well."

With Carter, as expected, not considered match fit enough for a place in the match-day squad despite getting through 30 minutes against the USA, Barrett will cover the No10 and fullback spots.