Returning Wallaby Charlie Cale is feeling the same emotions as his debut as the luckless back-rower launches at his chances for a Test return.
Cale will come off the bench on Saturday against Japan on Osaka, over two years on from his brief debut stint in gold.
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The 25-year-old was picked in Joe Schmidt's first game as Wallabies coach off the bench in 2024 and would start the following week against Wales, before injury struck, costing him well over two years of Rugby.
In a full circle moment, Cale will pull on the same jersey in Les Kiss' first game in charge, relishing the second chance.
"I think it matches the emotion around the first Test but it might even have a bit more just because of the last two years with injuries," he told reporters in Osaka.
"I've struggled with injury but finally I'm fit and able to get a couple of games at Super and then been fully training with Joe and Les.
"It sounds funny, but it probably means a little bit more than my first one."
Shoulder injuries limited Cale's 2024 and 2026 Super Rugby campaigns but a back issue in 2025 was the eye-opener for the Brumby.
"It was just like progressively getting worse and eventually got to a stage where I couldn't really move or bend over," he told Rugby.com.au at the start of the year.
What was hoped to be a week-to-week injury left him out for almost a year as the frustrations of the stress fracture built up.
"I never really had like a deadline," he explained.
"We're going to aim for a month and then it was just we wouldn't get to that month and then so we'd aim for the next month and so on so they went on for probably nine or ten months.
"So it was frustrating,but everyone goes through some sort of injury in their rugby career, and when you get out of it, you've got a new perspective on life in general. It was tough, but I've learned a lot from it, and I'm hoping it's a blessing in disguise."
Cale finds himself in a red-hot battle for a back-row spot, such is the quality of the Wallabies right now.
Fraser McReight replaces Carlo Tizzano in a straight swap from the Italy win, with Nick Champion de Crespigny, the skipper in last year's Japan match, missing the squad altogether.
Whilst Cale eyes off a starting role, his recent history ensures he won't take any chance for granted.
"I couldn't really care what jersey I wear; just being in there, I'm very happy, and I feel lucky to be picked," he said.
"I think anyone wants to play as many games wherever it may be, I'm just grateful to be playing and I think the reason I'm grateful is because of the last two years I've had."
