Wallabies scrumhalf Nic White is cherishing every last moment in the gold jersey as his prolonged farewell tour continues in North Queensland.
White will start for the Wallabies in Saturday's Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Townsville, almost two months on from leaving Accor Stadium to a standing ovation after his initial retirement.
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However, a hamstring injury to Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon saw the 35-year-old put his plans on hold for the time being before starting in a famous win over the Springboks at Ellis Park.
“It’s a weird one, isn’t it. I don't know what the title is there, but semi-retired,” White said and laughed to reporters.
“It's just taking each week as it comes. I know that sounds cliché, but it literally is how we're taking it at the moment.
“I’m still not backflipping on hanging the boots up this year; that will definitely come. I haven't changed my mind there, just the goalposts or the finish line has moved lately, but I'll continue to put my hand up and as long as I'm needed.”
This could continue into the Bledisloe Cup series, depending on Gordon's fitness, which would set up a fitting second farewell in his new home, Perth.
But White can only remain focused on the present in his mind, especially in his current situation.
“It is something you try to tell yourself throughout your career anyway, that treat it like it's your last, but I literally have been living that now for a bit and certainly treated that last Lions Test like it," he explained.
“That was a bonus to be able to play in South Africa and now this week, [I've] given Tuesday and Thursday everything I had so it's unbelievably special to be able to put on the jersey once,to be able to put it on a few times is unbelievable.
“It's not just putting on the jersey and going out there in the field and representing. Probably for me in the position I'm at now, just to be in this group and to train each day, to go out and train on Tuesday and Thursday, I've got this real sense of gratitude at the moment just because I've been given this second chance.
“A bit of a Johnny Farnham kind of story where I've come back and I've really appreciated every moment."
White will reunite with Queensland Reds flyhalf Tom Lynagh in the halves, with the young playmaker shrugging off a concussion suffered in White's planned farewell Test.
It meant the pair only combined for 34 minutes before the controversial high shot, with White keen to make more memories together.
"We've worked together for a couple of years now and we've just had that week together for that third Test. It was an enjoyable week prep that one and he was performing really well at the start of that game," White added.
“If you go back and have a look, the skills he had on display there and the way he moved us around the field, very impressive.
“…It's exciting to work with him. It's a different voice barking at me, but the same orders really.”
