It was baby steps in James O'Connor's Brisbane Test return but the man himself was quick to point out he's not a boy anymore following six years in the Wallabies wilderness.
O'Connor was warmly welcomed back to Suncorp Stadium for the final 12 minutes of the side's 16-10 defeat of Argentina but he barely got a touch.
James O'Connor in action during the Wallabies captains' run.Credit:Darren England/AAP
That didn't worry the 29-year-old, who was happy to lap up the experience on the ground he will call home with the Queensland Reds next season.
"I've put it out there, how much I've actually missed being there," he told Fox Sports afterwards.
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"It's such an opportunity to play for your country; there's definitely something building here nicely [ahead of September's World Cup] and I don't want us to get too ahead of ourselves, but it's great to be back and involved."
O'Connor had his share of off-field dramas that looked to have ruined a budding Test career that began when he was just 18.
"I'm not a boy anymore," O'Connor reflected of his time away from international rugby.
"I spent six years in the wilderness and found myself and developed and learnt a lot about rugby and a lot off the field."
"I guess I know what's important to me now and this is it."
Michael Cheika said his brief cameo was the perfect re-introduction.
"He's had a big few weeks – he wasn't even in Australia until a couple of weeks ago," the coach said after the match.
"He didn't get to do much, but I just wanted him to get ouRead More – Source
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