After being sidelined for the past two weeks to "work on" a few things, Tevita Kuridrani is back for the Brumbies for their top of the table clash against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Saturday night.
But don't mention the 'd' word to his coach Dan McKellar.
"Well, as I said, he's not dropped," McKellar responded after being pressed by reporters how Kuridrani, the 29-year-old veteran of 61 Tests, took his axing.
"I don't like that term, he's not like an old girlfriend or anything like that.
"He's an exceptional rugby player and I gave him some things to work on and he's applied himself really well to those areas."
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It was a fortnight ago that Kuridrani was one of a handful of players, along with fellow Wallabies Folau Fainga'a and Joe Powell, left out to play the Waratahs in Canberra.
At the time it sounded legitimate, and it was a refreshing forward-thinking approach from a coach that has been earmarked as a Wallabies head coach of the future.
Eyebrows were raised a week later though when Kuridrani was, again, a notable absentee on the team list, while Fainga'a was benched.
On Thursday though, McKellar said his star outside centre had worked hard on rectifying some of the areas he had been asked to improve.
"I think he's worked incredibly hard, taken on board some feedback and like Folau he's keen to play well," McKellar said.
"I say it all the time, but defensively he's the best defensive 13 in Australia and one of the best in the world, and (I'm) looking forward to him getting in his hands on the ball and being really sharp in attack and threatening their defence.
"He's handled the disappointment of not being selected over the last two weeks really well and knuckled down really hard."
So it sounds like he was dropped.
Nope.
"He hasn't been dropped," McKellar said emphatically.
"I've given him some things to work on which he's worked on and he's now back in the starting side.
"There's no doubt when Tev's playing well that he's our No.13 and has been here for a long period of time.
"I thought it was an opportunity to give some other guys a chance and make sure that we've got good coverage there is we needed to make a change at 13 and Tevita's bought into the feedback that I gave him and he's ready to play well on Saturday against what is a good Reds backline."
So perhaps he wasn't dropped.
Well, at least, afforded some time to sharpen up.
"They're really simple things. It's not rocket science and (I) haven't asked him to change a whole lot around specific skill-sets, and he's done that and forced his way back in through really good attitude and application over the past couple of weeks."
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As for that backline the Reds have McKellar is right, it's stacked with attacking potency and, in particular, the man Kuridrani will be marking Jordan Petaia.
It's the first in Super Rugby AU that Petaia will have played at outside centre after a trio of matches on the wing, with fellow young gun Hunter Paisami initially keeping the No.13 jersey before his own injury.
One interested observer will be Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, who will be plotting the demise of his home nation New Zealand with Bledisloe I earmarked for October 10.
"Yeah I think there's good matchups throughout 1-15, even the bench there's a lot of good footballers coming off the bench as well, so I'm sure Dave and Wisey (attack coach Scott Wisemantel) and Tatsy (Matt Taylor) will be rubbing their hands, really excited by this because a lot of the players that will be out there at 7:20pm on Saturday night will be running out for Bledisloe I in a few weeks' time.
"I think it's exciting for the Wallaby coaches and just rugby supporters in general.
"This is the game that people were looking forward to before COVID struck, so it's upon us now."
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In other changes, Fainga'a has been promoted to the starting side alongside fellow Wallaby Nic White, who makes his return to the No.9 after two appearances coming off the bench since returning from England.
Queensland Reds v Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Kick off: 7:20pm AEST, Saturday 5 September
Reds (1-15): Harry Hoopert, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Angus Blyth, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Liam Wright (c), Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott, James O'Connor, Filpo Daugunu, Hamish Stewart, Jordan Petaia, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Jock Campbell
Reserves: Josh Nasser, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Angus Scott-Young, Moses Sorovi, Bryce Hegarty, Hunter Paisami
Brumbies (1-15): Scott Sio, Folau Fainga'a, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Darcy Swain, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Will Miller, Pete Samu, Nic White, Bayley Kuenzle, Tom Wright, Irae Simone, Tevita Kuridrani, Andy Murihead, Tom Banks
Reserves: Connal McInerney, James Slipper, Tom Ross, Nick Frost, Lachie McCaffrey, Ryan Lonergan, Len Ikitau, Solomone Kata
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