‘Everything felt new’: Rieko Ioane on a fresh All Blacks start after Leinster stint

All Blacks center Rieko Ioane stated that returning to the national team environment felt completely new following a sabbatical with Leinster. The 29-year-old worked his way back into head coach Dave Rennie's plans ahead of the Bledisloe Cup series after strong midweek tour performances against South African opposition.

Ioane compared his return to his 2016 debut, noting that the break revitalized his motivation. He also praised attack coach Mike Blair for introducing a fresh tactical perspective that combines team structure with individual player flair.