Older, wiser and back in the mix - it has taken Kieran Treadwell over four years to return from his international exile.
Joe Schmidt had a look at the Ulster lock in the summer and autumn of 2017.
Treadwell, who had represented England at under-20 level, made his Ireland debut in Japan that year, playing twice against the hosts on the summer tour, and then he lined out against Fiji that November.
That was that. He hadn't played under Andy Farrell and, when his Ulster team-mate Nick Timoney asked him if he had got a call-up email for this Six Nations on the back of a strong series of displays for his province, Treadwell's heart sank.
“I was in the changing rooms and the boys were coming back in dribs and drabs and saying ‘Yeah, we’re going’," recalled Treadwell.
"I checked it then and there it was in my inbox. I was a little surprised.
"There are similar people around from four years ago, so it wasn't that much of a change.
"It's definitely a second chance and I am hungry for it, I want to be here and make a difference."
So, why now after more than four years?
Treadwell believes a variety of reasons have brought him back into the fold.
"I think if you work hard enough and feel like you deserve it then there's no reason why not.
"My consistency is better than what happened previously so just keep playing and make sure that I put my best foot forward.
"I just matured more as a player and worked on certain areas that Joe told me to focus and try and improve.
"Obviously been doing that with Dan (McFarland) at Ulster, sorta putting those consistent performances together. That was probably the main thing for me, staying consistent with it.
“To be fair, it is a mix of everything really. I do think Dan and the Ulster coaches have helped me along the way.
"I have more experience, you sort of work out the player you want to become and learn to play to those strengths. I suppose that’s why it has taken me a little bit of time.
"I tried try and I take in as much as I can, be a sponge, take everything on board, whether it be leadership or anything really.”
Paul O'Connell has also been a massive help. “He is great, he has been great to me personally," Treadwell said.
"Obviously I have grown up (watching him play) but he is always there with the answers that will make you a better player, really, and able you fit in a quickly as possible, limit that lag time in getting you up to speed.”
With Ultan Dillane on the move to France in the summer, IRFU policy meant there was a place up for grabs in the massively competitive second row section.
Match day selection this week for the championship opener against Wales will come down to who Farrell selects from James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne and Iain Henderson.
With Henderson's recent injury situation, Treadwell can, as an outside shot, aim for a bench place in the coming weeks, if he goes well in training.
He believes he has a point of difference that got him noticed again.
“I think it's my athletic ability to break the gainline, to get through those tight carries, to get my nose through in tight play, that sort of thing, to make as many impacts as I can.
“The next few weeks obviously for me is, if I’m not playing, to get everyone ready to put their best performance out on the pitch but obviously I am hungry to play and I want to play.
“If you're not selected, there is obviously going to be a big disappointment. But then there is that transition to asking, ‘right what is my role here this week? Is it to prepare the team?’
"Then that's what you need to do and if that means putting your ego to one side, then you do that. You want to be the best player and the best team mate you can be.
"We all have this one goal that we want to win the competition.
"So whatever my role is within the team, I'm just going to be the best person I can be, whether that's preparing the team or being in the team, it will to be the best team-mate that I can be."
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