When Aidan Ross stepped out onto the field in Wallaby gold on Saturday against Japan in Tokyo, it was the culmination of a 12-month journey for the 30-year-old.
Now, with competition for positions in the Wallaby front row the most competitive in years, the loosehead prop has his sights set on consistent game time.
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After earning a cap for the All Blacks, Ross became just the fifth player in history to cross the Tasman and also play for Australia - and it was one the prop relished, though he admitted he hasn’t stopped to think about it after quickly being called into the Lions squad.
“It was awesome, eh?” Ross chuckled with reporters in London, following the side’s early arrival in preparation for England.
“Doing it in Tokyo, it's a pretty special place. Getting named on the bench earlier in that week, [I] had some good time prep for it. It was something pretty awesome to do, wasn't it?
“[I’d decided to come across] maybe a year ago, probably. I had one season left on my Super contract back in New Zealand. I was always going to leave New Zealand after that, and it was just about where or what my best position would be.
“Being born in Australia, I made that transition. At the time, I was just looking at a rugby club, so I made that transition to go play rugby in Australia, [it was] really easy to be eligible.
“I haven't put too much time into answering that question [about playing for both]. I was so proud to represent the All Blacks, and I'm equally as proud to represent the Wallabies.
“Life's a journey and your rugby career's a journey and it goes different ways. That was an awesome part of my journey in New Zealand, and now that chapter's closed and I'm moving the family over to Australia, and they're loving it.”
Ross has already had the chance to be part of the Lions squad and play with Australia’s most capped player, James Slipper.
When asked about the comparison between his Wallaby experience with that of the All Blacks, the 30-year-old admitted there wasn’t much in camp separating the sides.
“I was in and out throughout the year,” Ross explained. “I sat in with the Lions and then a couple of games during the TRC. I got to rub shoulders with him [Slipper] and pick his brains on a little bit, what a quality man he is.
“There's not too much because whether you're in that environment or you're in this environment, it's international rugby.
“Everyone's good players at this level. So in terms of that, it's just what makes the group and the team unique to its own country, but that's the differences.”
Ross will likely be set for more game time this weekend behind Angus Bell at Twickenham, with Tom Robertson expected to be ruled out after sustaining a HIA against the Brave Blossoms.
The newly-capped Wallaby is taking it in his stride, intending to get more game time amidst a competitive front row environment and with ranking calculations coming into effect.
For Ross, the prop is taking a week-to-week approach now that his debut is out of the way.
“I don't think so,” he replied when asked if the squad is considering rankings.
“It's a five-match tour. You're just week by week. Last week was Japan, done that.
“Now it's England over here this week. I think that's where the mindset is at the moment. We're week by week, and the next job in front of us is England on Saturday.”
And as for where his nickname, ‘Big Horse’, came from?
“I've got no clue, to be fair,” Ross laughed.
“Everyone's still trying to work that one out, including myself.”
