Messam says he is eager to return to the All Blacks jersey after a short 'sabbatical' © Getty Images

Enlarge

All Blacks loose forward Liam Messam, his "sabbatical" over, is having to temper his eagerness to get back on the rugby field. Messam was rested for the opening Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia in Sydney last weekend after his heavy Super Rugby workload for the Chiefs.

He is back for game two in Auckland on Saturday night, taking over from the injured Jerome Kaino in the No.6 jersey. Kaino is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks with an elbow complaint, putting him in doubt for the rest of the Rugby Championship. Messam's last match was the Chiefs' 32-30 Super Rugby play-off defeat to the Brumbies in mid-July and he's feeling refreshed.

"Five weeks seems a long time," he said. "I'm just chomping at the bit to get out there and I've had to pull the reins back this week because it's not game day till Saturday."

It was tough watching the 12-12 draw at ANZ Stadium and not being to get out on the field, but he trusted the plan that the All Blacks management had for him. He quipped that, while the likes of skipper Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Conrad Smith had had six-month breaks from rugby, "I got a five-week sabbatical".

"I think when you hit the age of 30, you start looking after your body a bit better."

Messam was the All Blacks' incumbent blindside flanker in 2012 and 2013 while Kaino was playing in Japan. While the pair are in competition for the same position, Messam didn't see the upcoming Test, his 33rd, as an opportunity to press his claims. Instead, he felt plenty of sympathy for a good mate.

"Any injury is tough on anyone," Messam said. "This week is making sure I get around him, put my arm around him and be a brother first off."