Rugby: Jack the lad...

Chris Jack. Photo / Getty Images

Chris Jack is making a spirited bid to regain his All Black jersey and a place in the World Cup squad.

This time last year it felt like the Crusaders had made a mistake in bringing Chris Jack back to Christchurch. Now, it looks a smart piece of business with the 32-year-old having re-invented himself as a set piece man; a gruntman.

He has a new found desire to put himself about, play in the darker, more crowded parts of the field where glamour is in short supply. The man who appeared to be a spent force last year now looks anything but. An All Black recall, while still a long shot, is by no means out of the question.

One swallow does not a summer make but the way Jack dominated Victor Matfield of the Bulls in Timaru - and after another strong game against the Chiefs last week - has been enough to ensure his progress is now closely monitored. It takes more than luck to get in front of Matfield at lineouts and Jack was also a bruising presence, refusing to yield to an enormously powerful Bulls pack or a forceful Chiefs unit.

"I thought he was outstanding," was the assessment of Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder. "He showed all his experience. I know there were guys who played particularly well, but I thought under the radar he did a superb job. He led the charge at the set piece and he got up and stole some critical ball."

The injury to Sam Whitelock has virtually assured Jack of an extended period to press his claim. His experience will be an attraction to the selectors as will the fact Jack has played at two previous World Cups. What will really intrigue them, though, is just how far down the road Jack has travelled towards being a tight lock, capable of producing the same work rate; the same impact as Brad Thorn.

In explaining last year how he saw Whitelock evolving, All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen said: "I think he'll go through the transition of both. He'll start as one of those guys who is really athletic, who gets around the park and does all the carries.

He will then as he finishes his career probably go into that tighter role where he's doing the hard yards and some other young buck is doing the carries.

"At 22, you'd think as long as he doesn't get a major injury he's going to play a lot of tests and be around for a long time. In 10 years time he'll be a different type of athlete." That blueprint could just as easily apply to Jack.

This time last year the former All Black looked destined to be exactly that; his time away didn't appear to have done much for his game other than accelerate the ageing process.

Plenty of locks have stayed on top of their craft well into their 30s. There is no better example than Thorn while Matfield, Simon Shaw, Nathan Hines and Nathan Sharpe, are all still making major contributions in the test arena.

Jack is younger than all of them yet last year he didn't play like it. The pace seemed too much for him, the physicality too great and the idea that players could leave New Zealand as Jack did after the last World Cup and then pick up where they left off a few years down the track was made to look fanciful.

But Jack has undergone a quiet revolution in 2011. He has made the transition from being a roaming, athletic, rangy lock to offer a tighter, more physical portfolio. In his prime between 2001 and 2007, Jack was a ball handler, a runner and a continuity man who won his lineouts.

The cleanout, rucks, scrums and the nasty world of 'proper' forward play wasn't really his bag and ultimately cost him his place in the All Black starting line-up.

Given that he won 74 caps it's all too easy to forget that Jack was slowly drifting out of the All Black picture by 2007.The selectors felt they needed the grunt, the aggression and intimidation offered by Keith Robinson to partner Ali Williams. Jack and Williams were largely similar players and if there was only room to cater for one tight lock, then Williams was always going to get the job on account of being that bit better in the air; that bit quicker and more effective in the loose.

Jack sensed he was heading to the periphery so signed with Saracens after the World Cup. It didn't work out - a year after arriving there was a change of ownership and coach and Jack wasn't wanted; leading him to return home via a short stint with Western Province.

He talked on his return of wanting to resurrect his test career but that didn't look likely. Until now. Jack could yet prove that it is possible for players to have time offshore immediately after one World Cup and return to New Zealand and make a strong bid to be involved in the next.

That's a trend that has certainly been seen in other countries but not really in New Zealand. Matfield, John

Smit, Jean de Villiers, Gary Botha and Butch James have all enjoyed offshore stints since the Springboks triumphed in 2007. All are in line to play again at the 2011 World Cup. Rocky Elsom took time out with Leinster in 2009-2010 before returning to inherit the Wallaby captaincy but, to date, it has proven hard for players to leave New Zealand and smoothly integrate.

The problem is two-fold in that it is firstly hard for the New Zealand Rugby Union to re-sign former players once they have had a taste of Europe or Japan and the higher money and different lifestyle. Jack was one of seven players to leave after the 2007 World Cup, with others such as Aaron Mauger, Luke McAlister and Carl Hayman all saying they could be tempted to return in time to make a selection bid for 2011.

Mauger was close to signing with the Crusaders last year but was forced to retire with injury while Hayman was chased hard by the NZRU, only to sign with Toulon. McAlister was tempted back, but like Jack, struggled horribly when he first returned. That's the second problem - the game here is fast, open and all about micro skills which makes it difficult for players to assimilate after they have spent time in the more physical rugby of Europe.

But similar to Jack again, McAlister has shown vastly improved form this year and is pushing hard for selection.

Should he play at the World Cup, which is distinctly possible, there could be others tempted to play offshore while they are still young, confident it is hard, but possible to resurrect an All Black career.