No 16 took a swig of water, inserted his mouthguard, did one final stretch, and jogged on to Logan Park in Dunedin yesterday to play his first game of rugby in four months.
Twenty-six minutes later, Anton Oliver, celebrating his 30th birthday, walked off a happy man after an OtagoB victory.
"That was just fun, you know. It's a good birthday present to get some football," Oliver said.
"I've been through a whole myriad emotions, and to get out here and play with the guys, and get a win, was fantastic." Oliver was puffing hard - he only began running last week - and said his injured calf would not be back to full strength for months.
"We're sort of at a 'she'll be right' stage at the moment. I'll get by. It fatigues quite quickly but I can still scuttle round.
"My body feels good. It's more the heart and lungs, because you can't simulate rugby, especially for a tight forward."
Oliver revealed he would have been an outside chance to play for the All Blacks in the latter stages of the Tri-Nations if his lower leg, damaged while playing for the Highlanders on May 7, had been put in a protective boot sooner.
He will start for Otago B in Whangarei next weekend, and, all going well, will make his Otago return against Taranaki to help farewell front-row partner Carl Hoeft.
Oliver said a friend had told him the next 10 years were the best of one's life.
