Racing
League
Rugby
Football
Cricket
Golf
Sport Nation
Motorsport
Netball
Basketball
Combat Sports
Olympics
Other Sports
Live sport on SN this weekend'Brought the best out of me': What Jacomb learned from All Blacks experience
Sport Nation • September 18th, 2026 1:41 pm
Josh Jacomb | Photo Ron Gaunt/Photosport
Josh Jacomb will lace up his boots for Taranaki this weekend, but the 25-year-old first five is still in awe of the experience that made him All Black No. 1239.
Jacomb was called into the All Blacks squad for Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa, stepping into an environment he had dreamed of reaching since he was a child.
The jump in standards was significant, but Jacomb quickly adapted to the demands of the environment and left with a stronger belief in his own ability.
“Probably from the person that I was assembling in Auckland, to the person I was to when I was on the bird back home, it was just a real good inner feeling," he told Sport Nation's Scotty & Izzy.
“Having this self-belief that I'm good enough to be rubbing shoulders with our best at that level, I feel like it brought the best out of me and definitely grew in that environment.”
Josh Jacomb's time to emerge as the All Blacks' next "genuine No. 10" is now | Scotty & Izzy
Jacomb said the experience was surreal, with the significance of becoming an All Black never far from his mind.
“Just had to keep pinching yourself when you're in that environment, that you're there and you've got your feet on the ground.”
The opportunity was made even more special by the support of relatives who Jacomb was able to spend time with during the hours before flying to South Africa.
“Sometimes you can take those things for granted or sweep them under the carpet when you're in the heat of it," he explained.
“Just seeing how they were feeling just brought me back to ground zero and made me really appreciate and realise how special that was.”
What Josh Jacomb's All Blacks addition means for Beauden Barrett | Sport Nation
Even after returning home, Jacomb is still processing his dream that came to fruition.
“Once you get in there and I think it's like any new environment you go in, you have to pick up things quickly but more probably there's more of an expectation at that next level with the All Blacks.”
And it’s those skills Jacomb hopes to bring into his first game back for the Bulls against Southland on Sunday evening, as his side continues to chase a finals spot.
Listen to the full interview below:
