As far as Test debuts go, they don't come much tougher - or more gut-churning - than Josh Canham's.
Named at reserve lock to face Argentina in September last year, Canham watched his Wallaby teammates build a promising 20-3 lead before Los Pumas went loco.
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Thrust into the Test cauldron with 15 minutes remaining and a 38-point swing against, there wasn't much Canham could do to stop the wave of blue and white enroute to a 67-27 victory.
In truth, he was barely able to keep his own body going thanks to a particularly nasty bout of Santa Fe belly.
"Yeah that was an interesting day. Woke up with food poisoning, didn’t eat anything all day, then obviously everyone knows how that game went - wasn't the best," Canham told rugby.com.au.
"Jorgo (Max Jorgensen), me and Joe (Schmidt) all ended up getting it (food poisoning). I remember about 15 minutes in we’re packing a scrum and I almost made my number eight very unhappy but thank God I didn’t. Might’ve been Langi off the bench.
"It wasn’t the dream debut I was hoping for but it was a debut in the end and hopefully I’ll feel a lot better next time."
Canham's wry optimism is a good sign - and at just 24, there's a very good chance he will get a "next time".
USA-born and Melbourne raised, Canham has racked up 34 Super Rugby appearances to go with his Wallaby cap and there's plenty to like about a six-foot-eight 120kg lock with an offload game.
The second rower is eager to develop his strength in contact following feedback from the Wallabies setup and will get plenty of practice throughout Super Rugby Pacific with Test regular Lukhan Salakai-Loto, fellow 2024 debutants Angus Blyth, Seru Uru and seasoned Reds duo Ryan Smith and Conor Vest all jostling for position in Queensland's lock stocks.
"It’s been competitive, we’re working hard and it’s going to stay that way for the remainder of the season," Canham said.
"A lot of people could go the other way and be a bit toxic fighting for that position (but) we fight in a good way and a healthy way, pushing each other to get better.
"The main one for me would be size and physicality, trying to become more physical both sides of the ball. I’ve worked a lot on my foot patterning going into a tackle, not lunging as much as I used to and then with the offloads, it’s about making good decisions as to when I throw and when to hold it.
"Pushing forward into the Wallabies season and trying to get picked for that, I need to become a really confident (lineout) caller. One aspect is seeing the space and calling to it but also just leading the boys as lineout leader is a bit harder when you're a younger guy that doesn’t have as many caps.
"But that’s what’s good about this group, they make you feel welcome, you grow in confidence and you can be yourself."
The Reds' two-game UK tour looms a key selection battleground for Canham and his fellow second rowers with Bristol (February 1) and Ulster (February 8) ideal preparation before next month's season opener against Moana Pasifika (February 21).
"It's been a new level of practice matches this year, those Tonga and Wales games are things that are going to get us better for the upcoming Super (Rugby Pacific) season," he said.
"We’re all very exited – (Bristol) will be a good challenge for us, very attacking team and it will be nice to test our defence against them. We’ve got a few things up our sleeve as well."
