All Blacks' 'Mr Fix It' Richard Kahui reminded everybody of his utility value and attacking brilliance with a 50-metre solo burst that saw him score the last try on Carisbrook in the 42-9 Steinlager Series demolition of Wales.

It is a memory he will treasure, but more pleasing was a return to confidence after an indifferent Super 14 where Chiefs coach Ian Foster benched his star-midfielder on two occasions in a bid to inspire his stuttering attacking game.

Looking fantastic in a team that lost eight of its 12 games was not an easy prospect and Kahui's struggles were more a reflection of the Chief's deterioration than his own failings.

Never one to shelve criticism, Kahui saw it differently.

"I don't attribute my lack of success on attack to the team," Kahui told Sportal before the Chiefs final match with the Blues. "There's opportunities I haven't taken."

Low on confidence, restricted by niggling injuries and frustrated at a lack of possession, Kahui was not surprised at his demotion.

"It wasn't a surprise. I felt there were grounds for me to be sitting on the bench," he said. "I hadn't got my game going. He [Foster] sat me down and said he was looking for ways to get me excited and reignite my attack. That meant sitting me out for 60 minutes."

But the All Blacks coaches know form is temporary, class is permanent and therefore had no hesitation in selecting Kahui for the June Tests, primarily to see if he could step up to the vacant second five-eighths slot left by injured incumbent Ma'a Nonu.

Kahui believed they took a 'punt' on him based on his Chiefs form.

Excited at his promotion to the bench for the second Test in Dunedin, he had mentally prepared for a midfield role but instead replaced the concussed Israel Dagg as Cory Jane shifted to fullback and Kahui slotted on the wing, where he has played the majority of his nine All Black's appearances.

"To be coming on the wing was a surprise," Kahui said. It was a bit of a fright at first, but it's somewhere I've played four or five Tests now so I felt comfortable once I got out there."

The modest 25-year-old said the hard yards were done by that stage.

"The way we played on attack allowed everyone to express themselves. When I got out there, the guys had worked hard and absorbed a lot of pressure for 50 minutes and it was time to have some fun," he said.

Kahui also saved a try when he sprinted back to stop Welsh wing Tom Pryide regathering his hack through.

With Dagg out, Conrad Smith in doubt after a poke in the eye and the selectors still to see whether Kahui can perform in the No.12 jersey, he could find himself anywhere in the backline on his home pitch this week.

"I'd like to think I can make it as a midfielder," the Tokoroa product said. "These legs aren't wingers' legs - they're a bit slow. I work my butt off on the wing. I enjoy playing anywhere, but my desire is to play somewhere in the midfield."

The Chiefs failed to win any of their matches in Hamilton this year and Kahui was keen to rectify the ledger.

"It hasn't been a good hunting ground for me this year, so it'd be nice to go back home and repay the loyal Waikato fans that turn out in their droves," he said.