He received it while with the Chiefs in South Africa, and unlike several top Australian cricketers who were famously dropped from the national team recently for failing to do theirs, Cruden is putting a lot of thought into his, and insists it will be in on time.
It isn't taxing stuff - and all the current All Blacks will be given the assignment - it's mostly how the players rate their early-season performances and how they plan to develop their games.
For Cruden, Dan Carter's back-up at first-five for the All Blacks, but with a few other players also having designs on the No10 jersey, it will be a case of improving his consistency and taking more of a leading role.
The 24-year-old Cruden has begun solidly, albeit hindered by a groin injury which means he is yet to kick for goal in a competition game.
He knows there is plenty of improving to be done. With Highlander Colin Slade, Carter's previous understudy before an unfortunate run of serious injuries, and Hurricane Beauden Barrett, waiting, there will be no room for slippage.
The first sustained contact Cruden and his fellow All Blacks will have with the national coaches will be at the first of two training camps in Mt Maunganui on May 19.
"I'm reasonably happy with it I suppose," Cruden said of his form. "I think I can contribute more around the paddock and I suppose as a first-five you always want things to go smoothly, so when things get a bit loose you take it on your own shoulders to try to rectify that. I'm no different, I always want things to go to script and follow the game plan. I'm always striving to be better personally and as a team we are collectively."
Cruden, who started in all of the Chiefs' 18 matches last season and is perhaps even more important to the team's hopes this year in the absence of Sonny Bill Williams, is one of the form first-fives as the competition enters round six.
His kicking variations in the close defeat by the Stormers in Cape Town reaped two tries, but a duffed grubber in front of his posts handed the opposition seven points.
He said he was disappointed with that but insisted the ever-changing nature of the Chiefs' midfield wasn't an issue. Andrew Horrell will tomorrow become the third second-five for the Chiefs this season when he takes the field against the Highlanders at Waikato Stadium - Bundee Aki and Charlie Ngatai were the others.
"Having Sonny in the team last year, a big threat in the midfield, he provided a lot of go-forward. With him not being there this year, and a couple of new guys in the midfield we've had to try to get that go-forward in different ways.
"I think in patches we've done well there but in others we haven't. It's a matter of finding that consistency. Rugby is a pretty simple game when you can get that go-forward ball and that's what we're striving for."
Consistency is a big factor for Cruden, and it's something he and the Chiefs maintained well last season as they swept to their maiden title.
Asked how the Chiefs managed it when other teams suffered more troughs than peaks, he said: "I think it really comes down to how much work you put in during the week. The great thing about this team is that the boys are always striving to get better. When hard truths come out, they don't take it personally."
Chiefs team to play the Highlanders at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, tomorrow (Fri) at 7.35pm: Gareth Anscombe, Lelia Masaga, Tim Nanai-Williams, Andrew Horrell, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Nick Crosswell, Sam Cane, Liam Messam (c), Brodie Retallick, Michael Fitzgerald, Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Ben Afeaki, Romana Graham, Tanerau Latimer, August Pulu, Charlie Ngatai, Richard Kahui.
Highlanders: Ben Smith, Kade Poki, Jason Emery, Ma'a Nonu, Hosea Gear, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith; Elliot Dixon, John Hardie, Jarrad Hoeata, Josh Bekhuis, Brad Thorn (captain), Chris King, Liam Coltman, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Bronson Murray, Joe Wheeler, Tim Boys, Frae Wilson, Lima Sopoaga, Phil Burleigh.
