Sam Cane will captain the All Blacks in their World Cup pool game against Namibia on Friday, an honour which could be the first of many for him.
Aged 23 and eight months, Chiefs flanker Cane will be the fifth youngest All Blacks captain ever. He will take over that ranking and the captain's role from Richie McCaw, who was aged 23 and 10 months when he first captained the team in November 2004.
From small things, big things come.
The naming of Sam Cane as All Blacks captain for tomorrow's game against Namibia means two North Island schools have helped shape some of New Zealand's young sporting talent.
Cane, 23, moved to Tauranga Boys College for year 13 in 2010, joining the First XV to enhance his rugby career. He'd previously attended Reporoa College, between Rotorua and Taupo, where his parents, Malcolm and Kathy, have a deer farm. The young loosie made the First XV as a number eight in year 10.
Kane Williamson made a mark on the cricket field from a very young age.
Tauranga Boys College principal Robert Mangan yesterday recalled: "He came to us and he was a well-rounded young man and totally committed to his rugby, but also enjoyed the culture of Tauranga Boys and mixing in with his mates.
"He was always very passionate, outstanding on the rugby field - so at that stage it was clear he had something special, that real x-factor."
It's not the first time Tauranga Boys has produced an international-level captain. Black Cap Kane Williamson - "an exceptional young man," Mr Mangan said - was a pupil and his mother, Sandra, works there. Sailor Peter Burling, silver medallist at the 2012 London Olympics in the 49er class alongside Blair Tuke, is another old boy.
Despite being smaller, Cane's other alma mater Reporoa College has also produced its fair share of top sporting talent - current All Blacks Sevens captain Scott Curry attended the college, as well as Junior All Black and Chiefs player Carl Axtens.
Deputy Principal Steven Hughes said he remembered Cane as a "great leader" both on the field and in the classroom - despite not being a model student.
Serious about rugby, Cane was "a bit of a Johnny Wilkinson" who Mr Hughes remembered would spend hours practising his kicking.
Kane Williamson and Sam Cane have grown into strong leaders.
When asked about the secret behind their sporting success, both schools pointed to passionate staff and an underdog attitude common in youngsters playing for the provinces.
"Part of it is that we are in the provinces, so there is this little bit of 'okay we're going to show the big boys how to do it'," Mr Mangan said.
It's an attitude that is even written into one of the mottos of Reporoa College - "Small School, Big Achievement".
"Being a small community you always want to try and push above your weight," Mr Hughes said. "What they do see now is if you put the effort in now - and Sam put this in five, six years ago - it will pay off."
The achievements of these impressive old boys are bound to inspire a generation of current students. Reporoa College has plans for an All Black-themed mufti day tomorrow - complete with an early morning school hall screening of the Namibia match.
Even closer to the action will be 48 boys from Tauranga Boys College, who are on a rugby tour of the UK and will watch the All Blacks take on Georgia next week.
3 moments of sportsmanship
1 Wembley guard of honour
Lining up and clapping your opponents off the field is an old rugby tradition sadly missing in the professional era. When Richie McCaw had his men line up to applaud the brave Pumas off Wembley after they scared the All Blacks, the Argentine team responded in kind.
Think how you might react as an All Blacks fan if Namibia toppled our revered men in black. South African supporters were devastated but their heart-warming response to the Japanese supporters was exemplary, hugging and congratulating the ecstatic fans.
3 Finding Keven Mealamu
When Agustin Creevy led the Pumas back out on to Wembley at halftime, he noticed a long-time rival in Keven Mealamu warming up. Creevy immediately darted off to one side, sought out his rival with a hearty back slap and wished him well.
