On the day it was announced Rene Ranger would start his first test for the All Blacks in three years, the Blues player finally confirmed his move to French club Montpellier.
It was a poignant moment for the 26-year-old, for his statistics don't do his talent justice. Against France at Yarrow Stadium tomorrow night he will be playing only his sixth test, a number so low when compared to his talent as to be almost ridiculous.
His only other test start was against the Springboks in Wellington in 2010.
Now, Ranger has taken the opportunities which injuries to Richard Kahui and Cory Jane have provided and has forced his way into an All Blacks' backline which looked impressive in Christchurch last weekend.
The momentum Ranger provided from the reserves bench in Auckland and Christchurch has compelled the All Blacks selectors to try him from the opening whistle, but the origins of his form can be traced back to February.
Backed by Blues coach Sir John Kirwan to play his natural game from the midfield, Ranger would no longer be chopped and changed from centre to wing as under Pat Lam's dysfunctional Blues' backline of last year.
Kirwan, a former All Blacks wing, has done well to knock the edges off, to mould Ranger into a centre who is a threat on attack and defence, one who now invariably takes the right options.
"The Blues have been great this year, with different coaches and management staff and a whole lot of [new] players," Ranger said. "So it's been refreshing and JK has put a lot of faith in me to play my game, not chopping and changing me all the time. I think the boys are pretty happy that they have come so far from last year."
To borrow a French phrase, his joie de vivre on the field, whether it was the smiley face drawn on the tape around his wrist or his willingness to charge into anyone with or without the ball, will be missed when he heads offshore.
This isn't meant to be a eulogy, though. As Ranger said, he has no regrets. He will also be earning a considerable amount of money.
"No, I wouldn't use regret as a word. I still made the team here, I still made the All Blacks, so I'm pretty happy," he said.
His decision was made months ago and based on the fact he simply didn't think he would be in the position now, where he demanded a place in the All Blacks squad.
"It was one of those decisions I was looking at earlier in the year," he says of his signing with Montpellier, a club based in the city on the south coast of France.
"I didn't actually think I would be in this team. We had Richard Kahui, Tamati [Ellison], Cory Jane. I thought I was still behind them.
"For me to get here now, I'm pretty happy. [But] I'm still excited at the same time [about moving to France]."
Asked if he would prefer to have delayed a move, he replied: "Of course. I'm finally in the team, it's a great environment now and different to how it was in 2010 but my mind was up and down back then.
"I made up my mind for family reasons and different challenges because I didn't think I would get here."
He may not have too many regrets, but it could be different for the New Zealand rugby public, not to mention the All Blacks' selectors.
The crowd's anticipation at Eden Park and AMI Stadium went up several notches every time the shaggy-haired ball of muscle received the ball and he would have been an obvious replacement for Conrad Smith when the centre takes his sabbatical.
Indeed, Hansen suggested Ranger could have a role to play in the midfield tomorrow night - more so than Ben Smith, who is likely to make the switch at the end of the year.
For now, every match Ranger plays for the All Blacks, Blues and, excitingly, Northland, could be his last. The Rugby Championship, starting in August, will be his national team swansong. APNZ