Dave Hewett was no shining front-row light on the age group ladder.
His name wasn't put up as one to watch in his teenage years, but now there he istaking his place in the World Cup, pleased as punch and eager to grab what he knows will be his one and only chance on the game's grandest stage.
He has turned out 45 times for Canterbury in the NPC, anchors the Crusaders scrum and with his ability to play loose and tighthead and a knack of doing the job in an unfussy way, caught John Mitchell's eye when other names were being bandied about for cup jobs.
Hewett retains a boyish enthusiasm for rugby. He recalls the anxiety and the love of the game, even as an under-nine.
"As I remember it was just as intense at the time, with mum and dad before the game, feeling nervous and hoping I'd play well - and it's just the same now.
"Nothing's changed apart from the size of the crowd."
Hewett's philosophy to the cup is revealing. As befitting a down-to-earth attitude, with all the talk about the All Blacks, England, Australia, France and maybe South Africa as the only real contenders, Hewett is quick not to lose sight of the lesser lights. He knows there is just a small pool of genuine title-winning chances, but he reckons there are perhaps five teams who could upset.
"Teams like Italy are going to cause an upset. If you look too far ahead at the big shots you are going to get tripped up by one of those teams sitting in the shadows."
It's unlikely to happen, but the message to his team-mates is clear: beware the dangers of a five-star pratfall.
The prop with the marketing degree played 25 minutes against the Italians last year and admits he has "the utmost respect" for the All Blacks' first opponents, whatever their results in the latest Six Nations would suggest.
"They're better than the last World Cup and better than the last time we played them in 2002."
