Barrister turned referee Wayne Barnes. Photo / Getty Images
Wayne Barnes might have moments on Sunday when he wonders whether he has in fact changed career at all.
Barnes gave up his job as a criminal lawyer three years ago to become a full-time referee - and the man chosen to referee the All Blacks' quarter-final clash
might feel he is still doing the same sort of work at Millennium Stadium.
There's no doubt the game in Cardiff will get a bit tasty. There will be passion, energy and possibly at times, both sides might try to duck under the radar.
It will be the 28-year-old Englishman's job to cut out any nonsense and to provide both sides with a platform to express themselves legitimately.
And it's obvious the IRB have no doubt he's capable.
The rising star in the world of officialdom took up refereeing when he was 15 and just six years later he had worked his way onto England's National Panel.
He was a student at East Anglia University at the time, playing rugby on Wednesdays and refereeing on Saturdays.
A move to London, where he took up work as a barrister specialising in criminal law, didn't slow his rise through the refereeing ranks.
When he turned 25 in 2005, he was offered the chance to become a professional referee and he took it.
Meteoric doesn't really get close to describing his progression, with Barnes tipped as a lead contender to referee the final, assuming England aren't in it.
Whether the All Blacks will be happy with that will depend on how he, and indeed they, go this weekend, but New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw, said he was impressed with the way Barnes handled the opening clash against Italy.
"I thought he was good," said McCaw.
"He had a calm manner but the game allowed that.
"He has been given this game so he's obviously done a reasonable job."
