Nehe Milner-Skudder has won the competitive battle to start at right wing for the All Blacks when they take on France on Sunday morning (NZT).
He's the only player in the starting XV for the quarterfinal with caps in the single digits.
But while it may seem like he's only just burst on the scene, Milner-Skudder said this moment has been many years in the making.
At the age of 24, Milner-Skudder has been working towards his All Black dream for as many years as he has international caps. Five years of perseverance for overnight stardom.
"Yeah I definitely don't feel like a young fella coming through. [I] have kind of toiled a few years with the ITM Cup, obviously just privileged and honoured to be stepping up to Super Rugby and then to be here now is pretty awesome."
He's already racked up six tries for the All Blacks and appears to have cemented his spot as the chosen one on the right wing.
Rugby union runs deep in Milner-Skudder's family, with both an uncle and a cousin who played for the All Blacks in 1969 and 1970.
But it was league where Milner-Skudder began, joining the Canterbury Bulldogs under-20s in 2009.
He eventually made the switch to union where he played alongside Aaron Smith for the Manawatu Turbos, but it wasn't a smooth start.
"Early on, especially in Manawatu, he was very injury-prone and we had a lot of bangs. He was just doing captain's run and getting through games so he's still a bit like that but he looks like he's ready to go when he hits the field which is all that matters now," Smith said.
Milner-Skudder is also bucking the trend towards burly wingers.
"He is reinforcing that that you don't have to be a big 105-110kg winger as in [George] North or [Julian Savea] or people like that. He's a little guy but he's great on his feet, can turn on a sixpence and got genuine gas," coach Steve Hansen said.
And he's genuinely excited to play in his first World Cup knockout game, even if it is against France.
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