In a case of better late than never, Damian McKenzie has been named to play at his first Rugby World Cup - four years on from heartbreak.
In 2019, McKenzie was all but assured selection for the World Cup in Japan, as the All Blacks' dual playmaker system appeared tailormade for his abilities.
In April of that year, disaster struck, when McKenzie suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his knee that ended his season, forcing him to watch the All Blacks crash out in the semi-finals from home.
Four years on, he is comfortably a more complete player than he could have imagined at the time of his injury. McKenzie, 28, was one of the driving forces behind the Chiefs' Super Rugby Pacific success, topping the table and finishing runners-up to the Crusaders.
In particular, the fulltime move from fullback to first-five has unlocked McKenzie's abilities, now competing with Richie Mo'unga to wear No.10.
While Mo'unga would appear to have first dibs on that jersey, World Cup selection is all the sweeter for McKenzie given his previous disappointment.
"It's special, I'm rapt to make the squad," McKenzie told Newshub. "It's obviously been a long time coming.
"I wasn't available for the last World Cup, so to be finally given that opportunity, I'm very grateful and proud to be part of the squad."
World Cup selection is one thing, winning it is another entirely.
While McKenzie claims he doesn't look too far ahead, the lure of a World Cup has been hard to ignore.
"You want to go to a World Cup, you want to represent your country," he added. "Obviously, it's the pinnacle of rugby.
"It's something I've been targeting, given the last time the World Cup was around and not being able to go on that.
"[I'm] a person who likes to take things one game, one week at a time, so to finally be able to achieve that goal is great, but obviously the bigger goal is to win the World Cup, which is something we'll be striving to do.
"It's exciting to be part of the squad, I'm looking forward to it."
