Andy Haden never played in a World Cup, although he laid much of the groundwork for the first tournament in 1987, by constantly pushing for something of meaning instead of the endless touring which achieved nothing other than income for those places the All Blacks visited.
But if he never played in a World Cup, he played a big part in New Zealand's second World Cup 8-7 win in the final against France at the 2011 tournament.
It was Haden's innovative tactic that produced the only All Blacks' try, scored by prop Tony Woodcock, when a lineout close to the France line in the front line parted, leaving a big unmarked gap through which Woodcock rumbled to score.
Haden's involvement came about after comments he made about Steve Hansen's ability as a forward coach resulted in Hansen contacting Haden to have a bit of a chat.
Haden gave him the move, and some others, on the proviso it was put away for a significant occasion. That was because the move, once used, would be watched for by all future opponents.
If they had awarded university grades for lineout studies, Haden would have been awarded a doctorate.
He was an unabashed student of the lineout, something he realised he could be at a time when everyone else in the game was concentrating on scrums. Haden felt the lineout was an under-appreciated area for study in the game, so he boned up on the subject matter and became one of its finest exponents.
It wasn't all about falling out of lineouts in a bid to win a penalty against arch-rival Wales at Cardiff in 1978. Not that his action affected the course of the game. Referee Roger Quittenton blew a penalty because Welsh lock Geoff Wheel had used Haden's fellow lock Frank Oliver's shoulder as a hoist to secure the ball.
But try telling a Welshman that was the real cause for their loss that came about when Brian McKechnie landed the match-winning penalty goal from the lineout.
So good was Haden's study of lineouts that even Laurie Mains, hardly a fan of anything associated with Auckland rugby, called on Haden's observations ahead of the crucial third Test against the 1993 British & Irish Lions at Eden Park.
The country had been in an uproar since the Lions had hammered the All Blacks at Athletic Park the previous weekend. Mains called Haden in to have a look at the All Blacks' training.
After casting his eye over proceedings, Haden told Mains his best option for success lay in New Zealand not kicking the ball out and forcing the Lions to kick out because at least that way New Zealand would have the throw-in and a chance to win some ball, because they would never get it any other way.
For a player who cast such an influence in his career, Haden had a slow start to Test rugby. He had gone to Britain and France with the All Blacks in 1972-73 along with several other younger players. Many would later make a significant contribution to the New Zealand game but Haden became disillusioned and took off to play club rugby in France for Tarbes for two seasons.
He returned to New Zealand in 1976 to join Graham Mourie and Jack Gleeson on the inaugural tour to Argentina and when Gleeson became the All Blacks coach a year later, Haden made his Test debut against the 1977 Lions.
Later that year he proved a key player for the All Blacks in France when the New Zealanders had their first short tour of France, instead of some games tacked on the end of tours to Britain and Ireland.
By this time Haden was a fluent French speaker and an invaluable ally for tour manager Ron Don, who could have floundered a little with language problems and hurdles the French liked to throw at touring sides.
The All Blacks were beaten in the first Test, a game when the French five-eighths, Jean-Claude Romeu ran novice Kiwi fullback McKechnie all around the ground chasing tactical kicks.
A day or two later while travelling to their next game, McKechnie could make out his name in the headlines of a newspaper Haden was reading, probably Midi Olympique, and he asked Haden what they were saying?
Haden replied: "You don't want to know."
But it didn't deter the Southlander. He opened the scoring in the second Test by sliding in and picking up a ball headed for touch like the cricketer he was to then stand up and put over a dropped goal.
Haden, meanwhile, got stuck in with No 8 Laurie Knight to pull off some outstanding two-man lineouts to shut France out of the game in a thrilling riposte to their first Test lost. The French were run ragged and Haden took delight in understanding the French complaints to the referee that the All Blacks were not playing by the laws.
He became a key advocate for the Springbok tour of New Zealand in 1981 and made no apologies for wanting to pit himself against what he regarded as the greatest opponent the All Blacks could have. That boiled over in 1985 when the All Blacks were denied a tour to South Africa by a legal challenge and he set about involvement in what became the Cavaliers rebel tour of South Africa a year later.
That tour proved another African frustration for the New Zealanders and was controversial in more ways than one with poor refereeing, foul play from the South Africans and a two-Test ban for players when they returned, during which time the Baby Blacks took on and beat France in a famous Test win.
Haden never played for the All Blacks again after the Cavaliers tour, but he had left his mark on the legacy as a player advocate not afraid to take on the powers who be when it came to amateurism and the need for changes for players who were bearing the brunt of greater pressure on players to be available for more tours.
Haden, who played his club rugby for Ponsonby, played 41 Tests and 117 games in total for the All Blacks. He played 157 games for Auckland. He played 328 first-class games during his career, which is 10th highest in New Zealand rugby.