When Israel Dagg arrived in the South he was a fresh-faced 20-year-old who was a bit of an unknown.
The front-row club had a meeting in Auckland yesterday.
Martin Snedden believes the country can host the Rugby World Cup again, floating 2035 as the year the tournament could well return.
All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen is deflecting any questions about his future aspirations, wanting to concentrate on the immediate task ahead.
Sonny Bill Williams admits he is living the dream but has given no thought to what he is doing next week, let alone next year.
The 1987 team could - not necessarily will - be joined by the 2011 team in being the only All Black sides to win the Webb Ellis Cup. But who would make a combined team from these two sides? Rugby writer Steve Hepburn becomes a selector.
Eden Park will become the first ground in the world to host two Rugby World Cup finals on Sunday. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at the changes that have taken place in the many parts of the game from 1987 to now.
The dream is alive - just - for Adam Thomson.
Ali Williams was, for once, lost for words.
Wayne Smith is moving into the last-chance saloon but it is entirely his own decision.
The iron man is not buying all the talk of the All Blacks being raging hot favourites for the World Cup final.
The man who scored the first try in the first World Cup final believes this year's All Blacks just have to take their game up one more notch.
What a difference 12 months makes. This time last year Aaron Cruden was cooling his heels after being left out of the All Blacks' end-of-year tour and told to work on his game.
Electric winger Cory Jane says the All Blacks will not take long to get back on the ground and prepare for France in the World Cup final.
It was the Clutha District Council that came up with the slogan "Where everyone says hello". Well, that could have been applied to Auckland yesterday.
All Black coach Graham Henry has described the support from the fans as unbelievable, and he was pleased to repay that support with the convincing 20-6 win over the Wallabies.
The French said they nearly lost it because they were playing against 14 men.
World Cup semifinal time. The pressure is on.
Losing Dan Carter and having Richie McCaw on one leg will bring the All Blacks together, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans believes.
The three wise men - Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith - have packed plenty into the past eight years. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at four highlights and four lowlights of the long-serving All Black coaching panel's tenure.