Graham Henry's masterminding of the All Blacks' World Cup success not only laid a 24-year demon to rest but has also earned him a knighthood in the New Year's Honours list.
Sir Graham, as he will now be known, has been rewarded for a 38-year coaching career at all levels of the game by becoming a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
He started as a first XV coach at Auckland Grammar and Kelston Boys' High, moved on to successful stints with Auckland and the Blues before moving up to international level with Wales, between 1998 and 2002, and the British and Irish Lions in 2001.
But undoubtedly the pinnacle of his career came in charge of the All Blacks.
Henry won 88 of his 103 Tests in charge – an unrivalled winning percentage of 85.4 percent – and ensured the All Blacks were regular winners of the Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations along with Grand Slam triumphs.
And the enduring memory of the 65-year-old will forever be the All Blacks' reclaiming of the Webb Ellis Trophy on home soil in 2011, four years after an unceremonious dumping from the tournament at the quarter-final stage from which Henry was lucky to be reappointed.
He will realise there would have been no 'Sir' forthcoming if the All Blacks had not squeaked past France by the slimmest of 8-7 margins in the final, despite his multitude of achievements in coaching previous to it, but it is now forever written into history.
Others to become a knight in the New Year's Honours list are Wellingtonian of the Year, Father Des Britten, motor industry and business personality Colin Giltrap and former Todd Corporation chairman John Todd.
Martin Snedden, chief executive of the Rugby World Cup New Zealand's organising body, is also among the new Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Chris Kenny (boxing), Ian MacRae (rugby) and Barry Maister (general sport) become Officers of the Order of Merit, while cricket umpire Brian Aldridge receives the Queen's Services Medal as does Brian Coulter for services to rugby, Selwyn Maister for services to hockey and Kay McIntyre for services to netball.