Former United States defence minister Donald Rumsfeld probably knew nothing about the 15 man game — but he knew a thing or two about battles and defence.
In 2002 he famously said something which nicely sums up the prospects of the Highlanders’ season in 2020.
When asked about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Rumsfeld said that "there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don’t know we don’t know."
He was roundly mocked but there is a hint of truth buried in there.
As for the prospects of the Highlanders this year, he was probably spot on.
No-one really knows how they will go.
There are some obvious things we know.
The side has lost a lot of experience — hundreds and hundreds of caps walked out the door after last season and some new guys have come in. Winning away from home has been an issue.
The team has a quality halfback, some exciting outside backs, and a couple of promising first five-eighths. Up front the loose forwards have been stripped of talent but there are some good cattle left behind and some exciting new boys.
The engine room lost a couple of locks but there are guys there who should — and need — to step up. It has a top hooker and some green props.
The goal kicking should be good and top attack coach Tony Brown is back.
There are plenty of known unknowns. No-one really knows how the new guys are going to go.
Jona Nareki was lightning for Otago but can he transfer that form to the next level?
The same goes for locks Pari Pari Parkinson and Josh Dickson.
The coaching team has been very keen on Mitch Hunt. He has some talent but can he lead the side round the park?
Josh Ioane was top drawer last year and one hopes he can continue that form.
Halfback Aaron Smith is key, as when he is on form he can help win games. He needs to not try to be the jack of all trades. Not be the traffic cop, game breaker, decision maker, sergeant-major type.
The scrum is still important these days and it may turn out the biggest loss of all could be prop Tyrel Lomax who took a big step forward last season.
The side plays eight games straight to start with and that could test depth. All NZ teams — maybe apart from the Crusaders — do not have the depth they once had so there could be pockets of weakness which may emerge.
The obvious unknown unknown is just how the team will blend together. So that is not an unknown unknown perhaps.
With no Ben Smith at the back — for the first time in more than a decade — and many others departed, how much that loss of experience will hurt is a big question.
Experience can sometimes be overrated. Playing well is the key.
Playing the game well is about doing the right thing at the right time and that can happen 10,000 times in 80 minutes.
Good players, no matter their experience, will do the right thing.
Getting success in this competition is about consistency and taking chances when they come along. That is the Crusaders.
The unknown unknown is just ... unknown.
Who could have foreseen how far Waisake Naholo would go out of form last year? Or that the big game of the year — against the Crusaders at home — would be canned last year?
Simply, for the Highlanders to do well the side needs plenty to put the hand up — and up some more. Just play to potential and beyond.
Prediction: 10th.