Hayden Triggs has been toiling away for seemingly countless months.
Not that he is complaining - after all, his job description, as he puts it, is head down, bum up.
Triggs, who had to step up as the senior member of the Otago line-out on Saturday in the absence of Adam Thomson and Tom Donnelly, was outstanding, winning plenty of ball and upsetting the Canterbury throws.
But it was all to no avail, as Otago came up short in the Ranfurly Shield challenge.
Canterbury pulled away in the final 20 minutes after leading 15-9 at the break.
Triggs laid his body on the line, as he has been doing every week since February 13 when the Super 14 kicked off.
"The guys played 100%, 120% at times but against Canterbury, if you even miss one tackle then they make you pay," he said.
"We wanted to have good line speed this week and we did that with our defence. But we know that we had to execute right as Canterbury can be so clinical."
Triggs was part of a tight five which more than matched its opposite, and won plenty of ball.
"We set a good platform, got most of our own ball and matched them up front."
Triggs was diplomatic when asked if it was frustrating for Otago to get a fair share of the ball, yet find the backs were unable to punch through.
"That's rugby. We're a team who stick together and there is still a good spirit within the squad. We've got no excuses. A win is not far away. It's not like we're not trying."
For Triggs and his mates in the forwards, it was a gamein which they played well and did not deserve to lose by 20 points.
The visiting side was always behind but got a sniff a few times and halfway through the second half was trailing by only six points.
But an inability to get the ball over the line, and a more clinical display from Canterbury, ended with the red and blacks running away with the game.
Canterbury scored several lucky tries in the first half, taking advantage of a kick which got away from Otago centre Brett Mather, and then flanker Michael Paterson charged down a Glenn Dickson clearing kick.
Otago winger Karne Hesketh made a big bust after 12 minutes and when Otago tailed to score from that, one got the feeling it was not going to be the southerners' day.
Canterbury scored two minutes into the second half through centre Tim Bateman, but Otago came back through a try by replacement prop Keith Cameron - his first for Otago, in his 35th game - after endless drives at the line.
Otago at that stage was back in the game.
But it was snuffed out with a try from replacement centre Casey Laulala, after he pushed off an ineffective Michael Witt tackle.
No 8 Ash Parker scored a try at the end to blow out the score.
Best for Otago was Triggs, hooker Jason Macdonald, while Hoani Matenga, in his starting debut for Otago, got around the field.
Hesketh threatened all game.
Stephen Brett had one of his better nights for Canterbury, directing the side well, while up front Paterson was lively.
