Otago prop Craig Millar learned that the hard way last year.
Millar is having a stand-out season for Otago after a year where he had his feet up and plenty of time on the sideline.
Millar (22) missed the bulk of the 2012 season, forced to undergo a complete shoulder reconstruction after the years of propping up scrums at school and club level took their toll.
''It was bloody frustrating, to be honest. I played three club games and then had to give it away for the whole year. I just spent the time standing on the sideline watching. It was tough at times,'' Millar said.
''I suppose that is part of the reason I am enjoying it so much this year. I had that year away when I could not play at all and you realise what you miss - how much you love playing rugby.''
Millar spent the bulk of the summer trying to get his body and fitness up to speed, but admitted it was hard going.
''I lost the fitness pretty quickly. I had to work really hard to get it back up to scratch. I had some good mates who helped me ... but it was strange at times. Right at the start I would be at the gym lifting 1kg weights.''
He missed pre-season games with Pirates but managed to play every club game and then moved straight into the Otago season, where he has started every game.
Now comes the business end of the season, as Otago has three games within the space of nine days to decide its season, starting with North Harbour in Auckland this afternoon.
''A lot of teams define themselves in how they perform in their short week. You've really got to get yourself up and it is a chance to grab 15 points and set up your whole season.''
Millar, a loosehead prop, said he was enjoying the new scrum rules, and it was becoming more of an even contest.
''It brings it more back to having a good technique and working on the whole scrum. Rather than having a 140kg tighthead who just goes in low the whole time, now it is more about the whole eight working together.''
Miller, who went to Otago Boys' High School, and played in the same First XV as Otago first five-eighth Hayden Parker, graduated with a bachelor of commerce degree in accounting and started work for Dunedin firm Harvie Green Wyatt. His boss is Doug Harvie, the Otago chairman.
He was on leave from bean-counting at the moment and said the firm had been very understanding in letting him have the time off for the Otago season.
Miller has been mooted as a candidate for Highlanders selection, but is just concentrating on the Otago season for now.
Otago faces a North Harbour side which is a Jekyll and Hyde outfit. It almost tipped over Southland in Invercargill but followed that with a poor defensive effort against Hawkes Bay.
How Otago fares will greatly depend on which North Harbour side turns up this afternoon.
It will feel the loss of big tighthead prop Ben Afeaki, who travelled to South Africa as cover for the All Blacks.
Manawatu has kept its playoff hopes alive in the ITM Cup's Championship division with its 22-16 win over Northland in Palmerston North last night, APNZ reported.
Manawatu finishes its regular season campaign against the high-flying Tasman in Blenheim next Sunday and will probably need to beat it to squeeze in to the playoffs.
Manawatu 22 (Heiden Bedwell-Curtis 2, Lewis Marshall tries; Jade Te Rure pen, 2 con), Northland 16 (Whiria Meltzer, Derek Carpenter tries; Daniel Hawkins 2 pen). Halftime: 7-11
Otago v North Harbour
North Harbour Stadium, today, 5.35pm
Otago: Tony Ensor, Buxton Popoali'i, Kieran Moffat, Jayden Spence, Fa'asiu Fuatai, Hayden Parker, Fumiaki Tanaka, Paul Grant (captain), Lee Allan, Gareth Evans, Tom Franklin, Tom Donnelly, Scott Manson, Liam Coltman, Craig Millar. Reserves: Sam Anderson-Heather, Aki Seiuli, Charlie O'Connell, TJ Ioane, Josh Renton, Peter Breen, Michael Collins.
North Harbour: James Semple, Nafi Tuitavake, Pita Ahki, Francis Saili, Jona Tuitoga, Jon Elrick, Bryn Hall, Leigh Thompson, Zac Judge, Jordan Manihera, Irwin Linau, Josh Olsen, Ropate Rinakama, James Parsons (captain), Greg Pleasants-Tate. Reserves: Ray Niuia, Alex Woonton, Brandon Nansen, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Brenton Helleur, Tua Saseve, Codey Rei.
Referee: Michael Lash (Southland)
