It feels like Dewi Lake has been destined to become a Wales international from the moment murmurs of his potential began to circulate.
Those watching on will remember him struggling to hold back the tears after the Wales under-20s side he captained had just beaten New Zealand at the Junior World Championships.
His performance that day was superb, made even more so by the fact that he had been converted to hooker from the back-row less than 12 months before.
Five months after that famous win, he received an unofficial call-up to train with the Wales senior squad for a one-off match against the Barbarians, Wayne Pivac's first in charge.
He was also called up to the 2020 Six Nations side but never used.
Regardless, it was clear that Pivac had high hopes for the Bridgend boy - he has been earmarked as a potential star of the next World Cup - it culminated in a debut last weekend against Ireland.
Were it not for injuries, Lake would likely have made his debut long before but 2021 was a frustrating year for the now 22-year-old, who was sidelined with ankle trouble.
It meant he spent most of the year rehabilitating with also-injured Lions George North and Dan Lydiate at the Ospreys.
"It was a bit of a strange one. It’s tough being injured because you want to be playing rugby on the pitch," said Lake.
"But it was a year of learning. It gave me a lot of time to develop things that I wouldn’t have been able to work on had I been on the pitch and in training.
"Being with George and Lyds, two Lions internationals and massive names in the game, taught me a lot in terms of dealing with disappointment, getting back to fitness.
"I couldn’t have asked for two better blokes to be in the injury club with. The S&C, the physios who put the time into me there, I’ll always be grateful for that."
It says much about how highly Pivac and his coaching team regard Lake that they have consistently dropped his name into press conferences and, with just two Ospreys games under his belt post-injury, he was straight into the Wales squad.
"It just shows how much things can change in a short space of time, this way and the other way," he said.
"There was a period where I was playing rugby and then I had a year out. That can happen quickly and it can happen just as quickly the other way, going from no game time in a year to being capped for your country.
"That’s how this game goes sometimes and you’ve got to be able to roll with the punches and stay ready to do your job."
What really catches the eye with Lake is his physical presence around the field. Despite his relatively young age, he is an absolute juggernaut and punches holes in defences with tantalising regularity.
His physical prowess is what makes him irresistible to the Wales management, despite the fact he is still learning the finer details of playing hooker.
"I don’t really like talking about myself, you don’t want to look arrogant," he says.
"But I think I’m quite a physical young player. I’m happy to run into brick walls if that’s what I’m required to do.
"I’d say one of my biggest points of difference is probably my work over the ball. That jackal threat, just being a nuisance around the ruck.
"Physicality is a big part of my game and, as a front five forward these days, that’s a big trait to have."
When you see him play, learning that he plied his trade as a back-rower in his formative years explains a lot.
And those experiences mean he has the potential to be a real all-court hooker, giving him an advantage over his rivals for the position.
"It was an exciting challenge [moving to hooker]," he insists. "There were a lot of things that changed from back-row to hooker.
"The throwing is a big technical work-on. I don’t think that was something that I properly worked on until maybe two years ago.
"My first game at hooker was for the 20s. There was no playing at Premiership level before that opportunity at 20s.
"It’s been a big learning curve for me in terms of getting experience and the technical edge of throwing.
He added: "It was a coaching decision at the Ospreys. In Wales, we’re very blessed with back rowers.
"It’s a tough position to break into, it’s a tough position to challenge. At the time, in terms of back-row youngsters at the Ospreys, we were looking at Will Jones, James Ratti, Morgan Morris – there was a lot of talent in that pool of players.
"I had a big enough frame to move into the front row.
"A lot of skills that you develop playing in different positions will help you in whatever position you end up in.
"Being able to get around the park in the loose and get over the ball similar to how back-rowers do gives me an edge."
But there is still the bread and butter.
Most involved in Lake's development - including the man himself - would agree that his throwing at the lineout is the biggest area of development in his game.
And it should come as no surprise. It's a very individual skill that is unique to the position and one that he will not have practiced much previously.
But the Wales management are keen. They believe that if he can just tidy up that part of his game, then the sky will be the limit.
"The obvious one is the throwing," he said when asked which part of his game he'd like to improve. "It’s something that comes with experience.
"As a 22-year-old, who hasn’t played a lot of rugby having been out for a year as well, it’s something that I’ve got to get confident and comfortable with.
"The weekend was a big plus for me personally, stepping up to that international level and being able to perform at the lineout.
"But it’s obviously something that, with experience, you’ll get used to throwing to your lineout jumpers, the drill gets better and you get more comfortable in your own throw.
"That would be my main work-on with the position I play.
"You can always develop your game. Nothing is ever perfect."
That may be so. But spend just a few minutes talking to Lake and you will get the sense that his is a career only just beginning.
Pivac and co hope he will develop into a hooker who can challenge the established order heading into the next World Cup.
You wouldn't bet against it.
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