THEY are the buried treasure of the game, the unseen batterers and rammers of rugby union, rarely seen, generally unheard big men whose grim presence and unfriendly muscle is all-important in winning World Cups.
Before last year's World Cup campaign failure, New Zealand's head coach, Graham Henry, delayed completion of his touring team for one player - injured prop Greg Somerville.
Ultimately, the Crusaders front-rower proved his fitness and went to France for his second World Cup challenge only to watch from the grandstand as the All Blacks lost their quarter-final to France in Cardiff, 20-18.
On that wretched, ignominious night for New Zealand rugby, Carl Hayman and Tony Woodcock were the starting props and Neemia Tialata was on the bench.
Stretched over a decade and more than 100 games of Super-14 rugby, Somerville has been probably the most valuable asset in the Crusaders franchise whatever Daniel Carter's price on the overseas auction market.
Even after an exhausting 75 minutes of the semi-final in Christchurch, Somerville was still trundling head-down in pursuit of the ball like a bulked-up 115-kilogram breakaway, ever-ready to "do the turtle" in protecting a tackled teammate at the breakdown and shielding the ball from thieving Hurricane hands.
He remained on the field at AMI Stadium throughout as the Crusaders dominated the Hurricanes to lead, 33-8, before taking their boot off the Hurricanes' throat in the last few minutes to win, 33-22.
Whether coach Henry persists with Somerville for the Tri-Nations tournament ahead is debatable. Tests are not for "old times' sake".
If Somerville is chosen, for he is skilful and strong on either side of the scrum, it will be well deserved. He has played 57 Tests, one behind New Zealand's all-time propping record-holder, Craig Dowd.
Hayman and Woodcock have departed for the gold mines of the northern hemisphere, leaving All Blacks front row positions temptingly vacant, one of which might well fall into the clutches of the Crusaders' 25-year-old, 112kg loose-head Wyatt Crockett.
Australia's Test props in their 12-10 World Cup quarter-final loss to England were Guy Shepherdson at tight-head and Matt Dunning at loose-head with Al Baxter as bench prop. Whatever the still relevant claims of this trio of props, new coach Robbie Deans will inevitably be searching for new blood and thunder up front.
The situation is perfect then for the Waratahs' duo of loose-head Benn Robinson and hooker, Tatafu Polota-Nau, both of whom - now fortuitously it seems - missed selection in the World Cup team in France. Both are powerful and quick.
Failure at quarter-final time has the stench of death. A number of Australia's players to France will never see the green-and-gold colours again, save for a long-distance glimpse by the medium of their television sets.
Robinson is only 23 but has had the experience of six Tests, while his front row partner, Polota-Nau, 22, played the first of his three Tests before donning the Super 14 jersey of the Waratahs.
With ex-All Blacks hooker Corey Flynn almost certainly lost to the Crusaders because of a suspected broken forearm, the Super 14 final in Christchurch presents the young Waratahs scrummagers with a crucial opportunity to press their claims in front of their future Test coach.
First, the young bull Robinson must overcome the old bull Somerville.
It is an exciting Waratahs team destined for the final. Players like Robinson and Polota-Nau will prove once and for all if the Crusaders' grey castle with its burning braziers at the edge of the ground in Christchurch is made of cardboard or granite.
