Alun Wyn Jones has enjoyed a stellar year both personally and, of course, collectively with Wales, leading them to a Six Nations Grand Slam and a Rugby World Cup semi-final this year.
Such were his efforts and endeavour along the way that the Wales skipper was nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2019.
England cricket superstar Ben Stokes eventually walked away with the headline award on Sunday night after a public vote, but the Wales star is a winner in every Welsh rugby fan's eyes - whatever the result.
In the build-up to the award recipients being revealed at the star-studded bash, a video montage hearing from the Osprey's former teammates and coaches offered an insight into how Wales' most-capped rugby player got to where he is today.
And one of the influential figures viewers heard from was none other than Warren Gatland, who, of course, has since departed his head coach role with Wales to head back to New Zealand before another stint as Lions coach in 2021.
And the Kiwi offered a unique insight into a pre-match ritual the pair shared in the Wales camp.
Speaking about his skipper, Gatland said: "Every game that I've been lucky enough to coach Wales, you shake all the players' hands.
"Every single time, he looks me in the eye and says 'thank you for the opportunity'.
"The will to win sets him apart. Sometimes there are scuffles at training and he's usually the source of those scuffles! Not because he's frustrated but because he's so competitive and doesn't want anyone to get the better of him."
Clips showed pivotal moments during Wales' Grand Slam-winning game against Ireland back in March, a game which Alun Wyn played the majority of with a knee injury that later kept him out of the game for a month.
Gatland said of that injury: "No matter what sort of injury he was carrying, he was going to make sure he played that last game.
"It's all about momentum.
"You lead from the front. It was a game that we didn't feel we were going to lose."
The former Wales coach ended by saying: "Alun Wyn Jones has been one of the greatest Welsh players of all time.
"I just want to say to Alun Wyn, thanks for the opportunity."
Speaking to presenter Gabby Logan in the run-up to the big reveal, the Osprey said: "I think whatever sport you play, whoever you represent, to have that one opportunity is massive.
"I've been fortunate enough to have many opportunities, every one as important, I feel, but I'm very well aware of what I represent, and that does come with pressures but it's the best pressure to have out there on the field."
On the prospect of potentially eclipsing Richie McCaw's record to become the most-capped player in the world, he added: "I'm very conscious of turning the sport into a numbers game.
"I've never put any target on caps number but I'm just really proud to carry the little boy from Swansea that was running about to most of the world, really, representing Wales and still loving it just like I did when I was that kid - really proud."
