In a year when New Zealand rugby and its fans have had so much to celebrate, there has also been great sadness.
They call themselves "brothers", and even as the All Black family celebrated winning the Rugby World Cup this month, their thoughts were of Jerry Collins, a mate who wasn't there to share the moment.
Soon after the final, Jerome Kaino, Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams, Ma'a Nonu and Liam Messam visited Collin's grave.
The 34-year-old and his partner, Alana Madill, were killed in a car crash in southern France in June this year, leaving behind their three-month old daughter, Ayla.
Thousands packed Porirua's Te Rauparaha Arena for his funeral service. Many of his former teammates paid tribute, including Jonah Lomu.
"When you talk about being a player that he is, and the person that he is, he typified what having a heart and standing up for what you believed in," Lomu said.
And that same month, a former All Black winger in Lomu's mould, Norman Berryman, died of a heart attack at just 42 years old in Perth.
They are three former players, now and for always part of the legacy that is our world champion All Blacks.
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