The ACT Brumbies would have heard, but probably not believed, Jonny Wilkinson's reputation as a rugby obsessive the tales of him practising goalkicking for hours on end, every day, including Christmas.
Now, having seen him and been his victim, they know the stories are true.
About 11am, French time, on Thursday some of the Brumbies coaching staff arrived at Stade Mayol, to drop some equipment off ahead of their tour match against Toulon.
There, nine hours before kick-off, was Wilkinson, slotting goals for more than an hour as his girlfriend sat on a ball watching.
When the Brumbies team bus arrived at the ground at 7pm, Wilkinson was at it again, nailing kick after kick.
Predictably enough, by the time the game started, Wilkinson's range-finder was well and truly set.
The man who destroyed Australia in the 2003 World Cup final kicked four penalties from five attempts as Toulon, missing former NRL star Sonny Bill Williams from its line-up, thumped the Brumbies 20-3.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
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