Veteran Ireland front-row John Hayes wants to finish his Test career at next year's World Cup in New Zealand - the country that "helped him along the way" to this weekend's landmark appearance.
Saturday's Six Nations international against England at Twickenham will see the 36-year-old tighthead prop become the first player to win 100 caps for Ireland.
However, he might never have achieved that notable feat but for a two-year stint in the New Zealand club game.
Hayes was a relative latecomer to rugby union and it wasn't until 18 that he played for Irish club Shannon, as a lock.
It was during his time in the Southland city of Invercargill that Hayes was asked to fill in at loosehead prop while playing for the Marist club.
Hayes cites Ireland's SixNations grand slam last season - their first clean sweep since 1948 - as the highlight of his career.
But his affection for New Zealand remains obvious.
"The obvious high was last year winning the grand slam," he said on Tuesday.
"My first cap was a huge honour and there have been lots of great one-off victories, but the grand slam was the best.
"I feel as good as I've ever done. I've been lucky with injury when I look around and see some of my team-mates. There's no secret, just luck. It might be that I came to rugby late.
"It would be nice to play in New Zealand again because I have a lot of friends down there. I spent two seasons there in 1995 and 1996.
"It would be nice to finish there because it's a great country that helped me along the way."
The Munster front-rower, who still works on the family farm in Limerick, rarely talks to the media and it was only his impending century of caps that prompted the man known as 'The Bull' to step into the spotlight this week.
Throughout his career the British and Irish Lion has repeatedly faced accusations he is a poor scrummager but Hayes said: "The criticism never hurt me. People are entitled to their opinion.
"Scrummaging has been part of my game that I've always worked hard on.
"I worked for a few years before I went professional. Since then I've always used a down day to do as much as I can at home.
"I like to get out and get away from it all. I've always enjoyed that," added Hayes, who made his debut in 2000.
Meanwhile Munster and Ireland lock Donncha O'Callaghan said Hayes would hate the fuss being made of him ahead of his Test century.
"The rest of us would be looking forward to a 100th cap but John would rather get off the pitch, get home and milk his cows."
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