Steve McDowall, the loosehead prop of the Fitzy era, did so with his athleticism and ball skills. Fitzy himself set benchmarks including breaking the tight forward code of honour by turning up on the wing. Opponents, but also friends, would say that Fitzpatrick wrote the book when it came to talking referees into seeing things his way. It was everyone else who was talking about Mealamu though.
Low to the ground and dashing straight ahead, Mealamu showed there are alternatives to the more traditional hulks like Andrew Hore, Springbok Bismarck du Plessis and England's Steve Thomson.
Mealamu got his teams on the front foot in the blink of an eye. He darted into the tough areas, and hardly ever wielded his outstanding athleticism in a way to match the big on-field personalities of hookers like Fitzpatrick and Ireland's Keith Wood. His lack of size in the early days was probably a touchy subject, and maybe Mealamu did not want to encourage the doubters by appearing as flashy.
There have been similar doubts about whether the more flamboyant Dane Coles is tough and strong enough, and the smallish Hurricanes' hurricane might owe his acceptance as a test front rower in part to Mealamu's trailblazing work. It would be nice to think so.
Those who have dealt with Mealamu off the field can't speak highly enough of him, including his willingness to do the role model/community bizzo. There are none better in that regard, I've been told, where his humility and genuine nature shine. As for rugby's dark arts though, Mealamu wasn't exactly Mr Goody Two Shoes.
Can that dashing young hooker I'll never forget really be 36 years old? Sadly so, and Mealamu's final game for the Blues is in unfortunate circumstances.
He deserves so much better than to depart in the current Blues shambles. It is almost the farewell that no one dare speak of. "We'll do this for Kevvy," would be dangerous words in public, given the potential outcome. The Blues have gone to ground this week and no one is displaying a lot of energy in chasing them. Mealamu's 175th and final Super Rugby game was buried in a press release.
There will be real echoes and figurative tumbleweed at Eden Park tomorrow night, but let's hope Mealamu's domestic departure draws an extra few through the gate. At least it is on home turf, the scene of his biggest triumph, the 2011 World Cup final.
There will be a couple of other opportunities in particular to say goodbye before the World Cup adventure. Mealamu should be in the frame for the All Blacks' test against Australia at Eden Park. And thanks to the Blues' failings he can play in the historic Apia test against Samoa next month, a poignant occasion for him. The Samoans confidently chased his services all those years ago when many of us believed, foolishly, that a man who would become an All Black giant was too small.
Tutaia's stockingsNetballer Maria Tutaia's long yellow compression stockings were distracting when the Magic beat Tutaia's Mystics in the NZ final this week. The solution is surely straightforward - long socks are fine so long as they are in the team colours.
