In the final review of sport last year, rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks back at events in the 15-man code and finds plenty of success, and the odd must do better.
BEST GAMES
Super rugby final
Highlanders 21, Hurricanes 14
In 2010 in Queenstown the Highlanders lost heavily to the Force. This was the abyss for the franchise. The players did not care. Discipline was awful and the Highlanders looked to be heading down a dead-end street. Five years and 78 games later, the side won the title.
It took a lot of work, and plenty of pain to get to the top of the mountain.
But that one night in Wellington in early July was magic.
A side which few fancied but had inner strength and some quality operators in key areas put it all together and managed to grab the silverware.
Watching the match months later, I see it was actually a great game of rugby.
With so much on the line, these games can often be super conservative. But this was not. Plenty of thrills and near misses in an electric atmosphere.
One wonders if the thoughts would be the same if the other team won.
World Cup quarterfinal
All Blacks 62, France 13
So much was made of the ghosts of eight years ago in Cardiff and the inner resolve of the French.
But there was one problem with all this talk - it was rubbish.
The All Blacks just went out and totally smashed the hapless French. The French were all at sea and the All Blacks were too strong and fast for the opposition.
This was the way the game would be played in Heaven, hard running and elusive backs combining with combative and energetic forwards.
By the end, it was men against boys. Actually men against toddlers. The tries at the end were ridiculously easy.
ITM Cup
Otago 61, Southland 7
Beating your neighbour is always the best feeling and it was a great sight to see when most of the Southland supporters either left early or just went quiet at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Otago took every chance which came along and, benefiting from Jamie Mackintosh being sent off, was just too quick of both foot and mind for the southerners.
BEST PLAYERS
Ma'a Nonu
Nonu finished his New Zealand career with a bang. At long last played well in Super rugby and kept up that standard in the black jersey.
Ben Smith
Great year for the Highlanders fullback. Brought up 100 games for the franchise, became the clear No 1 in his position in the country and led the side to the Super rugby title.
Sam Whitelock
Came to the fore when it really mattered. Won heaps of ball at lineout time in the black jersey and also knocked over plenty of opponents in and around the ruck
Liam Coltman
Coltman recovered from a forgettable 2014 to have a top season for both the Highlanders and Otago. Made a big improvement with his lineout throwing.
WORST GAMES
Brumbies 31, Highlanders 18
This was a dreary game right from the off. The Brumbies scored three tries from rolling mauls. The Highlanders had no accuracy in their game and were out of the match at halftime when it was down 31-6.
Hawkes Bay 39, Otago 22
Otago was in this game at halftime but it all went wrong in the second half. Israel Dagg scored three tries, which had a few northern critics frothing at the mouth. But let's be honest, a schoolgirl could have scored them.
All Blacks 25, Samoa 16
It was a game of rugby, wasn't it? The way many went on, it was like world peace had broken out in Apia. Terrible game but apparently it was all about the history.
MUST DO BETTER
Kurt Baker
Baker has been in and around Super rugby for five years. In that time, he has played barely a dozen games. Often injured and does little on either attack or defence.
Liam Messam
Funny sort of year for Messam. Slipped somewhat from his high standard in Super rugby and then became more of a water boy than a player at the World Cup. Should be a force in sevens.
Zac Guildford
You have to feel sorry for Guildford. But take all the off field baggage away - which you can't really - and on the field he is just a player who has some speed, and not a lot else.
HEAD SCRATCHING
● How come there are only two or three decent halfbacks in New Zealand?
● How does Hayden Triggs - who has a 30% winning record at best in first class rugby in this country - pick up a contract with a major European club (Leinster)?
● What did Kane Hames do wrong? Harshly suspended for five weeks for something no-one saw, while a prop in the opposition does the same thing and gets in effect a one-game ban. Hames comes back with the team on a bye week, finally gets back in the reckoning and promptly stuffs his knee. Now on the outer.
● Was it any coincidence the top sides in the ITM Cup were offside the whole season?
● Codie Taylor. How did he make the All Blacks? So well known, Sky spelt his name wrong in the team announcement.
● What advantage did Harbour have in finishing top of the ladder in premier club rugby? It got to play University in the semifinal which finished 17 points behind it.
● They wanted to cut the club season shorter. Why not just get rid of the semifinals and final and have two full rounds?
● Is there anything premier about premier 2 grade rugby?
● Has a certain coach from red and black land got his hand in these proposed new laws where the game will be even faster and chances of turnovers virtually non-existent.
● How is it New Zealand Rugby went to Samoa to play a test despite for years saying it could not afford to? Then, a few days later, rules out playing a test against the British and Irish Lions in the South Island because it is not economically feasible.
● Why when the Lions come it is all about how many hotel beds there are in a city when allocating games? Aren't tours about home town people watching the visiting team?
● How overrated was Ben Franks? Was he any better than the much-maligned and underappreciated Jamie Mackintosh?
● How much are the Highlanders going to miss Nasi Manu? The ghosts of 2013 are around.
● Does anyone in NZR realise the rule where every junior player has to play at least half a game has ended up with most kids getting less game time on a Saturday?
● And a lot of teams do not adhere to the above rule anyway.
● Has anyone actually come out and admitted the sevens in Wellington is a fizzer these days because the boozing is no longer allowed? And sevens is not actually that great a game to watch.
● Can any city in the country make the sevens viable again?
● Weren't the same drums which were beating for Sir John Kirwan in 2013 beating now for Tana Umaga?
