As a racehorse, Christian Cullen had no peers.
The star of harness racing in the late 1990s, when he was on top of his game, Christian Cullen was virtually unbeatable.
But the trouble was he knew no limits.
His body could not handle the pace at which his brain wanted him to run.
He tried to run so hard that his body gave out, sending him into early retirement.
The All Blacks' experienced similar troubles this year.
What they wanted to do did not always suit what was happening out on the field.
They tried to play a style of game that at times they did not have the personnel to execute.
Nowhere was that more obvious then in the meltdown against the Springboks in Durban.
Playing against a strong-minded and defensive team, and armed with a lightweight forward pack and a lack of leadership in the backs, the All Blacks tried to throw the ball around, and they paid the price.
France at Carisbrook was another example - trying to play an expansive, fast game with an inexperienced team against a team of great defenders, and with a pedantic Irish referee in control.
It was far from a great year for the All Blacks - the three losses to the Springboks and the defeat against France saw to that.
A win record of less than 60% was nothing to write home about.
The Springboks play a limited game to their strengths, and look almost unbeatable at the moment.
But time marches on and there is more potential in the All Blacks than in the Springboks unit, which is at its peak.
The All Blacks left their best for last, easily beating the Wallabies in Wellington at the weekend.
That gave encouragement to the All Blacks and saved the coaching team some embarrassment, especially after the debacle in the line-out against the Springboks the week before.
The victory over the Wallabies came as a result of rugby played the way it used to be, and that style should be the blueprint for the future.
The key to that game was the All Blacks holding on to the ball.
They tried the same thing against the Springboks in Durban, but under severe pressure the execution was poor and it did not come off.
The question now is, how to beat the Springboks?Time may help, as age will catch up with the likes of Victor Matfield and John Smit.
But the All Blacks need to value the ball a bit more and show plenty of discipline.
Those who played in the game on Saturday have the front running for the end-of-year tour.
Otago forwards Adam Thomson and Tom Donnelly should make the tour, and with there being no midweek games there will be relatively few new names.
Two years out from the big tournament, how far away are the All Blacks?Not far.
Much nearer than their transtasman neighbours, but still some way behind the men from the republic.
There is still plenty of untapped potential left in the All Blacks, and as every good race follower knows, winning is all about timing your run.
With 700-odd days to go, the All Blacks are sitting one out and one back.
All Blacks 2009 record
v France, Carisbrook, lost 27-22
v France, Wellington, won 14-10
v Italy, Christchurch, won 27-3
v Australia, Auckland, won 22-16
v South Africa, Bloemfontein, lost 28-19
v South Africa, Durban, lost 31-19
v Australia, Sydney, won 19-18
v South Africa, Hamilton, lost 31-18
v Australia, Wellington, won 33-6
Good and bad
Simply the best
Richie McCaw: Only came into the team in the Tri-Nations and showed how good he is. Captaincy skills are growing but bit of lone ranger against the Springboks.
Dan Carter: Light years ahead of anyone else. Better hope he never falls over badly again.
Brad Thorn: Toiled away all year and his strength was a real asset against the physical Springboks.
Things to work on
Get a back-up for Carter.
Call London and ask for Evans, N.
Play some rugby against the Springboks.
They may not let you do much but playing the same game as them is not the way to go.
Pick players on form and attitude, not promise and strength tests.
