Image via Wikipedia Richie's the best but it means nothing... OPINION: Returned and refreshed, let's look at some burning issues.
How good have the All Blacks been this year? For mine, the fact they've not only won everything, but played with such breathtaking flair, means they match the benchmark set way back in 1967, when Fred Allen coached a team that not only swept through Britain unbeaten, but also showed you could win by running the ball. In other words, the class of 2010 is as good as we've seen in the last 50 years.
How good is Richie McCaw? Not just as good as All Black flankers of the past 50 years, as good as any All Black of the past 50 years.
Does that mean we'll bolt the Rugby World Cup? Bitter experience says no. Sudden death games are never a certainty. But wouldn't you rather start from the level we're on now than several steps below?
So who might tip us over next year? Australia, because their team is even younger than ours, and they've embraced the potential offered by the change in ruling the tackled ball area. South Africa, if they get to grips with playing like the Bulls and using the ball. And, of course, France, because they're France, and it's what they do.
What about England? They're dreaming.
PICK AND MIX
The Last task of the year for the All Black selectors, choosing the team to tour Britain, looked a breeze until the Sydney test. Now it offers some fascinating challenges.
Take it as read that the 10 players the selectors have limited to no play in the ITM Cup will be going. Add Keven Mealamu (if he's fit), Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Tony Woodcock, the Franks brothers, Jimmy Cowan, and Israel Dagg.
As a service to amateur selectors, here's the roughest of guides to the prospects for other contenders.
Sonny Bill Williams (90%). Barring a catastrophic loss of form in the ITM Cup, this tour is the only chance they'll have to really see how he fits into the team environment. If it doesn't work, better to have taken the chance now than discover at the world cup that there's a problem.
Aaron Cruden (60%). His starting debut was shaky. The question is whether his strength of character persuades the wise men he can learn and improve.
Colin Slade (40%). Neck and neck with Cruden. His goal kicking might be a clincher.
Benson Stanley (50%). He could suffer from the Sonny Bill experiment. In a year when the coaches got almost everything spot on, what happened to Stanley was a small, but spooky, reminder of the belief Henry and Co seem to have that players are better off training with the All Blacks than getting regular footy. Insisting he stay on in the All Black camp, and not get game time for Auckland, hasn't been a help to Stanley, just as the same tactic didn't help anyone in 2007.
Rene Ranger (80%). Tough minded, versatile, he should get the benefit of selectors who are daring enough to accommodate players whose style falls outside the square.
Victor Vito (50%). Until his catastrophic defensive error against the Wallabies, he'd have been a 100 percenter. His physical gifts are huge, but whether he reads the game well enough at test level is now a burning question.
Joe Rokocoko (50%). James and Dagg, both basically brilliantly gifted fullbacks, will be perfect wings to play in Britain, where it's likely their opponents will still be kicking and chasing. If Sitiveni Sivivatu is available again he's guaranteed, and then it gets really tight for Rokocoko. His place could depend on whether Mils Muliaina is the only fullback picked.
Corey Flynn (50%). His prospects will depend on Andrew Hore making it back from injury, and whether, if Hore is fit, the selectors trust John Afoa to be a back-up hooker.
A bolter? Robbie Fruean. Physically he makes Sonny Bill look almost delicate, and he's quick too. If he continues to improve, he may not make this tour, but he'd be hard to keep out of the world cup squad.
FORWARD BATTLE
Tradition gets turned on its head this Thursday night when Auckland challenge Southland for the Ranfurly Shield.
In the past you could write the script with cliches. Hard as nails swede bashers in the maroon jerseys, with backs who just filled out the numbers in the programme. Nancy boyish forwards in blue and white, with flashy backs.
In 2010 rip up the pages and set a match to them. Auckland now, as demonstrated so dramatically against Manawatu, have a forward pack that eats barbed wire at halftime.
Lovers of watching big tough men smash the tripe out of each shouldn't miss the game on Thursday. As just one example, the first time Jason Rutledge and Charlie Faumuina smash into each other should be a great test of whether human bodies alone can produce nuclear fission. With the passion Southland bring to defending the shield expect a potent throwback to the days of titanic forward battles.
SBW WATCH
The Sonny Bill watch continues to be a fascinating exercise.
Taranaki, a team using 125 years of history as inspiration, were terrific in beating Canterbury and it was Williams' misfortune to be the fallguy in two Taranaki tries, when, after running his heart out in defence trying to cover other people's errors, he found himself out of options.
His game remains the antithesis of showboating, and there are some big chapters in this story still to come.
Talking of talent, first-five Beauden Barrett was being talked bout in hushed tones in New Plymouth back in June when the All Black test was there.
Now we all see why. Still a schoolkid last year, and turning 19 just four months ago, it's too soon to go crazy about his prospects, but he has the breeding (father Kevin played 169 games for Taranaki), the class, and the speed (he's played sevens for New Zealand) to continue to make a big impression
Acknowledgements: Phil Gifford
