All Blacks report card for 2012...B+

Now the season is over time to give out the report card for the All Black class of 2012

First up was the Irish series- won 3-0 by the ABs with 2 very good performances and one close shave where Ireland, very similar to how England did last night, turned it up but couldnt quite nail it. During the series (and year)we brought in several new players, Savea, Retallick, Romano, Aaron Smith, Faumuiana, Cane, Barrett, Tameifuna, Kerr-Barlow and Dane Coles.

Savea finished the year as top try scorer in test rugby with 12 tries and cemented a position on one wing.

Then it was the inaugural Rugby Championship and Bledisloe cup and the very welcome introduction of Argentina to the mix.

Hansens side managed to win all six matches although it did get tested by all three sides, the ABs weathering the storm and winning each of the alternate matches comfortably.

After having secured the Bledisloe cup and Rugby championship the ABs werent quite able to go on and claim the longest winning streak in test rugby- held by Lithuiania at 18.

On to the AI's and although not totally convincing each of the matches were won by at least 20 points until last night, where it all came to a crashing end for the season, a convincing win to a very motivated and energised England.

So for a first year report card for Hansen and the 10 new caps for the class of 2012?

I'd give it a B+.

3 reasons why it doesnt get an A+

-Not winning in Brisbane and keeping the winning streak alive when the AB's made numerous rare mistakes, fumbles etc
-Succumbing to England where the wheels finally fell off and England showed them how they can be taken to the cleaners if theyre not 100% on their game.
-Andrew Hores indiscretion in the Welsh match last week set the standards normally held by the AB's back a bit and work is needed to repair the damage.

The positives and going forward?
-2012 had for most of the year, the ABs at the head of the bunch by some distance, winning all trophies on offer bar the Hillary Cup which I believe England won back last night.

-They continue to play an open brand of rugby, scoring twice as many tries as the next side in 2012. Julian Savea topping the list is showing all the promise of and potential needed to match some of our great wingers of the past.

-Aaron Smith has stepped up from Superxv and with TJ Perenara and Kerr-Barlow next year the number 9 spot is looking healthier than it has for years.

- Unlike many sides the ABs are largely injury free and this reflects the excellent player management process we have in place

- The ABs take into the summer a reminder of the need to ALWAYS be on the game and that reputation and past performance doesnt guarantee a win. For the ABs a last loss motivates far greater than any win.

So for us we on into hibernation for 6 months, McCaw slightly longer.

Congratulations to England on its win and hopefully Lancaster managed to bottle some of it before the energy dissipated at head office last night for the 6N- we would hate for it to be in vain! Also congrats to Argentina for their intro to the Rugby Championship- not quite any wins but that is inevitable judging on this years performances.

Hard luck to Wales and Scotland who seem to be at a cross roads in terms of where their rugby is at.

And to the Boks and Oz- GET WELL SOON! Too many talented players in the ward and we're all missing them.

For our guys- well done in a very tough season and look forward to seeing more of it next year, with perhaps an A- or better as we head towards 2015.

Finally,
A very Merry Christmas to you all (had to get the first one in!) and last, but certainly not least...welcome back Biltong. From our long conversations over the years, and the sentiments on this site your efforts are very much appreciated.

can't disagree with much of that. NZ have reigned supreme this year (until the England game ) but I think it's fair to say part of it has been ordinary level of opposition (Aus and SA have pretty poor teams by their standards). Having said that, NZ when on form look simply unstoppable.

I think Aaron Smith is a great find. Scrum half is one area where I don't feel NZ have quite had the level of player they have in the other positions (Weepu is OK, but nothing more for me), and Smith looks the real deal. He got rattled today (not helped by NZ being bossed at the breakdown) but he'll learn from that, and be a better player for it.

Savea looks real quality too: great finisher.

Can't disagree with a B+, which shows what exacting standards the All Blacks have...

For a team that was being considered possibly the greatest of all time going into the England game, I think you're being a bit harsh on them.

I think the ABs deserve an A-

Nothing better than being brought to a crashing thud when you've got your head stuck up in them clouds.

This match will serve as ample motivation to improve next year- in many ways its a very good thing.

There were other matches we could have lost this year- Ireland, Oz twice (Brisbane and when Dagg made the diff in Auckland) and SA in NZ. Even Argie were in one for a while.

But none were as devastating as this England one. Been a VERY, VERY long time where with 10 minutes to go the match was effectively over- be lucky to find one this century- 1999 the last I can recall. Perhaps the 9 men short loss to SA last year. Cant remember. Most of our losses are winnable in the last 10. This one, other than a miracle, wasnt.

If they have only lost once in god knows how many and won a World Cup then anything other than an A would be undeserved

BristolDave wrote:If they have only lost once in god knows how many and won a World Cup then anything other than an A would be undeserved

Not for this loss, Brisbane and Hore.

Two of them were avoidable, last nights wasn't. Can't give out A's when you dont perform at max consistently, plus what would they improve on. Next years team will be better for this.

Taylorman wrote:

BristolDave wrote:If they have only lost once in god knows how many and won a World Cup then anything other than an A would be undeserved

Not for this loss, Brisbane and Hore.

Two of them were avoidable, last nights wasn't. Can't give out A's when you dont perform at max consistently, plus what would they improve on. Next years team will be better for this.

For some reason in England there are now things called A* (higher than an A) - was never the case in my day!

Hope they don't improve too much otherwise days like yesterday will become even rarer