The 2012 domestic rugby season has come to a close. For about three weeks, until sevens tournaments begin and Super 15 teams start assembling. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks back on the year and picks the best and the worst of the action he saw live.
Best players
• Aaron Smith: At the start of the season, Smith looked fast and fit. It seemed he might go past Jimmy Cowan in the Highlanders ranks within half a season. It took 40 minutes. Never looked back and had a great first year in the black jersey, too.
• Liam Coltman: This was the year for the big front-rower to take a big step forward and he did. Maybe it was that beard. A great engine and strong on defence.
• Conrad Smith: May have a common name but there is nothing everyday about him. Never seems to play a bad game and was especially strong when leading a young Hurricanes side to the verge of the playoffs. Black mark, though, for saying he does not mind playing in the rain when commenting on the new Dunedin stadium. He would say that, coming from windy Wellington.
Best games
Highlanders ........... 27
Crusaders ............... 24
(Dunedin, March 3)
This was a dramatic match as the Crusaders went out to an early lead before the home team got on top, only to go to sleep in the second half. A full house saw Hosea Gear score near the end. Then the clock on the stadium was out of sync with the offical timekeeper, leading to a couple of false endings.
All Blacks ..............22
Wallabies ...............0
(Auckland, August 25)
Any day the Australians are kept scoreless has to be a good day. The All Blacks could have actually won by a lot more as they blew quite a few chances, while the Wallabies looked about as united and cohesive as that country's Labour Party.
Otago ...............39
Tasman .............13
(Dunedin, September 23)
Otago scored 36 unanswered points after withstanding a blitzkrieg of a start from Tasman. Players stood tall and slowly got on top with some fine performances from halfback Fumiaki Tanaka and flanker Gareth Evans.
Need to work harder
• Piri Weepu: The All Black train has left the station and somehow the fat conductor is still on board. Not even superstorm Sandy would dislodge him out of the black jersey.
• Telusa Veainu: They should name a bench on the Highlanders training ground after Veainu because he sure spent a lot of time on it. Never sighted on match day.
• Ben Tameifuna: Started well with the Chiefs but faded badly. Too many burgers with the All Blacks and then dropped by Hawkes Bay.
Average games
Crusaders ............... 51
Highlanders ............18
(Christchurch, June 1)
Freezing cold, surrounded by one-eyed Cantabrians, absolutely smoked by a red-hot Crusaders side - it was a long 80 minutes.
Otago ...............15
Southland .........10
(Invercargill, September 6)
Good old Invercargill turned on the weather again: beautifully fine all day and then the heavens opened just after kick-off. Otago defended well, and any win over Southland has to be treasured, but throw in a Bryce Lawrence off night and it was not one to linger in the memory.
All Blacks ..........22
Ireland ...............19
(Christchurch, June 16)
Ireland played well and was within reach of a first victory over the All Blacks but fell at the end thanks to a Dan Carter drop goal. Not much of a game thanks to a temperature about as conducive to running rugby as playing a game in Siberia in December.
Dumbest plays
• Otago v Tasman, ITM Cup semifinal: With less than 10 minutes to go, and Tasman right in the running in a game where the team that had the ball eventually scored, the Makos strangely went for a long-range penalty. It missed, Otago picked up a penalty a minute later and the game was over.
• James Haskell's loose hand: After 25 minutes against the Crusaders in Christchurch, Haskell decided to put a hand in a ruck near his own tryline. He was yellow-carded and, in the next 10 minutes, the Crusaders rattled on 19 points.
• Jimmy Cowan's false finish: In a tight battle, the Highlanders were leading the Waratahs by one point when the fulltime hooter went. All Cowan had to do was kick the ball out. But he put in a sideways up-and-under, which was thankfully caught by a Highlander who ran it out.
Best rumours
• Carl Hayman a Highlander: With players coming to the southern franchise from all directions, talk turned to a return of the prodigal son. Would have been good if it happened, but the big prop is still picking up coin in France and is in no hurry to come back.
• Brad Thorn comes home: This seemed far-fetched at first but gradually gained wheels and the big man is coming to play for the Highlanders.
• Golden oldies conspiracy: Otago went to golden oldies scrums in its second game of the season. Some suggested this was planned, and would happen again during the season. Never eventuated.
Highlanders at the crossroads
• Jamie Mackintosh: Likely to lose his starting spot, and was last an All Black when Greece had money. The big man may have to look elsewhere to revive his career.
• Jarrad Hoeata: An All Black last season, a chest injury ruined those chances this year. Made a few ugly and messy hits for Taranaki and needs to get back to the form of early 2011.
• Shaun Treeby: About to be replaced by Ma'a Nonu, Treeby plays probably 10kg above his weight and sometimes its shows. He needs to log some minutes on the field.
