Die-hard Highlanders fan Jeff Cheshire rates the performance of players throughout the season.
The Highlanders' 2012 campaign has come to an end, with the team finishing with nine wins.
It was a season in which they played some outstanding rugby and at times they looked like a championship-winning team.
But frustratingly this form eluded them later in the season and they were unable to put together a complete campaign, just as in 2011.
Before we turn our focus to 2013, let's take a minute to look back on what has been a good year for Highlanders rugby and see how each player fared throughout the season.
Player ratings
Ben Smith: 8/10. Was dangerous every time he touched the ball, has the ability to spot a gap and go through it. At times his hands let him down and was guilty of trying too much. But the good far outweighed the bad, with special mention going to his performance against the Cheetahs which would rate amongst the finest of anyone in a Highlanders jersey.
Kurt Baker: 5/10. Made it back on to the field after injury saw him sidelined for the entire 2011 season. Looked good when given his chances but didn't see enough game time to make a huge impact. Definitely a player worth holding on to.
Kade Poki: 7/10. A strong runner who defences found hard to bring down. Capable of sparking something and breaking the line.
Hosea Gear: 8/10. After a slow start, Gear found some top form, showing what a devastating runner he can be. Was the most potent attacking weapon on the team, whilst also providing some brutal defence and offering a safe pair of hands under the high ball.
Buxton Popoalii: 6/10. Was called into the side to cover injury and impressed. Dangerous with ball in hand possessing one of the best sidesteps in world rugby. It wouldn't be a surprise at all to see him named in the squad for 2013.
Tamati Ellison: 9/10. Outstanding from the get go. Strong on defence and capable of creating something on attack. Consistently good all season and arguably the best back in the team.
Shaun Treeby: 7/10. When he did play he was very good, showing more of the aggressive running that made him such a threat in 2011. But injury hampered him throughout the season and didn't get to make quite as big an impact as he and the team would have hoped.
Phil Burleigh: 7/10. Was called in from outside the wider training squad during the midfield injury crisis at the start of the season. But he was so good in the early games that he retained his spot for the rest of the season, showing himself to be a steady player and a very tidy second five-eighth.
Chris Noakes: 7/10. Could be brilliant but then could also be decidedly average. On his good days though showed himself to be a good creator and an accurate goal kicker. Played a key role in the win over the Chiefs in the first game of the season and was also instrumental in the turnaround against the Cheetahs in South Africa.
Mike Delaney: 7/10. Like Noakes had the ability to be outstanding, but also had his off-days. When on form he was a dangerous runner, making the back line look that much more dangerous. Kicked well too and was a gem to get mid-season when faced with an injury crisis in the No. 10 jersey.
Aaron Smith: 7.5/10. One of the big improvers of the season. Provided quick service with a crisp pass and was dangerous sniping around the fringes. Consistency wasn't quite there, having a couple of off days, but this will come with time. Has potential to be a very good player for a long time.
Jimmy Cowan: 6/10. Had a nightmare performance first up and perhaps harshly didn't see as much game time as he would have liked. Barring the first game though, Cowan was actually reasonably good, closing games out well and definitely better than was made out by many. A true Highlanders legend and will be missed.
Nasi Manu: 9/10. There were few better than Manu in 2012. A strong ball runner, capable of putting the team on the front foot. Also had a huge work rate, hitting rucks with great technique and ensuring he was effective. Was consistently good, performing well in every game. If he can continue in the same way he may find himself wearing a black jersey sooner rather than later.
John Hardie: 8/10. Was outstanding before injury cut short his season. Tackled everything and was a valuable link man on attack. Is developing into a good openside flanker and at times even showed shades of Kronfeld.
Adam Thomson: 9/10. Continues to go from strength to strength and was yet again one of the Highlanders key players. Ran well with ball in hand and also defended well, making some crucial tackles and plenty of them. Also showed his skills at lineout time, proving to be the No. 1 option before throwing everything to him got too predictable.
James Haskell: 6/10. Haskell was always going to be a gamble. At times he looked good and showed plenty of promise, hence an above average rating. But consistency eluded him and was no more than a good bench player.
Tim Boys: 7/10. Got a long overdue Highlanders recall late in the season and showed the value of having a genuine openside flanker wearing the No. 7 jersey. Tackled well and often, got in the way and just played like an openside should.
Jarrad Hoeata: 7/10. Missed the early part of the season with injury and took a few weeks to find his feet again after returning. Once he did though he was brutal, showing the same grit and work ethic that saw him wear a black jersey in 2011. Was particularly strong against the Bulls, where he was huge in helping the Highlanders knock over one of the competition's heavyweights.
Josh Bekhuis: 7/10. Another typical Josh Bekhuis season, consistently providing a high work rate and a good lineout option.
Nick Crosswell: 8/10. Kicked on well from the 2011 and was a key player throughout 2012. Threw himself into everything and was always prominent in the tight-loose. At times he could be inaccurate at breakdown time, but other than this an outstanding year.
Calum Retallick: 5/10. Always did his job when he came on to close out a game. Had to fight for game time with three very good performers in front of him, but did all that was asked of him when he did get on.
Chris King: 6/10. A mobile prop with a good work rate. The scrum struggled for much of the season but generally did enough to hold on.
Jamie Mackintosh: 6/10. Outstanding leadership and brought a great attitude which clearly rubbed off on his team mates. Strong on defence and proved adept at making a mess of the oppositions ruck ball. However, he struggled at scrum time and dropped a few too many balls during the course of the season.
Ma'afu Fia: 7/10. Only really came into favour late in the season but made a difference when he was used. Good around the field and the scrum seemed to improve when he was there.
Bronson Murray: 5/10. Was predominantly used off the bench early in the season and can't be knocked for this as the bench was a strength of the team early on. However was surpassed by Maafu Fia later in the season and saw limited game time from then on.
Andrew Hore: 8/10. Outstanding on his return to the south. Showed why many regard him as the best hooker in New Zealand with a strong work rate, doing work in the tight and capable of snaffling turnovers at the breakdown. His lineout throwing was average at times and was a source of problem as the season progressed. But other than this a top season.
Jason Rutledge: 7/10. Used off the bench to great effect for the majority of the season. Was particularly good in the early stages of the season and would have made a case for being the second best hooker in the country on form for a while. Has a very good work rate and supports play well.
No ratings due to limited game time:
Telusa Veianu: Got limited opportunities and was surpassed by Buxton Popoalii early in the year. Played well enough though when given a chance and at just 21 years old remains an exciting prospect.
Siale Piutau: Suffered from injury for most of the season and never really got a chance to get into any sort of form. Was good at times, but struggled in his one start at centre against the Reds. However, he shouldn't be judged on his form this year for obvious reasons. Definitely a player worth keeping and will be of great importance should he stay.
Kendrick Lynn: Another player who had his season ruined by injury, playing only a bit part in a handful of games. Never got a chance to show what a good player he can be, but will no doubt be back for next year.
Colin Slade: Of all the players in this section the most frustrating one to see here is Colin Slade. After an injury plagued 2011, he made it back onto the field in the early stages of the 2012 season. Initially he looked nervous and that showed. Then all of a sudden boom, he rediscovered his confidence and was playing a blinder against the Brumbies. Then boom, it was all over with his season ending prematurely with a broken leg. Possibly the most unlucky player in the country.
Lima Sopoaga: Looked good in the early stages of the season before having his season cut short in just the third game. Before this though he showed he has grown from 2011 and was playing a much more confident and assured brand of rugby.
Doug Tietjens: Another player who received limited opportunities, but then never really impressed when he did take the field.
Elliot Dixon: Injured in his second appearance of the year, but was strong when he did take the field and made an impact.
Scott Fuglistaller: Came into the team to cover injuries and played a handful of games mid-season. Didn't get too many chances, but came up with a huge steal at the end of the first Blues game.
Hoani MacDonald: The old war-horse responded to the call when stocks were low in the locking jerseys. Was solid, but didn't stick around long enough to rate.
By Jeff Cheshire from Dunedin, New Zealand.
