Most improved player: Ben Smith
There were a lot of candidates for this award. Liam Messam and Sam Cane both became important members of the team, while Charlie Faumuina got better and better as the season progressed. But the biggest improvement came from Ben Smith, who went from being a solid utility reserve to a player who had to start. When playing on the wing he was electric, having the ability to spot a gap and take it, while also reliable when finishing in the corner.
He was much more than this, though, always chasing kicks hard and he has improved a lot under the high ball. At centre he was not quite so dangerous, but filled the role well enough, distributing well and generally making his tackles. There is going to be a logjam in the outside backs next year, with Smith, Cory Jane, Julian Savea, Charles Piutau and Israel Dagg all vying for places. Going by this year's form though, Smith has to be there as he is too good to leave out.
Impact player of the year: Beauden Barrett
The award for the player who came off the bench and made the most difference goes to Beauden Barrett, a player who always added spark to the team. In June against France he came on in the last few minutes and scored tries, both of which came from never giving up on a chase of support play.
He was dangerous running from fullback or the wing, while also capable of running the backline when called upon at first five-eighth and did a good job replacing Aaron Cruden in the first half against the Springboks in Auckland.
Best match: vs Springboks in Johannesburg
The match of the year and it would rate as one of the best ever played. The Rugby Championship was on the line as the world's two top teams went head to head after a controversial first match in Auckland. South Africa needed a bonus point, so came with the mindset of playing attacking rugby, which made all the difference as this meant we had two teams who were looking to be expansive.
What ensued was a classic, in which both sides ran in some great tries featuring high skill, good teamwork and individual brilliance. In the end the All Blacks ran out victors, but the main takeaway from the game was just how much the attitude heading into the game affects how it is played.
It is hard to go past the second test against France as being the best team performance. In this game the All Blacks completely shut out their opponents in one of the best displays of kicking rugby you will ever see. Aaron Smith, Aaron Cruden and Israel Dagg constantly found space in behind the French backline and the chasers ensured the receivers were always under pressure and could not clear.
At the beginning of the second half France looked to come back and had the All Blacks under all sorts of pressure, but the defence held. It was this that was the turning point and the likes of Liam Messam, Owen Franks and Kieran Read led the way to ensure France did not get a sniff. A 30-0 win was the result and an outstanding one at that.
Worst team performance: vs Ireland in Dublin
It is hard to be too critical after an unbeaten season, but if you were to pick a worst performance it would be the most recent one against Ireland. More accurately the first half was poor, where Ireland got out to a flyer, scoring three quick tries while the All Blacks just could not get into the game. They rallied at half time and dominated the second half, just sneaking home in the most unlikely circumstances in what was a great show of resolve.
Unluckiest player in New Zealand: Andy Ellis
What exactly did Andy Ellis do wrong? He is still playing good rugby and is not old enough to say that he is over the hill, yet he has become the forgotten man of New Zealand rugby. There is a lot to like about his game, as along with a good passing, kicking and running game, he brings a wealth of experience and intelligence to the table.
Defensive player of the year: Liam Messam
Possibly the most important thing in making this All Black team so dominant was their defence. For nearly the entire season it remained tough, well-organised and aggressive. There was not a weak link in it, but Liam Messam was the pick of them, bringing tremendous physicality and always getting up and making another tackler. He really began to step into the huge void that was left by Jerome Kaino and with Kaino's return in 2014, there are now two world class options to wear the No. 6 jersey.
Players who will get more of a chance in 2014
Liam Coltman
It seems inevitable that Liam Coltman will step into the hooker's role at some point and next year seems like a good time to do it. He impressed last season with the Highlanders and was never bettered by veteran All Black Andrew Hore. His work rate is outstanding, making a lot of tackles and always supporting play well. He is an old-school no-nonsense player who will take the game by the scruff of the neck and just get stuck in. His lineout throwing has improved too, which was the one question mark over his game at the end of last year. Definitely worth a go to replace Hore.
TJ Perenara
Tawera Kerr-Barlow has been solid enough, but one must ask if he is really better than TJ Perenara. Perenara must feel a bit hard done by, after not getting on for the All Blacks this year despite being with the team for the majority of the year. He is a very strong when sniping and possesses a good kicking game along with a reasonable pass. The only real criticism of him would be that he possibly lacks a yard or two of pace, but surely the rest of his game makes up for this. He still young though and has plenty of years ahead of him, but surely must get a run in 2014.
Charles Piutau
Charles Piutau came on well at the end of the season after hardly getting a look in prior to the Dunedin test. He did little wrong on the wing, running strongly, chasing hard and defending well. As mentioned earlier, there is something of a logjam in the outside backs at the moment, but if he is playing well enough it will be hard to ignore him. There has been talk of trying him out at centre too, which could be an interesting move although he looks like the sort of player who would be better in space.
Like Piutau, Charlie Faumuina really came on towards the end of the season after an outstanding performance against Australia in Dunedin. His work rate is very high, making a lot of tackles and he pops up around the field well too. There is a very good argument for starting him ahead of Owen Franks, who while still not bad, was probably not quite as prominent as Faumuina was at his best.
Although in saying that, you are not really going to go wrong with either of them.
Most valuable player: Kieran Read
There were plenty of standouts this year. The locking duo of Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick were both prominent, Ben Smith hardly had a bad moment and Liam Messam was always in the thick of things. But Kieran Read stood out from the rest with his all-round game. He really has the complete package, a physical player who is capable of working hard in the tight and making some big tackles, while also ranging well in the loose and has the skills to offload.
On both attack and defence he was always threatening and was influential in every game he played, especially when Richie McCaw was absent and some extra physicality was needed. If he keeps going the way he is he has a chance to become New Zealand's greatest ever No 8, which is no mean feat, but at the moment it is not hard to see him getting better and better.
