Worst Decision
French referee Romain Poite yellow carding Bismarck du Plessis at Eden Park. One regarde at the big screen and he'd have seen that the Bok hooker tackled Dan Carter avec not sans arms and nor was it high.
Second Worst Decision
Du Plessis returning from his yellow card to charge at Liam Messam and plough an elbow into the All Black flanker's throat.
Most Confusing Decision
The All Blacks played in Japan... why? For developmentpurposes? To make money? To not make money? To grow the profile of the brand? Because Tokyo is nice that time of year? For the sushi? For the air miles? To experience the joy of an electronic toilet?
Second Most Confusing Decision
The last minute penalty awarded to St Kentigern College in the Auckland 1A final against Auck land Grammar. Shocker. There weren't even Grammar players near the ball.
Best Hissy Fit
James O'Connor seemingly forgetting his name when boarding a plane to Bali. "Don't you know who I am?" he probably didn't scream at airline staff. " About to be former Wallaby James O'Connor," they probably didn't reply.
Second Best Hissy Fit
Jake White returning to South Africa after missing out on the Wallabies job. He was responding to accusations from Australian Rugby Union officials that he was a bit precious. Nice one - what better way to show he's not precious by packing up all his toys and quitting Canberra two years early?
Ballsiest Act
Aaron Cruden nailing the re-taken conversion against Ireland. The perfect season on the line, jelly in his legs, no air in his lungs and the whole of Ireland willing him to fail. No pressure. Boom. Job done.
Second Ballsiest Act
Lions coach Warren Gatland dropping Brian O'Driscoll for the final Lions test. Imagine, just imagine what would have happened had the Lions lost?
Biggest Surprise
Australia beat Scotland .
Second Biggest Surprise
Ma'a Nonu re-signing with the Blues. Interesting reconcilliation, that one.
Biggest Regret
England hooker Dylan Hartley calling referee Wayne Barnes a "f****** cheat". It earned him a lengthy ban and miss the Lions tour.
Most reckless losing of the plot
London Welsh manager Mike Scott was banned for life when he knowingly provided false information to try to obtain former Hurricane Tyson Keats a passport. He then tried to forge a passport - earning his club a massive fine and five-point pena lt y. They were subsequently relegated. Jeepers - Keats was never that flash when he played here. Was he worth all that?
Most honest appraisal of a referee
"It was obvious to me. I don't know; he was probably a blind TMO, was he? It 's an obvious try." - Graham Henry after the Blues lost to the Crusaders in May.
Biggest Disappointment
The Highlanders. What a crock. How did that happen? Decent-looking squad and a lot noise about being true to the cause. They couldn't even beat the Kings. Jimmy Cowan would be pulling his heavily-dyed hair out (assuming the peroxide hasn't already done the job).
Second Biggest Disappointment
Dan Carter limping off on his 100th cap. Sad. So too was the little fight behind the scenes when Twickenham officials were initially resistant to let the All Blacks have a presentation for Carter on the field after the game.
Most Spectacular Failure to Take Charge
Robbie Deans just didn't seem to understand that his senior players were wildly unhappy at the way O'Connor and Kurtly Beale were seemingly able to do what they wanted, when they wanted without consequence. The worse they behaved, the more opportunity they got - and Robbie had to get the chop.
Most Spectacular Success in Taking Charge
Ewen McKenzie replaced Deans and ran a tighter ship. A host of Wallabies went out on the sauce in Dublin a few days before the test against Ireland and a host of Wallabies were subsequently suspended or disciplined before the next game.
Most Spectacular Lack of Forethought
Those Wallabies didn't really make it hard for McKenzie. A million bars in the city and they head to the most popula r in Dublin and neck a tank-load of Guinness in full view. They did hammer Ireland though - leading to some to observe that it's a bit much to go on the p*** and then take the p***.
Most Predictable Outcome Wellington played
Canterbury in the ITM Cup final and you'll never guess what..?
Second Most Predictable Outcome
Sanzar began broadcast talks about Super Rugby, they couldn't agree on the future format of the competition and South Africa threatened to pullout. Yawn.
Best Story of the Year
Marty Banks and the Tasman revival. The Makos were the lowest spenders in the ITM Cup and they nailed the Champion ship.
Most Drawn Out Dull Story of the Year
Sonny Bill Williams and 'I can't think about two things at the same time'. Left to focus entirely on the NRL play-offs, he left everyone guessing what he would be doing in 2014. He even left the Chiefs guessing, then scrambling as they learned at the last minute the initials would be staying with the Roosters.
Second Most Drawn Out But Not Quite so Dull Story of the Year
The Ma'a Nonu saga. Not wanted by any Super Rugby franchise, he faced the prospect of a sabbatical in France until the Blues forgave and forgot.
Best try of the year
There were so many to pick from. But for brilliance under pressure, immaculate execution and sheer drama ... it had to be Ryan Crotty's try against Ireland.
Best single act of the year
Ranger sending O'Connor reeling on his backside when the Blues played the Rebels.
Best Performance
All Blacks against South Africa at Ellis Park . Has there been a better one?
Best Steve Hansen-ism
"I don't pick the team, so at the end of the week Ewen [McKenzie] has got that job and you had better ask him. He may not know but ask him anyway," on who, after the All Blacks had ripped the Wallabie s in Sydney, he thought should play first- five for Australia the next week .
"I think Quade Cooper and Matt Toomua are both good players, but I am just happy I have got Dan Carter and Aaron Cr uden ... and Beauden Barrett for that matter. All five of those people are all very good rugby players, and four of them are New Zealanders. Actually, I am not sure if Toomua was born here. It might be all five. So maybe I am picking them."
Sub of the year
Beauden Barrett
For a bloke that looks like he'd snap in a stiff breeze, he broke a serious amount of tackles in a number of big games.
He was the catalyst for victory against the Boks twice and upped the tempo when he entered the fray in Dublin. We knew he could kick and direct, but no one really recognised his running ability.
Defining Memory of the Year
Kieran Read charging down the wing at Ellis Park to score the last try. Right then, who didn't think he was the best player in the world
