The All Blacks and Crusaders have both missed out on the silverware at the prestigious Laureus Sports Awards this morning.
The World Champion All Blacks finally tasted defeat after missing out on the team of the year to Champions League winners Barcelona.
NBA champions the Dallas Mavericks, the Women's FIFA World Cup winners Japan, F1 champions Red Bull and the England cricket team were the other nominees for the award.
The All Blacks also earned nominations in 2006, 2007 and 2011 but have yet to win the team category.
The Crusaders were up for the comeback of the year after February's Christchurch earthquake forced them to play the entire Super 15 season on the road when AMI Stadium suffered serious damage.
The Queensland Reds, who beat the Crusaders in the Super 15 final, were also nominated following the Queensland floods which caused 35 deaths.
That award however went to golfer Darren Clarke who won last year's Open Championship, his first major in more than 20 years of playing professional golf.
World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic won the sportsman of the year award while Kenyan long distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot was named sportswoman of the year.
In other awards golfer Rory McIlroy won breakthrough of the year, Oscar Pistorius won sportsperson of the year with a disability and surfer Kelly Slater won action sportsperson of the year.
- HERALD ONLINE