The All Blacks do not play a truly global game but their winning record in international rugby is rare in any sport and has earned them recognition far beyond rugby. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Editorial
There is simply no contest for our 2015 sporting achievement of the year, though Lydia Ko's rise to number one in the world of women's golf would normally assure her of the accolade.
For New Zealand to have the world's best in a truly global game is a rare thrill.
At just 18 years of age, Ko looks likely to give the country pride and pleasure in her achievements for many years yet.
The All Blacks do not play a truly global game but their winning record in international rugby is rare in any sport and has earned them recognition far beyond rugby.
But their special achievement this year, winning a second successive Rugby World Cup, is unprecedented and they did it in a style that surpassed even the winning of the cup in New Zealand four years ago. They had set out to do just that, coach Steve Hansen building a team with a good balance of youth and experience. Year by year they produced good rugby, going through last year unbeaten. They did not peak too soon, even if fans feared they had when they did not win the southern championship this season and did not sparkle in the pool matches of the World Cup.
The more we worried the more relaxed Hansen seemed. He knew they had "something special" in reserve for the knock-out rounds, and so they did. None more so than Dan Carter, whose three games were gems.
