Bravest decision
Japan turning down a kick for goal in the late stages of their World Cup match against South Africa. It took balls of steel to reject an almost certain draw to gamble it all on an unlikely victory.
Second bravest decision
Technically it was made in 2013 when the Highlanders opted to stick with Jamie Joseph as coach. They reaped the benefits this year. The players were magnificent, but Joseph showed enormous tactical awareness, astute man management and crafty selection skills.
Most confusing decision
World Rugby naming Michael Cheika Coach of the Year. He had a good 12 months but, hello, the All Blacks won the World Cup and lost just one test. Even Cheika reckoned they'd given the award to the wrong bloke.
Second most confusing decision
Playing eight World Cup games in Wales but World Rugby staunchly insisting the tournament was played in England alone.
Most shamefully predictable decision
World Rugby accusing Samoan wing Alesana Tuilagi of foul play in a World Cup match against Japan. To this day, no one else on the planet understands what he supposedly did. Even worse was the five-week ban handed down, when a few weeks later Irish flanker Sean O'Brien was given a one-week suspension for blatantly punching an opponent. It was shamefully predictable because World Rugby appear to have premeditated views about players from the Pacific Islands.
Best flip-flop
Waisake Naholo arrived at the Highlanders in January having already signed to play for Clermont at the end Super Rugby. By April, he, his agent and New Zealand Rugby were all frantically trying to get him out of the deal. By July, Clermont could see he didn't want to come and, rather handily, Hosea Gear was keen to leave the Chiefs and return to France. Everyone got what they wanted.
Worst flip-flop
Charles Piutau signed a contract extension with New Zealand Rugby, told them, but never actually gave it back to them. A few weeks later, he told his agent to rip it up. He was going to take a huge offer to play for Ulster. He didn't actually do anything wrong and yet it kind of felt like he did.
Biggest surprise
The Highlanders winning the Super Rugby title. It has to go down as the competition's greatest campaign.
Second biggest surprise
Julian Savea letting himself go physically. The big man was put on an intense conditioning programme when he reported for All Blacks duty with skinfold testing that may have alarmed even Homer Simpson.
Biggest brain explosion
England captain Chris Robshaw and his decision to kick for the corner rather than attempt to take the three points that would have levelled the scores late in their crunch World Cup game against Wales.
Second biggest brain explosion
The unknown contingent on the Blues board who decided to leak details about Sir John Kirwan's vision to save his job and the franchise.
Biggest failure
Everyone involved in the process - or lack of - that saw Highlanders prop Josh Hohneck knocked out against the Chiefs yet somehow pass a concussion test and get the OK to play on.
Second biggest failure
The Crusaders failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2001. That was a major surprise with the squad they had. In their defence, they accumulated more competition points than the sixth-placed Stormers but conference winners are guaranteed a finals spot.
Unluckiest player
Aaron Cruden saw his World Cup dream die in April when his studs appeared to harmlessly catch in the ground and twist his knee. It wasn't innocuous - it damaged his cruciate ligament and he was out for six months.
Second unluckiest player
Ryan Crotty worked tirelessly for the Crusaders then was one of the few to perform well in Samoa for the All Blacks, but there was no room for him in the World Cup squad.
Least appreciated major achievement
The New Zealand side winning the World Rugby U20 Championship. There were a couple of players well worth keeping an eye out for in the next few years.
Recidivist offender award
Dylan Hartley, the Kiwi-born English hooker, really is incapable of exerting any kind of self-discipline. He was all set to star at the World Cup but couldn't resist headbutting an opponent in a club game. His four-week ban saw England ditch him. They'd had enough, given that indiscretion brought his career-suspension time to 54 weeks.
Most exciting new arrival
Akira Ioane produced moments in Super Rugby when it was impossible not to be amazed. His speed, athleticism, power and awareness combined to devastating effect.
Second most exciting new arrival
Nehe Milner-Skudder showed there is still a place for the smaller wing in test football. His footwork was sensational, as was his work-rate, timing and ability to finish.
Most ridiculous claim
Rebels reject Danny Cipriani's claim no Wallabies players would be good enough to make the England team. Unfortunately for Danny, Australia cleaned England's clock days later.
Best moral stand
David Pocock calling out Jacques Potgieter for making homophobic verbal slurs in the Brumbies game against the Waratahs.
Weakest moral stand
Sanzar allowing Michael Cheika, who was on a suspended sentence, to enter referee Jaco Peyper's room at halftime during the Waratahs' match against the Blues. It was a clear and obvious breach of all protocol and yet Sanzar didn't want to know, presumably because they had neither the heart nor the balls to begin a process that could have seen the Wallabies left without a coach.
Most worrying development
Suspicion of supplement use being rife in schoolboy rugby. It would be insanely naive for anyone to think that couldn't shortly become a massive issue.
Best single act
Fullback Ben Smith's miracle catch in the All Blacks' quarter-final against France when he covered 50m then stole the ball from Louis Picamoles in mid-air.
Best individual performance
Lima Sopoaga's debut at Ellis Park. He was asked to play No10 for the All Blacks in the most hostile venue in the game and was brilliant.
Best collective performance
The All Blacks' annihilation of France in the World Cup quarter-final. French captain Thierry Dusautoir said it felt like there were six All Blacks for every Frenchman.
Best single weird but endearing act
Sonny Bill Williams giving his World Cup medal to a young fan who was roughly handled by Twickenham security. It was a act of kindness by Williams, but he ended up rewarding a kid who broke all the rules to run on the field just because he wanted to. What about the thousands of kids who didn't break the rules?
Best comeback
Black boots. How much better did the All Blacks look without garish colours on their feet?
