AS VICTORS of the Rugby World Cup, it was no surprise the All Blacks nearly made virtually a clean sweep of the World Rugby Awards - the exception being the coach of the year title.
It's not just that the All Blacks are good - they are consistently good, and
that's in comparison to any team in any sport.
Their record can be put alongside any players in any code, their domination has been so complete. And there don't seem any grounds for concerns about the future.
A while back there was some worry that young boys were giving up rugby to play soccer and the national game would suffer. However, the flow of rugby talent coming through the ranks is as inexhaustible as ever. As the old hands we know so well wear an All Black jersey for the last time, a freshman player like Nehe Milner-Skudder rocks up.
Out of places like Taihape, home of the aforementioned, and the schools around New Zealand come an infinite supply of athletes with the right mixture of brawn, brains and bravery - with a dash of bravado.
