As the dust settles after another momentous rugby championship, and now having become the sole side in the game’s history to go an entire calendar year without tasting defeat, the question has to be asked…….is this current New Zealand side the greatest international rugby union team to grace the game?

This New Zealand side seems to have moved on to another level from performances that gave them only their second world title in 2011. A huge factor in this progression has been the transition of head coach, with Steve Hansen (who was forwards coach during RWC11) replacing Graham Henry. Hansen is a tough driven individual and demands the same from this group. Hansen’s mantra seems to be that “every opponent must be respected but none feared”. He has the All-Blacks working harder than ever before. This New Zealand side contains some of the greatest players to have ever played the game, Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Conrad Smith have seen and done it all. Their experience is vital in the pivotal positions of out-half and centre, and in McCaw they possess a man who not only leads the 15 on the field, but is a symbol for New Zealand as a nation. What should really scare opposing teams is that this conveyer belt of talent shows no sign of stopping. Kieran Read is the best no 8 in the world and in my opinion, pound for pound the best rugby player on the planet. A nation that is famous for its clinical wingers, think Christian Cullen, Joe Rocokoco, John Kirwan, Dougie Howlett to name but a few, have two new fresh devastating wingers in Julian Savea and Ben Smith. Aaron Smith has been a revelation at scrum half and comfortably out-played the supposed best no 9 Will Genia, in every encounter this year. The pack has the perfect blend of youth and experience. Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock at second row are only 25 and 22 years of age, but are bossing and dominating packs with far more caps on paper. New Zealand’s hard edge comes in the shape of their vicious veterans in the front row, Andrew Hore, the Franks brothers, Kevin Mealamu and Tony Woodcock are exactly what a side needs when a game needs to be won in the trenches.

Looking past their excellent coach and phenomenal playing staff, perhaps what makes this side the greatest ever is their mental strength and will to win. In the second last round of the rugby championship they had to travel to Ellis Park in South Africa to take on a pumped up and emotional Springbok side. The entire completion rested on the result of this clash between the worlds top two sides. With everything to play for the All Blacks put on a master class of knockout rugby and ran out convincing winners. This All-Black side does not get intimidated by any challenge. If you want a brawl they can fight, if you want to run the ball they can play, if you want to play a kicking game they possess some of the best open field kickers in Israel Dagg and Dan Carter. Irish fans will look at this article with a sense of bitterness and disgust following our epic clash with the boys from the long white cloud which ended in an agonising two point defeat, with the All-Blacks grabbing the winning try in added time. However, even the most die-hard Irish supporter would have to admit that there is no other side in world rugby who would be capable of scoring that try with the pressure that was on. New Zealand showed patience, courage and ultimately belief in one another to push the ferocious Irish defence back and work their way to the corner where Richard Kahui broke Irish hearts. This side does not know when they are beaten and combine all the vital facets of the beautiful game that is rugby to achieve success. People will argue and point to the New Zealand side of 1982, or the English side of 2003 as superior teams, but in terms of all round ability and desire to win, I feel no side has ever matched the current ABs.

Pundit Arena, Michael Sweeney.