After a season that started back in February this year and didn't seem to want to end, New Zealand rugby fans can finally catch a breather, put up their feet and relax for the summer.
Indeed, as they sit back on their decks and enjoy what is expected to be a hot and dry summer, they can look back on a season with many fond memories and smiles.
After all, what tops perfection - something the All Blacks have achieved this season for the first time since 1989.
And naturally, they're the number 1 side in the world - officially on the IRB rankings by a long way from South Africa - with plenty more bright than dark points to take away from the season
Has world rugby ever seen a more dominant international side? Probably, but certainly in the international era, no side has ever been this better than anyone else than this All Blacks team.
Yes, the Irish were only seconds from denying the All Blacks that perfect and unbeaten season - but it still takes a great side to steel themselves and come from so far behind in the game, when they're not at all playing that well, and then win with a great pressure kick.
A champion side is one that not only wins playing well, but also wins when they're not playing well and the ABs have definitely shown both those qualities.
However, it's been a season where we've seen most of the former, particularly in the middle of the season during the Rugby Championship as they conquered all asunder.
The most impressive win was probably against South Africa in the cauldron of Ellis Park.
If this was one place the ABs were expected to fall, it was here, but boy did they blow any thoughts of a stumble here with one of the greatest performances away from home ever by a New Zealand side.
Kieran Read and Ben Smith were two standouts in that game as the All Blacks beat the Boks 38-27 - fitting really as both have been the best All Blacks by far this season.
Kieran Read continued to strengthen claims that he is the best player in the world right now and is hot favourites for the IRB World Player of the Year title - is he the best number 8 ever to play for the All Blacks? That's for another day to debate.
Ben Smith also took his chances with Cory Jane and then Conrad Smith unavailable for selection and stamped his mark - he finished top try scorer of the ABs for the year and still looked a good player at centre even if he wasn't scoring the tries he did when he had more room at wing.
Kieran Read's future is certain for now while question marks hang over Ben Smith who has to keep playing this well to stay in the starting XV with Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Charles Piutau, Israel Dagg all fighting for the positions Ben Smith is adept at.
Rookie of the season? Charles Piutau had a phenomenal finish to the season but Steven Luatua has to be rookie of the season for the consistency he showed all year.
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| All Blacks' young guns |
It's been a while since the ABs have had a player so capable of playing two positions, so impressive as a debutant and so imposing at a young age. Steven Luatua appears to have reached Jerome Kaino's high standards so early in his rugby career - it's mind blowing to think how good he'll be in years to come if he continues this progress.
Luatua's and Piutau's success in feeling at home so quickly in international rugby - along with the development of fellow young stars, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Tom Taylor, Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick, Dane Coles, Aaron Smith, Julian Savea, Ryan Crotty, etc. - is a testament to the philosophy of the coaches who have blended the success and experience of the likes of Woodcock, McCaw, Carter, Nonu and Conrad Smith with the emerging youth of New Zealand rugby.
So on to 2014.
What's left for the ABs to achieve?
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| The Hillary Shield is up for grabs again in New Zealand next year when England visit |
There's the rigours of the Rugby Championship and then the end-of-year tour - that tour will be the last chance for New Zealand's young guns to stake their claims for the 2015 Rugby World Cup squad. And signs are that it will be quite a challenge to usurp this current crop.
But I guess the one record the ABs would dearly love to achieve is the longest winning streak in test rugby. In 2012, they came close to tying the record of 17, but fell short when they drew with the Wallabies in Brisbane in October.
The record is now Cyprus' with 20 - so the All Blacks will need a clean sweep of England in June plus at least 3 wins in the Rugby Championship to tie that record, so it will be quite a challenge to break that record.
Mind you, the ABs seem to be motivated with the toughest of challenges and if this side is anything to go by, getting that record will be a piece of cake.
And if they achieve it, then this side deserves to be called the greatest All Blacks side of all time.
Anyway, kaki te ano New Zealand and congratulations to the All Blacks on a stupendous season.
The Unbeatables as we will call them now have made us proud and we can look to the long, hot, dry summer ahead knowing our team is perfect and the best of them all.
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