So another rugby season closes

Due to the Rugby World Cup which just concluded, there will be no internationals played in November in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning another New Zealand rugby season has ended for another year.

Thankfully this one ended on a high note and will be long remembered for one game that resulted in the outcome all New Zealanders wanted.

But there was plenty to savour for New Zealand rugby fans apart from winning back Bill.

For earthquake ravaged Canterbury, rugby provided the perfect tonic during trying times with the Crusaders playing a season to be remembered - making the Super rugby final despite playing every single game outside their home base of Christchurch. It was a shame the Crusaders couldn't cap off a miracle season.

Or maybe it wasn't such a shame letting the Reds win the Super rugby title...

After all, the Reds' success meant the likes of Genia and Cooper had their tails up leading into the Tri Nations and fuelled their confidence, the Quade Cooper myth and hopes that the Wallabies might be able to win the World Cup with their young side.

Alas, all of those were comfortably extinguished by the All Blacks in that semifinal.

Back to the Cantabs, they lost the Ranfurly Shield early on to Southland but recovered enough to make the final against Waikato in Hamilton and ultimately triumph to win the ITM Cup Premier Division.

The truncated ITM Cup with its split divisions and midweek games turned out to be a surprise hit with provincial rugby fans. Whether this format stays post RWC success remains to be seen.

Another surprise this year was the rise of the Highlanders who looked good for a Super rugby playoff spot for the first time since 2002 until a very late form dip ended that dream. There's plenty to look forward to next season for Highlanders fans including myself - new stadium, a host of the Hurricanes' All Blacks like Gear, Ellison & Hore, and the fact that the jersey will stay the same rather than go to green after popular support.

Disappointments?

The Hurricanes and Chiefs despite their many All Blacks. More so, the Canes who looked like a team split between players & coach. Mark Hammett will be hoping for better results next season after a substantial clean out of the player roster in the off-season, while new Chiefs coach Dave Rennie will be hoping his Manawatu charge, Aaron Cruden can recover from that knee injury he sustained in the Final.

There may have been some disappointment in not winning the Tri Nations but then again those defeats in Port Elizabeth & Brisbane probably did more good for the All Blacks in the tournament that mattered. And at least New Zealand's other great love, the Bledisloe will be in Wellington for the 9th year running.





So a triumphant season & an exhausting one. I guess it's nice having this extra month during RWC years to take a break from rugby so I shall savor this as much as the players & look forward to a bright new chapter in New Zealand rugby.