The Rugby Championship came to a conclusion last weekend, with the All Blacks demolishing South Africa in a record-setting 57-15 victory. It was both the highest score and biggest winning margin for any game between the two countries.
New Zealand's victory in the final match was a fitting summary for the 2016 tournament, which was the most one-sided competition since its expansion in 2012.
The All Blacks topped the standings with 30 points, with Australia the next best team with 13 points.
South Africa and Argentina rounded out the table, with 10 and 5 points respectively.
New Zealand
While this was the fourth out of five tournaments the All Blacks had won, what was striking about 2016 was the ease in which victory was obtained.
Over the course of New Zealand's six games, the closest margin of victory was 19 points, in a 36-17 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires.
The average score in those games was 44-14, with the All Blacks scoring 262 points while only conceding 84.
Despite losing a host of senior players after the World Cup last year – including all-time greats Dan Carter and Richie McCaw – the black machine doesn't seem to have skipped a beat.
Fly Half Beauden Barrett is without doubt the best player on the planet right now, and with talented youngsters such as Ardie Savea and Anton Lienert-Brown coming through – it doesn't seem like the All Blacks are going to slow down anytime soon.
Australia
Of the rest of the teams, Australia was probably the pick of the bunch. Finishing second in the standings, the Wallabies managed to win three of their six games.
While they didn't come close to toppling the All Blacks, they beat Argentina twice and South Africa once.
However, after performing so well at last year's World Cup, the Wallabies appear to have regressed somewhat.
While they have attempted to play attacking rugby in a manner similar to the All Blacks, it is clear at the moment they simply do not have the same level of talent to do so.
The forward pack is solid without being spectacular, but it is in the Australian backline where the real trouble is.
Outside of Fullback Israel Folau, the Wallabies lack a potent backline threat. On the wings, Reece Hodge and Dane Haylett-Petty inspire little fear for their opposition, while Fly Half Quade Cooper appears to be a shadow of the playmaker that he was back in 2011.
South Africa
South Africa's problem is almost the opposite to the one which is facing Australia at the moment.
Finding quality players is not an issue for the Springboks. Along with New Zealand, South Africa has the most depth of talent of any team in the world.
Rather, the issue is one of coaching.
Anyone who watched Super Rugby this year saw how good South African rugby can be when utilised properly.
The Lions (from Johannesburg) made the Super Rugby final this year playing with a highly-skilled, attacking game plan.
When those players put on a Springbok jersey though, they seemed to transform – and not in a good way.
Instead, South Africa relied on a conservative, kicking-based game which hasn't been effective since 2010.
The great frustration about South African rugby is the fact that right now they should be good enough to compete with, and even beat, the All Blacks.
However, with the current attitudes held by the management and the continuing political meddling into the sport – it's hard to see anything changing soon.
Argentina
Despite finishing last on the points table, the future is looking very bright for Argentinian rugby.
The Pumas were a dynamic attacking team throughout the tournament, and were the only side that looked capable of keeping up with the All Blacks high-tempo running game.
However, the Pumas are still somewhat inexperienced playing at the highest levels of the game, and were let down by a high error rate and some tactical naivety.
Most importantly though, Argentina are continuing to improve as a team and are also producing world-class players.
No. 8 Facundo Isa was the find of the tournament – leading all players in carries (85) and finishing third with 19 defenders beaten (just behind New Zealand's Ben Smith and Beauden Barrett).
If Argentina can continue their upward trend, they will soon be a match for any team that comes up against them.
Tim Newman lives in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is a keen sports fan, particularly following Rugby and American Football.
Tim Newman's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/tim-newman.html
