It is a slightly cheeky exercise but add together the two standout performances from the Spring tours and you end up with a total of Northern Hemisphere heavyweights 71, Southern Hemisphere 24.
The two outstanding displays of the campaign came from those clad in the blue of France and white of England. It has not turned the rugby world on its head, but the axis has been tilted somewhat.
Those pair of hidings – and let’s call them what they were and dispense with the excuses – will add some real focus to the reviews the Wallabies and All Blacks conduct over the coming months before they resume again in 2013.
There will be concern in both camps that failure to subdue the power forward games of the Six Nations favourites exposed some defensive frailties as the matches went on.
A lack of cutting edge and some players heading towards at their sell-by dates are separate issues that will tax Deans and Hansen respectively.
The most impressive thing about the English victory against the All Blacks was the age of the squad. This England team will have plenty of stumbles ahead but with an average age of just 24 they are not at their peak. It is no coincidence.
After getting the job their thorough head coach, Stuart Lancaster, presented a three-year plan that outlined exactly how many caps the England team would have by the 2015 World Cup, identifying options in each position.
Four-fifths of the tight five at Twickenham were 25 or under. The oldest man in the team, second-rower Geoff Parling, will only be 32 by the time 2015 comes around.
They will not lose anyone from last weekend’s match to the twin enemies of physical deterioration or sated mental desire by the time they face the Wallabies in the the group stage in 2015.
It will not be the case in New Zealand. Take a look at their 30 or over club and names such as Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock, and Keven Mealamu appear.
There is no way all of that group can make it until 2015 and the ones that do will run the risk of it being at a tournament too far.
The All Blacks have done a very good job of introducing new players into their squad this year, but some painful culling of some decorated warriors is coming in the next few years.
They are keenly aware of it of course, already dipping into the 2011 Under-20s this year. There might be some more rapid elevations in 2013 from that junior world championship squad, especially at hooker, number six and second row, with events in London giving succession planning a sharp kick along.
It is why that under-20s competition has become such a vital component in the total national rugby program.
It will not surprise to hear that England were the side the young New Zealanders beat in the 2011 final. Both nations have paid attention to planning.
Australian challenges are of a different nature. They have plenty of youth but are they on the right course?
The talk all year has been of injuries but you would suspect the management group are too savvy to let that be overused as a reason for the uninspiring attack.
On occasions the side was indisputably ravaged with casualties but over the Test campaigns as whole Will Genia played just two fewer Tests than Dan Carter. Nor was the side that beat Wales at the weekend so depleted.
In fact, compared to the starting side that scored three tries to beat a stronger Wales side in December 2011, it included Wycliff Palu, Kurtley Beale, Nick Cummins, Nathan Sharpe and Ben Alexander in exchange for Ben McCalman, James O’Connor, Lachie Turner, Rob Simmons and Salesi Ma’afu.
Instead, inquiries will be posed as to why the smart coaching to outwit England – finding room in behind the defence in a way the All Blacks did not – was not in evidence more frequently.
Over the year there was clever stuff among the disappointing, but not enough of it.
Amazingly, in eight hours of Test rugby against the world’s four top-ranked sides in 2012 only one back, Mike Harris, managed a try – a consolation effort against the Springboks in Pretoria.
Chuck in another four hours of back-line drought at the World Cup against Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand and you have an issue – a significant one – that will be taxing the strategists.
Mike
Guest
Good point.
richard
Guest
Looks okay on paper. Unfortunately for oz, games are won on the field, and that pack, to my mind doesn't stack up v the best i.e SA,England and France.
richard
Guest
That's the nz way, Grant Fox once said in an interview that the ab's ignore their victories and only dwell on their defeats.It was their way of keeping their feet on the ground and keeping focused on getting the job done. When people talk about the arrogance of nz rugby, they confuse the fans with the team. You only have to listen to the ab coaches prior to matches, always talking up the opposition and downplaying their own teams chances as an example.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Oh indeed... Your Clancy's don't get a look in but your Bryce Lawrence's do... Good point and well made!
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I have the Guardian app on my phone, but I'm not sold on their rugby coverage either. I was reading an article the other day and there was a ridiculous error by Robert Kitson, I think. It suggested he hadn't watched the player he was referring to. Slips my mind though...
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Well you can't really blame Australia for a dull game. I said it before and say it again. If a referee allows too much freedom at the breakdown he allows teams to slow the ball up and organize defenses. This geme the referee allowed players to do it. Have a look here http://www.sareferees.com/laws/view/2829906/ here http://www.sareferees.com/laws/view/2829908/ here http://www.sareferees.com/laws/view/2829905/ and here http://www.sareferees.com/laws/view/2829904/
Chivas
Guest
I think the Wallabies have wings to burn.... but as to points 1 and 2, that is precisely the issue and I don't think it will be there from day one...
Mike
Guest
[Apologies, double post]
Mike
Guest
You forgot the Wallaby optimists moaning about how we will waltz into world No 1 if only we can get rid of Deans! I really don't know what the poor dears are going to do in 2014. I guess they will just have to finally confront reality.
Mike
Guest
"Wait the Wallaby attack is impotent? Shock, horror! Just who is the attack coach in the Wallaby coaching system … oh that’s right. It’s okay though kpm, Spiro, mark and Mike will explain how it isn’t Deans’ fault so everything is fine." Oh hi, RK, still sore are you, after being cut to pieces in debates? Just go back to sleep, mate. The Wallabies attack is no more or less "impotent" than it has been for the past ten years - its just that some of us aren't self-deluded. You will soon get your wish, Deans will be out, more Red's players will be selected, etc etc. And then, guess what? .... everything will be exactly the same as it was before. I am sure you will find something else to whinge about then ... ;)
james
Guest
;amazing how one game is judged for the ABs while the other 19 is forgotten
mania
Guest
didnt england take boks to the wire? score was 15-16 . agree its one performance, but the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. this could be the begining of another martinJohnston era. either way the english deserve respect and their day in the sun
Dan
Guest
"Even the English are now keeping the ball in hand and look at the result" - I really hate to keep doing this, but it has resulted in 1 great performance so far, and 2 very ordinary ones (how many tries did they score against the Springboks again?).
Justin2
Guest
As always mark thanks for the laugh, thank goodness the season is over...
mark
Guest
i wasn't aware rugby was a one man show. it isn't and it simply is proven by the fact that both larkham and lynagh are the most winningest no 10's simply because they were in the best sides. if cooper, giteau or ella had've played in the early 90's or the late 90's- 2002 period they'd have had higher win ratios. fact is against the best (nz) he is not up to it. The two performances he made at eden park in 2011 were possibly the worst performances i've ever seen by a no 10 at test level. He is simply a very good club player with a bit of talent that has no right to be anywhere near test rugby. Sorry but he is far too selfish. He won't tackle and he won't go into contact when its the best option. He simply flick passes the pressure onto the nearest team mate ie he plays for himself and anyone that knows rugby knows that a no 10 needs to be a player that plays for those around him. Dan Carter is the epitome of selfless play and thats why he is the best. Our best technically is really Barnes at test level but due to his lack of dynamism we have to look for JOC or Beale or maybe even Lealiafano if he can repeat last years good form. Cooper needs to change his entire persona if his talent is to ever come to the fore-front of his play. I doubt it.
soapit`
Guest
yep seems thats what espn stats is doing as well. not sure there's a better way to include them in the statistic (as opposed to writing it in words as some kind of tie break after counting it as a loss in the figure)
soapit`
Guest
seems quite unusual how many draws there were this year. i wonder if thats a function of less tries being scored (and less variety in numbers of points).
soapit`
Guest
well i have for 2012 : nz - 89% sam - 71% SA - 66% france - 65% aus - 63% http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?class=1;orderby=percentage;spanmax1=31+Dec+2012;spanmin1=01+Jan+2012;spanval1=span;template=results;type=team i'd be sceptical of anything saying we were 2nd this year seeing as we managed to drop a place to 3rd in the irb rankings
Justin2
Guest
mark you may not think so and thats all cool and the gang but the stats show that it is significant both for QLD and AUS. http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/quade-cooper-some-numbers/
mark
Guest
for the reds yes for the wallabies i don't think so thats the difference between fairy floss super xv and test rugby. horse for courses.