Not content with stuffing the trophy cabinet with every ornament available to them, the New Zealand All Blacks have gone to work on the biscuit cupboard by clinching the inaugural 10 Nations championship Iced VoVos.
Not that the accompanying championship certificate would look out of place in the cabinet if they could find room and a spot of blu-tak.
A truly deserved champion and will no doubt serve as the cream on the pudding of this record breaking year for them.
Congratulations must also go to the South Africa Springboks, who pushed the All Blacks all the way through the tournament and came within an Irish false start of snatching first.
I’m sure they’ll all be able to kick back with their arrowroot and maybe a bit of butter and a glass of milk and reflect not on what might have been, but what can be next season and how they can keep their fate in their own hands.
But now to the tournament finale. What a show Australia and Wales put on, each side not willing to give an inch, desperate to take their chance to climb to third.
Unfortunately neither of them managed it, with Australia’s winning margin falling 15 points short and coming in at fourth behind England, third, on adjusted differential and Wales’ loss consigning them to fifth.
However both teams never gave up and really showed the world what this tournament is all about.
The bottom half of the table is headed by Ireland, which is perhaps not a bad position considering their year hasn’t really ignited but no doubt they’ll be eyeing off an improved showing in next years Six Nations to give them a springboard into next year’s standings.
And then there’s the French. Improved performances in real world losses in November was never going to be enough to lift this giant higher than anyone but the minnows after their start to the tournament.
They can take heart in their enigmatic French spirit however, as seeing they had such a stinker of a year they’re just as likely to blow everyone away next year.
A June match in Australia provides a good opportunity to snatch a win against southern hemisphere opposition and if they come back to their usual standard in the Six Nations as well they could be well and truly sniffing VoVos towards the business end of the tournament.
The minnows largely finished where they were expected to, with perhaps the surprise being a last place finish for Argentina.
This is no doubt disappointing for the Argentines, however their real world win over Italy wasn’t enough with the Azzurri’s two big scalps in the Six Nations making it difficult for them to be caught.
Then with Samoa coming out on top in their simulated match courtesy of a hefty scoreline against Italy in South Africa, their fate was sealed.
So that’s it for the year. Balls have been deflated, biscuits have been posted and the world gets back to normality.
Next year’s fixtures will be decided in the next month or so and will be posted shortly after the competing nations are finalised with the release of the first IRB rankings of the year.
I’ll be doing a preview of the 2014 tournament shortly after that (and before the tournament starts this year).
As always full details can be found on the 10 Nations website.
Thanks to everyone who’s checked it out as it’s progressed.
Final standings – 2013 10 Nations International Rugby Championship
1 New Zealand 42
2 South Africa 39
3 England 31
4 Australia 31
5 Wales 27
6 Ireland 21
7 France 16
8 Italy 16
9 Samoa 11
10 Argentina 10
Harry Jones
Guest
Confusingly good stuff, Soapit.
Squirrel
Guest
Anything can happen next year. Wales and Scotland need some centres, England need some brains and Australia stills needs props. Ireland needs some direction and consistency. France need more discipline & ABs need to panic a bit and I think the 2015 will be a close contest , the closest RWC yet. By 2015 i dont think it will be just either NZ and Sboks but apparantly they meet in the semis. Rugby is back great games those end of year ones. Merry xmas all
Kippa
Guest
Two ginger nuts, ice magic, freezer for 5 mins. There is no turning back now.
Thunderguts
Guest
yep and the chocolate thins and jaffa thins. Malt biscuits should only be eaten with an inch thick of butter and then washed down with a Monteiths.
Garth
Guest
Now, I just have to find out what "honey jumbles" are.....
Face the Facts
Guest
Soapit you're a genius, it's been years since I've heard of Iced VoVos, thanks for triggering the memories. And congrats to the AB's on all the well deserved accolades.
Ken Stewart
Guest
I thought griffins malted the Arrowroot!
Colin Kennedy
Roar Guru
Thanks soapit, love it.
AWCMONREF
Guest
Yup that's where I went wrong Iced Vovos aint Griffins or Gingernuts :)
soapit
Guest
venetians are my favourite but only just found out their name, they used to pop up at an old workplace but never found out what they wer ebefore i left. fortune struck me when they turned up at my current place 10 years laters so i made sure to have a look at the packet
Thunderguts
Guest
As they say "You learn something new each day" I had not heard about the VoVos until I read Soapit post. Based on the results our biscuit buying pattern will change dramatically although you cannot go past Griffins Ginger Nuts -- just like an AB tough as nails, hard to knock over but a real softee when dunked in a good cup of black tea.
Argyle
Roar Guru
Good call on the Monte Carlo's mate. Solid bit of snacking material there. Here is a bit of Biscuit/Rugby Trivia for you - former Wallaby, Wallaby Coach and rugby personalty, the late David 'Brock' Brockhoff was heir to the Brockhoff Biscuits business that was purchased by what is now Arnotts in 1966. It is my understanding the price was not a bad one which kept Brock in means quite comfortably. In fact it is reported even years later 'Brock' would refer to himself as :I'am just a humble baker". You would have to ask David Lord and Sheek what they tasted like though! ;)
AWCMONREF
Guest
OH NO!!!! Not those Iced Vovos again, they got me in trouble last time cos I really didn't know what the hell they were, guess what checked them out at the supermarket now I'm a freakin expert on Iced Vovos, thank goodness I know what Arrowroot biscuits are cos I like butter on my arrowroots too :) I'm sure the ABs will enjoy the Iced Vovos mutter ( If they know what they are ) anyway well done to all the teams, can't wait for next years matchup between the ABs and the Boks , that's gonna tell everyone where rugbys heading in 2014, can someone please wake me up when Super Rugby starts.......zzzzzzzzzzz
Billy Bob
Guest
Mmmmm...honey jumbles. Salivation before breakfast Still no mention of Venetian Cookies or Monte Carlo? And these ratings bring all us 'arrogant' Wallaby fans back to earth. Behind England? Arrrgh! Just four days of 'glory' we had at number 3.... now thanks to your measure we are back in the humble box. Number Four! Well there will be a certain number of folk from a certain rugby nation near to us who will be well pleased at this. Oh well - we will just have to do our pathetic best next year in the RC and try to rise above our SH 'speed hump' rating.
Uncle Argyle
Guest
Wise man, nice read to.
soapit
Roar Guru
i do love a kingston but they dont have the visual wow factor of the iced vovo (good for photos with the team etc.)
soapit
Roar Guru
cant say i ever even had a first bite of those ones uncle. never liked the look of them
Argyle
Roar Guru
Remember that assorted cream pack that was clogging up the Franklins shelf circa 1985? It contained this orange cream number, that took courage to take a second bite? That was the Wallabies, they have since been promoted to mint slice in our house; Spring Boks are honey jumbles!
soapit
Roar Guru
oops "I’ll be doing a preview of the 2014 tournament shortly after that (and before the tournament starts this year)." should read "I’ll be doing a preview of the 2014 tournament shortly after that (and before the tournament starts this time)."
Kippa
Guest
Butter on arrowroot? No mention of the Kingston.....