Reminders that much work still lies ahead for the All Blacks selectors, a year out from the next Rugby World Cup, have been highlighted by the editors of the New Zealand Rugby Almanack.
In the 2022 edition, editors Clive Akers, Adrian Hill and Campbell Burnes note the All Blacks' losses to Ireland and France made for a poor end to a record-breaking season and exposed areas of concern. However, they did not think the season overall replicated the five losses suffered in 2009.
Some specific areas of concern included second five-eighths where Ngani Laumape's loss to an overseas contract impacted the side.
"David Havili began the international season well but struggled against South Africa and his form dipped. Quinn Tupaea proved a worthy understudy on the All Blacks tour and will hopefully have learned a lot," they said.
The selection of Anton Lienert-Brown in the position had their support, but they said, 'the All Blacks number 12 jersey is certainly up for grabs next year.'
While Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga shared the first five-eighths' duties, they chose Mo'unga as their better player of the year, but they were more concerned with the large gap back to others in the position.
It was the same at halfback where Aaron Smith was in a class of his own, they said, although they felt it was wrong to start him against France when Brad Weber should have played, especially after Smith hadn't played for six weeks. They also said TJ Perenara was still inconsistent with the speed of his delivery to the backline.
The other concern was with props.
"All the props were put under pressure and scrutiny in the Test arena, particularly against the three countries that achieved victory against the All Blacks. Overall there was inconsistency in the two aspects of work rate around the field and scrummaging.
"Joe Moody and Nepo Laulala were not always at their best but had no serious rivals as the premier props in the country," they said.
The Almanack XV: Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Samuel Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Akira Ioane, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody.
Substitutes: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett, Ethan Blackadder, Brad Weber, Beauden Barrett, David Havili.
The five players of the year are Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea and Aaron Smith, and the five promising players, Corey Kellow, Christian Javan Lio-Willie, Justin Sangster, Timoci Tabaleka and Keelan Whitman.
The advance of women's rugby was evident in their coverage. That should continue to grow in the future.
The gold medal-winning effort of the Black Ferns Sevens saw several of the players concerned included in the Almanack's XV of the year.
The XV are Cheyelle Robins-Reti, Portia Woodman, Stacey Fluhler, Michaela Blyde, Gayle Broughton, Kelly Brazier, Tyla Nathan-Wond, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Lesley Elder, Maia Roos, Eloise Blackwell, Sarah Hirini (captain), Aleisha Pearl-Nelson, Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Krystal Murray.
Substitutes: Georgia Ponsonby, Aldora Itunu, Phillipa Love, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Kennedy Simon, Ariana Bayler, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Ruby Tui.
Blyde and Hirini were their players of the year, with Kelsey Teneti their promising player.
Taken overall, and considering the upheaval that Covid-19 and its variants have caused both in society and rugby, the Almanack's role is more important than ever. It steers a way through and provides a perspective of the issues that have affected the game.
It stands out like a beacon in noting the facts of the times, all while maintaining its continuing attraction as a highly-readable treasure trove of information relevant to rugby's history in New Zealand.