All Blacks in 2017 - Fit for the throne, or a kingdom in crisis?

Annoying to amazing, elegant to error-prone, the All Blacks' 2017 team was erratic - but ultimately successful. RNZ's rugby reporter Joe Porter writes that while at times it was painful, the All Blacks are on track for the 2019 World Cup.

The Lions series was all you could ever want in a sporting spectacle. Great crowds and passionate fans. Drama and red cards. Villains, heroes, comebacks and controversies. The only thing it lacked was a winner.

The tests were compelling but the All Blacks weren't as good as I'd expected them to be, then again the Lions were much better. The All Blacks should have won and very nearly did. SBW doesn't see red in test two and its New Zealand's series all day.

Some flaws in the World Champions were exposed - they struggled to maintain the accuracy of their high-tempo game plan under pressure from the Lions' lightning fast and *cough* offside, I mean, flat defence. The Lions' loosies did a superb job of slowing the All Blacks' ball down.

Their backs also made good ground in broken play, perhaps a sign the All Blacks are missing defensive general Conrad Smith (or the presence of Ryan Crotty, who's had his fair share of injuries) more than they might like to think.

The All Blacks then defended their Rugby Championship title with relative ease, securing the trophy with two games to spare. Two wins over both the Wallabies and Springboks; two one-sided games and two real tests (the Dunedin Bledisloe and the Cape Town clashes were thrillers).

The All Blacks dominance was more a reflection of their opponents' ineptitude. Nonetheless, under pressure and in desperate situations, the All Blacks found a way to win. They were far from flawless, though they were resilient. With a growing list of injured and unavailable senior players, they pulled through when it really mattered.

Coach Steve Hansen will be pleased with the self-belief. He will also be pleased with the way his players tried to implement an adjusted game-plan following the Lions lessons.

End of year tours are pretty hard these days - the All Blacks have to overcome battered bodies, tired minds and northern teams desperate to claim rare southern scalps.

'Patchy' was a word used a lot during the year, and that trend continued. Unconvincing wins over the Barbarians, Scotland and a French XV were punctuated by better performances against France and Wales. One wonders what would have happened against Ireland or England.

The All Blacks are still looking for a full 80-minute performance, but they're on the right track. Injuries played a part this year, but the flipside is opportunity and Hansen has given plenty of fringe players a chance at the big time.

Some stood up, some didn't, but depth was built. We all know how important a role attrition can play at a World Cup.

In terms of players, Kieran Read's presence remains crucial. The ABs are markedly better when he's on the field. While the hooking stocks are looking pretty good, Dane Coles at his best is still light years ahead, and his extended spell on the sidelines with concussion will be of concern.

Jerome Kaino's personal issues derailed him somewhat this season and an in-form Liam Squire has deservedly usurped him on his blindside throne.

The midfield at times looked like they missed a bit of direction, but Sonny Bill Williams haters will find no love here. He remains a big asset to the side and is a lock-in as regular starter (though his red card cost the All Blacks the Lions series).

Ryan Crotty was reliable and a marshal in communication and on defence, but hampered by injury. Anton Lienert-Brown and Ngani Laumape impressive, but incomplete. The latter two do look to have plenty of potential and will get more game time in the near future.

Breakthrough player of the year Rieko Ioane was outstanding, while Damian McKenzie, who I'd written off as ineffective at test level, proved me well and truly wrong. Hansen and co see his best position as first-five - he'll play playmaker for the Chiefs - and I think that's his best bet long term.

Ben Smith and Jordie Barrett have a mortgage on the Number 15. As good as McKenzie is, "a good big man will always beat a good small man". Barrett can kick goals from 80 metres and has some unique abilities well-suited to the test arena. McKenzie's off the cuff brilliance may be better suited running at playmaker from second phase or turnover ball.

The Saveas seem to be slipping. In Julian's case it's right out of the team, while Ardie appears to have been surpassed by Matt Todd. Great reward for workhorse Todd, but worrying for Savea, who stormed onto the international scene, but was given a public 'shape up' message from Hansen while playing minimal test time during the end of year.

Beauden Barrett scooped a second consecutive world player of the year gong. He's a marvel to watch and the fastest first-five in the game, but for me he's still not Dan Carter-level when it comes to controlling a match, or playing well when the All Blacks forwards are going backwards.

Barrett's still the best in the world though, and we could have far worse (Bernard Foley *cough splutter*) running the cutter.

Halfback Aaron Smith appears back to near his best, with TJ Perenara in career best form also. Sam Cane is becoming a beast at openside, surely it's not long before he's known as the Reporoa Reaper. His performance against Wales was something to behold. The man is made of bedrock.

It was a frustrating (from a spectators point of view, probably a coaches too) season where the All Blacks failed to hit the highs of what was a remarkable 2016, but overall Hansen will be satisfied. The team was tested, players were blooded, depth was built, weaknesses exposed and strengths revealed.

While things weren't so rosy this year, the team is still on course to blossom for Japan 2019.

-RNZ