Black Caps stump All Blacks
Forewarned that in their final tests of 2012, only one of the All Blacks or the Black Caps were to end the year successfully most of us would hardly have drawn breath to ponder the poser before moving on to something more thought provoking.
After all, the All Blacks were going into the England international at Twickenham boasting an unbeaten record in their previous 13 with Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Scotland, Italy and Wales all vanquished and the only speed bump hit being the 18-18 draw in the meaningless third Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies in Brisbane.
Compare that with the besieged Black Caps going into their final test against Sri Lanka in Colombo after suffering a humiliating 10-wicket drubbing in Galle just days before. They were facing a record-equalling sixth successive test loss after losing both tests to the West Indies and India before the Sri Lankan series.
Those responsible for writing headlines most likely had pre-determined their words with such proclamations as: "Black Tidal Wave Washes Away Powdery Poms" and "All Doom And Dark For Black Caps Bunnies".
Well now we know that the Black Caps have returned in triumph, all smiles after winning the second test by 167 runs and achieving their first success in Sri Lanka in 14 years, while the All Blacks face the long haul home with heads in hands and Swing Low Sweet Chariot reverberating in their ears after a record loss to England, the team they least want to lose to.
The Schu still rates the Black Caps enthralling nerve-racking seven-run test victory over Australia at Hobart nearly a year ago above their emphatic win against the Sri Lankans.
Still I salivated as the bowling young guns, Tim Southee - so much a better cricketer when he concentrates on his swing bowling rather than delivering tirades to the opposition batsmen - Trent Boult and Hobart hero Doug Bracewell blasted out the vaunted Sri Lankan top order with the big three of captain Mahela Jayawardene, punishing opener Tillakaratne Dilshan and stylish Kumar Sangakkara unable to score freely or survive for long.
That the bowlers were able to set attacking fields came through two outstanding innings by Ross Taylor - surely there can be no questions now about his ability to captain - and the first innings century by Kane Williamson. His century aside, Williamson snared some stunning catches at gully as did Martin Guptill at slip. Catches do win matches.
How many like me felt portents of doom when Dan Carter missed two early penalty kicks against England that he would normally slot blindfolded.
There can be no complaints about this result, hard as it might be for some to take. A raw England team took on the seasoned All Blacks at their own expansive game and played it better.
The forwards got numbers to the breakdowns and gained parity in the tight; the backs passed, caught and ran assuredly, and emerging first five-eighths Owen Farrell kicked the goals which gave England an early buffer and self-belief.
