But lets not look too far ahead, lets look back over the last 6 or 7 weeks and the 2009 end of year tour, and I think we can look back on it with a little bit of optimism.

Optimism in the fact that the All Blacks seemed to iron out many of the problems from the domestic international season, in both tactics and execution of some basics.  Although the real litmus test will come on those improvements next season when the nemesis is meet again - the Steroid Brutes from South Africa, who white washed us three ZIP in '09.  But regardless, there have been vast improvements in lineouts and game plan, and in both, a case of KISS - keeping it simple, stupid.

Rugby as we all know, is not a complex game, and the All Blacks were trying to make it too complex - and with the lottery that the current laws make the breakdown, you have to cut the game down to the very basics, the way the game has been played for 100 years.  The Boers picked up on that a lot quicker than most in 2009.

The basics?  Well, play the game in the opposition half, minimise your mistakes, and thus exert pressure on the opposition, causing them to make mistakes, and capitalising on that.  Simple, and the Boers did it with aplomb.  On top of that though, a little flair would not hurt, and we saw that when the All Blacks demolished the Frogs in the last test of the season.  The rest of the KISS we saw as the All Blacks ground out wins against the Spaghettis, the Poms and the Taffs.  No frills rugby, grinding the opposition down and winning.  Simple.

Optimism also in the fact that this tour must have finally shown the Cartel that some of the players they have been handing out All Black jerseys to this season are frankly, not up to it, and they'll be axed for next season, barring huge form improvements in Super 14, and deaths in the players above them.

The players facing the Axe, barring miracles, from this tour.  Where to start - KiwiMurph has done well in his article here, but I'll make mine own list.

Topping the list, everyone's favourite whipping boy, Stephen Donald.  He was pretty awful against the Barbarians.  He's been pretty awful in most of his All Blacks games, but it is really not his fault that he is compared to Dan Carter is it?  And he is the second best first five in New Zealand.  It's just that he's so far back from Carter's class that if they were 100m sprinters, Carter would be showered and ready to collect his gold just as Donald as setting himself into the starting blocks.  The Cartel have tried everything with him, putting Carter outside him, putting him outside Carter, but no matter what they've done, he's been average.  A good Super 14 player, an average international (how I would have loved to have that epitaph when I stopped playing code, but I digress).  His only hope of continuing a career in black is a season in the 12 jersey for the Chiefs outside Delany.  He won't keep getting selected as a 10, and another staunch Waikato lad, (via Marlborough and Southland that is), David Hill made that conversion and was a better player for it.

Next on the list, Liam Messam.  How many chances do you give a bloke?  Well, two in this case, or three if you count last seasons tour.  So for Messam, two tours and dropped from the squad for the 2009 domestic season, and never ever looking like an international quality loose forward must have the writing on the wall in ten foot tall letters for his test career.  Perhaps there is truth to the rumour that he bought an idiots guide to the Japanese language on the way home...

Jason Eaton.  He was an injury filler selection this season, and to be fair, he did play quite well.  But he is just plain 'not as good' as the players he was filling in for.  Ali Williams will be back and hungry as ever next season, and Chris Jack is also back and available for the All Blacks.  Throw in a fit Boric, add in Thorn, Donnelly and Ross, and there is just no room for the hard working Taranaki lock.  It's not that he's not good enough, it's just that there are players better than he is, and someone has to miss out!

John Afoa.  After as many seasons in black as this bloke has had, you would think he would be a test regular now.  He has his chances at the start of last season, but a knee injury threw him off his stride, and he has never got his mojo back.  With youngster Franks looking the goods, Tialata back on track, and Hayman making noises about coming home, all of a sudden Afoa becomes the 4th ranked tightead, and, barring injury, a very ex All Black.

Brendon Leonard, barring a superb, injury free Super 14 also looks set for the scrap heap.  Every time he gets a go, or looks to be coming into some sort of form, he seems to get injured.  Not only that bad luck, his box kick at times is plain shite, and his option taking, when to pass, or when to run, is not always the sharpest.  That option taking though, might be a by product of the injuries, as when he is on the field, he wants to show his skills, but he is not often on the field, so he goes for the snipe too often.  Whatever the reason, he needs to get some miles on the clock before next All Black season if he wants to stay in the picture come 2011.

Then as KiwiMurp put it, the question marks.  These are the blokes that probably are worth persevering with unless someone clearly better comes along, as hopefully they'll improve with more international and Super 14 rugby, or in the case of Rodney So'oilao, a bit of R&R!

Topping this list Wyatt Crockett.  He looked awful against the Italians.  Sure they were cheating bastards, but that's why god gave props the ability to have one arm free and also the ability to form the hand into a fist.  You then introduce said fist to cheats face area, and donnybrook ensues, and cheating sorted.  Although he would probably have been banned or carded, as he is not an Englsih prop punching an All Blak hooker in front of the ref, he's an All Black...  Anyway, while Crockett looked awful in that test match, against the Barbarians I thought he redeemed himself to an extent in the Barbarians loss.  As a loosehead specialist, is clearly number two to Woody.

Rodney So'oialo.  Showed in the Baabaa game that he is not a spent force.  Spent the whole day carting the ball forward and looking like the only international quality loose forward in the All Black park once McCaw was subbed.  Although, he did drop off a few tackles, as he has been doing in the latter half of the season, most un Rodders like - that has got to go, or he will be watching the 2011 RWC from his lounge along with we other mortals!

Tanerau Latimer.  Top Super 14 player.  Tradesman who does all his jobs well, crosses the i's and dots the t's, but is yet to set the world on fire when it comes to international footy.  A bit like Donald - clearly the second best in the country behind McCaw, but when being compared against the best in the world, looks average!  Just lacks the little extra that makes him into a 'Holah' to Richie.  Still, another big Super 14, older and wiser, he might just scrape in again next season...

Andy Ellis - just what has this bloke got that the Cartel can see, and the rest of New Zealand can't?  Whatever it is, I hope he starts showing it soon, as halfback is one position where we are paper thin when it comes to depth once we go past Weepu and Cowan. 

Then there are the rest of the tourists - the regular All Blacks, and the other All Blacks who are neither question marks or bugger offs.  The likes of Tamiti Ellison, Mike Delany and Ben Smith.  Didn't do much wrong, didn't do much right, and they might be All Blacks again, but at this stage, have not, through performance, demanded inclusion or second looks.  A bit like Latimer really, good tradesmen who are worth keeping an eye on if they keep in form at the lower levels.

And a few of the seasons new boys too have shown on this tour that they are now pencilled in, at the very least, when test sides are named, alongside the likes of McCaw and Carter and company.  Yes, talking about Kieran Read, Corey Jane and Adam Thomson.  The first two are not really a surprise, they just needed their cahnces, got them, and took them.  But Thomson has come good all of a sudden this season, and it is now a coin toss between he and Kaino for the starters six, which is all good in the highly additional position of loose forward!

So optimism, and a little worry about depth in some positions.  Halfback, First five and openside flanker being the worst when it comes to finding a quality replacement.  Tough though, when two of those positions are filled by players who are the best in the world at this moment in time, and would be in the running for the best ever in their respective positions in the history of rugby!

Roll on 2010 and the revenge season!!  Bring on the Bokke!