Some Northern Hemisphere reporters pointed out that European teams had little chance against their Tri-Nations opponents.

England veteran Mike Catt referred to the All Blacks as having been together for four or five years. ''I’m not making excuses,'' he said. ''In terms of the defensive organisation and the awareness of the players around you, that time together makes a huge difference.”

The past year of accomplishments, capped by an impressive Grand Slam, has made short memories of the perennial bashers of the men in black. Surely they forget that just 12 months ago, nine front-line All Blacks departed the New Zealand game, along with several fringe international players representing over 600 Test caps 

When we add to this Tana Umaga’s departure at the end of 2005, it has been a remarkable turnaround for Graham Henry’s men.

It shows Henry’s remarkable foresight through his reign with rotation and development policies that New Zealand were able to field a Test team against England containing nearly 650 international caps.

But without deviation, the All Blacks achieved their third touring Grand Slam, their fourth overall when considering that they whitewashed the home nations at the 1995 World Cup – unofficially a Grand Slam as they defeated the four unions “while on tour”.

The Springboks achieved four Grand Slams before any other Southern nation had achieved their first –1912-13, 1931-32, 1951-52 and 1961. However, they have not won one since - having had the chance in both 1998 and 2004. 

The All Blacks achieved their first under Graham Mourie in 1978, with Umaga’s team of 2005 completing a “full deck” Grand Slam – and then whitewashing the British and Irish Lions the same year.

The Wallabies have achieved just the one Grand Slam, under Andrew Slack in 1984 – with the mercurial Mark Ella scoring a try in each Test. The ARU are in the process of setting up a 25th anniversary Grand Slam tour next year - an opportunity Robbie Deans’s evolving Wallabies will clearly relish. 

Australia, however, are also the only nation to have suffered the insult of Grand Slam of losses, losing to all home nations in 1957-58.

Statistically, based on the four Test results, the All Blacks’ 2008 Grand Slam is the most successful ever completed by any nation. But this is hard to judge, considering that Slam tours in the past were combined with midweek games, involving up to 20 matches.

On paper, the current tour did not begin as spectacularly as New Zealand’s 2005 Grand Slam, in which they defeated Wales 41-3 and Ireland 45-7 after rotating every member of the starting 15s.  But Umaga’s side had a nucleus intact after the 2003 World Cup.

Richie McCaw’s current Grand Slammers have not had the same luxuries.  However, this is the first Grand Slamming team to go through all four home nations without conceding a try. 

In 320 minutes of Test rugby, the All Blacks’ iron curtain was impenetrable to their European foes – even though an under-strength Munster side did cross the New Zealand defensive lines.

Against Scotland, Henry fielded a under- strength team, making 12 changes from the side that beat the Wallabies in Hong Kong. It marked the 27th game between the two nations and despite an impressive showing by the Scottish pack, New Zealand won 32-6 with no points conceded in the second half. 

For the clash with a strong-looking Irish side at Croke Park, the All Blacks initially struggled despite fielding a full-strength team, being held 3-3 until a McCaw penalty try at the end of the first half. In the 22nd game between the two nations, the All Blacks again shut their foes out in the second half to win impressively 22-3.  

The All Blacks remain the only nation Ireland and Scotland have never defeated in 103 years of clashes.

Against the Six Nations Grand Slam champions, the All Blacks were again at full strength and again were rattled in the first half, going into the break 9-6 adrift.  But 23 unanswered points flayed the Welsh challenge after the break, extending New Zealand’s winning streak against Wales to 20 matches since 1955.  It was the third consecutive match on tour with no points conceded in the second half.

And, of course, there was the final match against England, who despite being all fire and brimstone, fell to the black wave 32-6. A lone penalty was the only second-half points conceded all tour.

2008 All Blacks Grand Slam: Played 4, won 4. Points For - 115, Against 24. Tries - 12 (one a penalty try). Try scorers - Ma’a Nonu 3, Mils Muliaina 2, Anthony Tuitavake, Piri Weepu, Richard Kahui, Anthony Boric, Brad Thorn, Jerome Kaino, plus penalty try. Tries against – none. Goal kicks: Dan Carter 43 pts (16 from 26, 58% conversion rate), Stephen Donald 10 pts (5 from 6, 80% conversion rate). My man of the series - Ma’a Nonu.