Nick Cain picks his highs and lows from 2013

Team of the Year – The 2013 Lions.
Whereas the All Blacks are virtually a club side which plays and trains together for half of every season, the Lions are a scratch Test side which comes together once every four years – and then never plays again. What other team in rugby (or any sport) is box-office enough to draw 30,000 fans to follow them from one end of the Earth to the other? With 16 years since a series win it was imperative for the future of the Lions that they got back on the winning track in
Australia, and Warren Gatland's squad did so in style, clinching the series with a stunning 41-16 win over the Wallabies in Sydney.
Unbeaten run of the year – New Zealand.
Although the world record winning run of 17 consecutive matches was out of reach, New Zealand achieved the next best thing – and a notable milestone in itself – by winning every one of their 14 international matches in 2013. In doing so Richie McCaw's All Blacks put themselves within reach of beating the world record – with only England, who they play next in a three Test series in New Zealand this summer, capable of thwarting them.

Players of the Year
1= Leigh Halfpenny
The Lions would probably not have won without him. A tremendous all-round full-back and a great goal-kicker. He overcame the disappointment of missing the last kick in the second Test – and with it the chance to clinch the series – by playing a blinder in the third.
1= Kieran Read
The New Zealand No.8's sustained excellence and influence has made him the heir apparent to McCaw, and he was a driving force for the All Blacks throughout a memorable season. The 62-cap back rower has the habit of being in the right place at the right time.
3. Jean de Villiers
The Springbok skipper has been at the heart of a revival which saw South Africa to 10 Test wins in 2013, and established them as the side most likely to upset NZ in RWC2015. An inspirational inside-centre with an unquenchable will to win that saw him score five tries for his country this term.
Best Matches of the  Year
1. Ireland 22 New Zealand 24 (Dublin)
The Irish threw everything at New Zealand, including the kitchen sink, and looked
destined for a landmark first victory over the All Blacks in over a century after taking a 19-0 lead. However, a couple of missed kicks and an inspirational multi-phase last move saw the New Zealanders level it with an overtime try by Ryan Crotty, and then clinch victory via Aaron Cruden's retaken conversion. Epic.
2= South Africa 27 New Zealand 38 (Johannesburg)
The New Zealanders had to beat South Africa in their own backyard to go unbeaten in the Southern Hemisphere Championship and what unfolded was a classic with the lead changing hands no fewer than eight times. The Springboks appeared to be heading for a famous victory after de Villiers scored their fourth try just before the hour, but Read was the irresistible force who spearheaded the All Blacks to victory.
2= British & Irish Lions 41 Australia 16 (Sydney)
With the series in the balance the Lions rose to the occasion to clinch victory over Australia in style with a stunning second-half demolition of the host nation in a match played in a crackling atmosphere. The Lions not only outscored the Wallabies by four tries to one, they also outplayed and out-passioned them in every department. The rout started with a dominant scrummage and finished with the big Lions backs shredding the Wallaby defence.

Coach of the year – Warren Gatland
Facing the biggest task of any coach last season, Gatland acquitted himself all guns blazing in Australia by clinching the first Lions series for 16 years. Building a scratch Test side in six weeks capable of beating a well-embedded outfit like Australia is arguably the biggest challenge in the game, and Gatland took the pressure – including the Irish slings and arrows after his dropping of Brian O'Driscoll – without ever losing his footing or his focus.
Honourable mentions also for Steve Hansen, for not only taking over where Sir Graham Henry left off but spurring New Zealand onwards and upwards, and for his former All Black colleague, Wayne Smith, who has continued to work his magic with the Chiefs, who won their second consecutive Super 15 title.
Lastly, plaudits to Bernard Laporte for moulding the bunch of big bucks mercenaries playing under the Toulon banner at the Stade Mayol into a team which dug deep enough to outplay Saracens in the semi and then outlast Clermont in the final to win the Heineken Cup for the first time.
Tries of the Year
There have been some crackers, and I have split them into sensational team tries and those of individual brilliance.
Team tries:
1. Beauden Barrett (NZ) – the full-back rounds off an end-to-end try for New Zealand against France in their June series.
2. Colin Slade (Highlanders) – the fly-half gets on the end of a length of the field attack against the Sharks with a Ben Smith break seeing seven players handle.
3. Delon Armitage (Toulon) – Jonny Wilkinson sparks a flowing attack from deep with a high ball catch, and interplay with Matt Giteau sees it finished off by Armitage.

Individual tries
1. George North (Lions) – the giant Lions wing fields a kick 60 metres out in the first Test in Brisbane before setting off on a brilliant run in which he beats four defenders to score.
2. Luke Morahan (Queensland Reds) – the big Queensland wing weaves his way through half the Lions players from 75 metres out before finishing with a chip and chase to score under the posts.
3. Telu Veainu (Crusaders) – a ‘super sub' try with the replacement wing going the length through heavy traffic before throwing a dummy at the death for a great solo touchdown.
Referee of the year – Nigel Owens
Some of the hyperbole surrounding Owens is over the top, but, unlike most of his colleagues, he has the priceless gift of seeing when and where to play the advantage. Having empathy with the players is essential – and Owens knows when to let the game go.
Newcomer of the Year – Israel Folau
An imperious try with virtually his first touch of the ball for Australia against the Lions announced that Folau was no impostor. During the course of his first Test season the triple cross-coder has stolen the show on numerous occasions with his graceful athleticism, footballing flair and ruthless finishing.
Selection Storm of the Year -Warren Gatland's dropping of Brian O'Driscoll
The veteran O'Driscoll's elevation to ‘untouchable' status in Ireland cut no ice with the Lions coach, and, when he had the opportunity to select his favoured centre partnership of Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies for the final Test, he did so. The firestorm of Irish protest that followed burned its perpetrators to a crisp as the Roberts-Davies combo helped the Lions to a famous victory.
Survivor of the Year – Philippe Saint-Andre
He managed to hold on as France coach despite a bankrupt year in which his currency plummeted with a Six Nations wooden spoon – including a loss to Italy in Rome – and a blackwash in New Zealand with a 3-0 series defeat. Despite further defeats this autumn by NZ and South Africa, Saint-Andre remains at the French tiller.