England celebrate beating New Zealand at TwickenhamAfter ending their World Cup pain in 2011 New Zealand stamped their authority all over 2012, only for their triumphant run to be cut short spectacularly in the final game of the year.

When the All Blacks ran out at Twickenham on Dec. 1 within three games of matching their record 23-match unbeaten sequence and, with only an 18-18 draw with Australia blotting their copybook, they were being touted as the best team of all time.

But in an afternoon that encapsulated the tantalising unpredictability and eternal appeal of international sport, they fell to their second-worst defeat, 38-21, against

We are asking all of our experts to give us their picks of 2012. Here Oval Talk reviews the year in rugby.

Best Match

This year has produced some classic encounters, such as Leinster’s demolition of Ulster in the Heineken Cup, Wales’ clash with Ireland in the Six Nations and the Auckland Blues' thriller against the Chiefs in Super 15. But in terms of spectacle at the highest level, England’s win over New Zealand at Twickenham in November is undoubtedly the highlight of the year. New Zealand were unbeaten in 20 games, England were on the brink of a whitewash by the Southern Hemisphere in 2012,

Who is the most in-form team in international rugby?

Maybe South Africa, fresh from a clean sweep of victories on their European tour?

Or France, whose trio of autumn international wins included at 33-6 demolition of Australia?

Whoever you said, it's fairly certain you weren't thinking of Cyprus - yet the Mediterranean island's team are just one game off equalling the longest winning streak in international history.

Their 49-8 win against Slovenia on Saturday was their 17th consecutive victory dating back to 2009. Only Lithuania have managed more.

It is an amazing achievement for a country

The autumn internationals are the ultimate litmus test for Northern Hemisphere sides wanting to gauge just where they stand in comparison to their counterparts south of the equator.

They provide a launch pad ahead of the Six Nations and an opportunity for the coaches to see who can perform on the international stage against the best in the world. This year's international fixtures also had an added bit of spice due to the 2015 World Cup draw, which takes place on December 3.

This week Oval Talk looks back over the past month of international rugby and assesses the progress of the home

English rugby writers had a busy Saturday night as their pre-written obituaries on the nation's November series had to be hastily rescripted into paeans of praise in the wake of the astonishing events at Twickenham.

England's record-breaking 38-21 demolition of a New Zealand team unbeaten in 20 matches instantly transformed the defeats by South Africa and Australia into mere footnotes.

Instead of evidence that England were on the wrong course and ill-equipped to challenge at the peak of the game, they became entirely acceptable blips to be suffered in the cause of long-term gain.

England's

Gordon D'Arcy (left) makes a tackle against Argentina

Ireland's thumping 46-24 win against Argentina earned them four players in our selection from the third round of autumn internationals.

Gordon D'Arcy was one such Irishman to impress us, but who joins him in the Team of the Weekend?

International results (click on links for reports):

England 15-16 South Africa

France 22-14 Samoa

Ireland 46-24 Argentina

Italy 19-22 Australia

Scotland 15-21 Tonga

Wales 10-33 New Zealand

1 Alex Corbisiero — England

His first game back following injury. England needed a big performance from Corbisiero up front against Du Plessis and he delivered, putting

Of the four Tests Stuart Lancaster's England have had against the Southern Hemisphere so far, Saturday's defeat will surely be the most hard to swallow.

The summer series against South Africa, where England lost two and drew one, was a tour to find a few diamonds in the rough and build towards this year's Autumn Internationals and ultimately the 2015 World Cup. The autumn is now upon us and many England fans out there will be less than convinced after Saturday's showing, especially considering that England were "favourites".

The optimists far outweighed the pessimists heading into the Test.

Berrick Barnes's metronomic kicking against England earns him a place among the elite performers from the second round of autumn internationals.

Barnes is one of three Aussies to make the cut - but who else won a place in Oval Talk's Team of the Weekend?

International results (click on links for reports):

England 14-20 Australia

Scotland 10-21 South Africa

Wales 19-26 Samoa

France 39-22 Argentina

Italy 10-42 New Zealand

Ireland XV 53-0 Fiji

Team of the Weekend

1 Ryan Grant — Scotland

When the pressure was on in the second half, Grant was one of a few forwards who fought back against the