Well Sky's beloved TV show about rugby, Reunion, has finished for the year after a memorable Rugby World Cup. So it's apt I give my wrap on it before we put the Rugby World Cup in the cabinet of history.
Try of the tournament: Amorosino's winning try against Scotland. Argentina needed a moment of brilliance trailing 12-6 in the rain in Wellington. And they got it from their super-sub who ran along the touchline, broke 5 Scottish tackles to score the try that would go a long way to getting Argentina into the quarterfinals. It was the only try of the game, probably the only time Argentina looked like scoring a try. But boy did it matter.
Pool match of the tournament: Tonga 19-14 France. An upset for the ages - and one I would have gone to had I not gone down with a 24-hour stomach bug that Saturday! Tonga finally played with the passion their fans showed and totally dominated a listless and disunited French side. A popular
Minnow of the tournament: Canada. For a nation that is still very much stuck in the amateur days and embraces amateurism like a lover, the Canucks played like seasoned professionals. Kieran Crowley did wonders in creating a team with a strong forward pack and some not too bad backs. Adam Kleeburger was one of those players everyone loved to embrace. They did do themselves very proud and were just unlucky not to take 3rd in their group behind the All Blacks and French.
Minnow's player of the tournament: Mamuka Gorgodze. More than held his own against more illustrious players in his position. Undoubtedly the best rugby player Georgia has ever produced. Got a deserved try against Romania in Palmerston North.
Match of the tournament: The Final. What else? It was painful to watch for New Zealanders but was magnificent for the neutrals and the 2nd half was epic. It was a true contest apt for the most competitive Rugby World Cup yet.
Surprise of the tournament: Wales. Drawn into the pool of death against South Africa and two Pacific Island nations they've lost to in the past, the Welsh got through their pool with relative ease and as it turned out, got the theoretically easier path to the semifinals by finishing 2nd. They should have made the Final but for Sam Warburton's red card.
My team of the tournament:
1.Tony Woodcock, New Zealand
2.Keven Mealamu, New Zealand
3.Owen Franks, New Zealand
4.James Horwill, Australia
5.Brad Thorn, New Zealand
6.Thierry Dusautoir, France
7.David Pocock, Australia
8.Imanol Harinodoquy, France
9.Mike Phillips, Wales
10.Tusi Pisi, Samoa
11.Vincent Clerc, France
12.Jamie Roberts, Wales
13.Aurelien Rougerie, France
14.George North, Wales
15.Israel Dagg, New Zealand
My player of the tournament: Thierry Dusautoir won IRB Player of the Year deservedly and I had tipped him to do it ahead of Nonu, Weepu & Kaino prior to the awards ceremony on Monday night. He singlehandedly hauled a disjointed, listless French team into the Final and nearly repeated his Cardiff heroics four years ago to the horror of New Zealanders. A gentleman too which sadly I can't say the same for his colleagues.
Finally, the ad of the tournament (probably of the year, now):
So here's to a Rugby World Cup that finally, for once, resulted in the right outcome. Victory for New Zealand.
The last word goes to a hero who went from zero on Sunday night:
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