Monday 2 November 2015 17:57, UK
It's back to reality and a trip to Cardiff on Saturday. I suspect the old Arms Park is going to struggle to generate the sort of noise that has been pumping out of the Millennium Stadium in the last six weeks or so; still, all good things must come to an end. In rugby terms this has been the best.
The best World Cup. The weather played its part. It helped with the quality of the game on the field and the celebratory atmosphere off it. In many ways it was one of the most important aspects of the competition but even World Rugby cannot control the conditions, so a quick acknowledgement to the weather gods on behalf of rugby fans... thanks.
Thanks as well as congratulations to the All Blacks. The world's leading rugby nation season after season, perhaps now they have won more World Cups than any, consecutive competitions for the first time and this one in the manner of the finest team to have lifted the Webb Ellis trophy, so maybe the doubters will reassess their opinion.
Defence does not have to beat attack in the natural order of rugby things as most coaches lacking the imagination to effect an offensive strategy claim. Time spent on skills trump time spent in the gym. The whole world has been taught a lesson by a little country that is Harvard and Oxbridge rolled into one when the subject is rugby.
Whether we will look and learn, who knows? That's out of our hands but what is at the tip of my typing fingers are my ten most unforgettable moments from the World Cup.
1. Dan Carter's perfectly struck 41m drop goal that checked the brave Australian fightback. The world's greatest fly-half of my lifetime has dreamed of this moment all his life. In the spiritual home of the drop kick, the most attacking of fly-halves showed that he is bowing out of the Test arena as the most complete of 10s. The drop goal against South Africa was good; the 69th-minute effort in the final was great.
2. Brighton, Japan and South Africa - who would have thought they would combine to ignite the tournament? The first Saturday and the greatest shock in World Cup history as Karne Hesketh - from the wine lands of Napier, New Zealand - dived over in the corner for the last-second winning score against South Africa. This was the most memorable finale to one of the sport's most unforgettable matches, EVER.
3. Adam Ashley Cooper's brutal and brilliantly timed intervention that swung the pool decider with Wales the way of the Wallabies. It was a tackle to take them to the right side of the draw and from it, the final. Down to 13 men, Australia were fighting the rearguard defensive action of their careers as Wales walloped into the meat of the Wallaby forwards, drive after drive. When Dan Biggar belatedly decided there was no joy in close quarters the ball was moved wide. Wales had extra men, a try was inevitable but the 'educated gamble' of the right wing smashed the fly-half to the ground and the tide was turned Australia's way.
4. The sheer joy and exuberance of Juan Imhoff's spectacular dive as he scored the try that sealed Argentina's semi-final place and Ireland's fate in the quarter final. It's strange how one man's joyous dive is another man's show of arrogance. I have never understood why Chris Ashton's 'splash' is berated so often. Maybe he just likes scoring tries an awful lot, there are worse crimes... the Racing Metro man enjoyed this one and why the hell not?
5. The happiest face of the tournament belongs to the lad who jumped the advertising boards as New Zealand did their lap of honour. Initially tackled by a steward, the boy found himself lifted to his feet by none other than Sonny Bill Williams. The steward looked on abashed as Steve Hansen dropped by for a chat. To round it off, Sonny Bill handed him his winner's medal. The smile was off the scale, yet it was appropriate given the good cheer of the crowds throughout. Spare a thought for the steward too. Had 20 or 30 fans invaded the field New Zealand's lap of honour would have been spoiled. This was not a case of the good boy and the bad steward. Life is rarely black and white.
6. The decision to kick for the corner and the win when a penalty and draw would have done for England. Who made the decision? The captain... he has leaders to help him, don't blame the skipper. The leaders, their job is to aid the skipper not make the decision, don't blame them. The management, they weren't on the pitch, how were they to know what the players would do, miraculously it was not their fault... and that was how the camp would have liked it to be reported, as no one's fault. Oh dear.
7. The sprint from the field by Craig Joubert was worse than the erroneous decision to award Australia THAT penalty against Scotland. Referees are human, we all make errors and whilst this was a whopper, it's still within the realms of any other referee. Running away from the scene of the crime was not so good. Nor was the overheated reaction of some in the media, nor the manner in which World Rugby hung the South African out to dry. This was the most unforgettably bad moment of the competition.
8. Paul O' Connell might beg to differ but whilst we salute this Irish hero let us praise the reaction of the entire Millennium Stadium that rose to its feet to applaud one of this hemisphere's modern greats. The French fans, the Welsh, the English as well as the Irish stood in a mark of appreciation. To reiterate, the fans were fantastic throughout.
9. Mamuka Gorgodze's inability to stifle a face cracking smile from his well-earned rest being taken on the Georgian bench when he was announced man of the match against the All Blacks. It told you all you need to know about the All Blacks kudos and the spirit of this granite faced Georgian rugby player.
10. Richie McCaw lifting the trophy was special, what a way for one of the game's greats to bow out (if indeed he does.) This will be the image that greets us in Japan four years from now... anyway, let's get down to studying what's been going on in the club game... see you in Cardiff on Saturday.
