Rugby World Cup 2011: Bring me those lamb chops…the good and the bad of an amazing tournament

The hangover is gone, the mild blues are gone and I've caught up on sleep – the past six weeks had taken their toll. The hangover is easy to explain – the All Blacks won and we celebrated with gusto.

Fit for the Cup. And a bbq...

The mild blues? I always get them after a Rugby World Cup. It's an event I look forward to for the best part of four years. And then, when the lights dim for the last time after the final, the rugby landscape just seems so barren again. We don't even have autumn internationals to look forward to this year.

But what a ride it's been. The early-morning fixes while I watched games on telly in the UK – I missed a total of only two games – and the time I spent in New Zealand were, as Kiwis like to say, just simply awesome.

What a tournament! In today's money-hungry times it may not have made the most sense to award RWC 2011 to New Zealand, but nobody in the world brings as much single-minded passion to the event as the rugby-mad Kiwis. Take a bow, it was a brilliantly organised and the most fun World Cup I've been to! And so a few other acknowledgements and disappointments (and please let me know yours, I fully appreciate there are countless other highlights and lowlights out there)…

RWC JOYS

The All Blacks finally shaking off that four-yearly monkey. Nay, it was a bloody gorilla on their backs! They've been the most consistent and impressive team at this tournament – and for most of the years between world cups since 1987 – and it's simply grand that they've now got the cup to show for it.

The hosts – warm, welcoming, always ready with a beer and some banter. There was a fear they'd care only about the All Blacks, but they embraced one and all. 

The so-called minnows – always gallant in defeat, always immense in their contribution. I've changed my mind on an earlier suggestion to limit RWCs to the top 12 teams in the world. Their commitment to RWC 2011 was outstanding… none more so than Tonga getting one over France. Will South Auckland ever forget that day?   

RWC DISAPPOINTMENTS

A lot of the refereeing – inconsistent, often overbearing, often lax. None more so than at the crucial breakdown. Always a great pity when referees, not the players, decide matches. And it's something that demands urgent IRB attention. Springbok and Wales fans will always claim – rightly or wrongly – that referees cost them a shot at glory.

France being fined for advancing on the haka – what an absolute lot of nonsense. France made a fantastic gesture, and the All Blacks, I have no doubt, would have respected that acceptance of the challenge. Pull your heads in, IRB. What a petty, pedantic response by the blazers.

Quade Cooper – so much promise, so much lip, so little class. And Sonny Bill Williams, who was meant to set the World Cup alight, but never more than flickered.

Dan Carter's injury – this was meant to be his big moment on home soil, but he was cruelly robbed of that opportunity. Big credit to the man for the way he dealt with the hammer blow.

England – what a rabble who couldn't maintain discipline for a maximum of six weeks. Even more lamentable was their constant defending of the antics – "it was all the media's fault" – and the misguided belief that they were playing well. A team that believed its own hype and hot air, only to plummet to earth. Fair play then to Lewis Moody, for describing them as 'at best naive and at worst totally unacceptable'.

And finally, just before this blog takes a break, a few thanks: to each and every reader of this blog. We've agreed and disagreed – and I would not want it any other way. You've been great. And to Maximuscle, for being the power behind my adventure to New Zealand. Your support for a trip of a lifetime was immense.

My rugby cup has runneth over… See you soon again.

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Rugby World Cup 2011: Graham Henry missed a trick by including Richie McCaw in XV to whack Wallabies. And my predictions…

Did New Zealand head coach Graham Henry miss a trick when he selected Richie McCaw to captain the All Blacks against Australia on Sunday?

Captain and commander: Might Graham Henry have left Richie McCaw on the bench just in case he's needed?

His injury again brings up that age-old debate – do you field a star player able to give only 70 per cent or so, or an average player giving 100 per cent? And McCaw is undoubtedly a star player, but reports still had it that McCaw was hobbling around town with a slight grimace on his face.

McCaw, even on one leg, is well worth his spot. Even just for the psychology of his presence. No argument there. But will he even be needed on the field, is my question? Why risk him possibly being injured (even more) for the final, when the All Blacks can subdue Horwill & Co without him on Sunday?

Yes, David Pocock is a big threat to the New Zealand dream of ending 24 years of hurt, but after the whole Bryce Lawrence furore I'm confident referee Craig Joubert will watch him like a hawk on Sunday and the openside flanker won't be half the force he was against South Africa.

Okay, maybe the All Blacks will need McCaw – if only to cut off Will Genia or put motor-mouth Quade Cooper in his place, but should the question be purely black or white, as in he plays or he's out of the match-day 22?

Should Henry not have sprung a surprise by naming him on the bench? Then bring him on when/if the All Blacks turn to custard, or keep him fresh and fit(ter) to deal with the menace that's Sam Warburton if the black machine whacks the Wallabies off the park.

 A simply crazy idea or did Henry miss a trick? And so on to my predictions for the weekend…

New Zealand v Australia Could come down to which loose forwards rattle the opponents' No 10 the most. Who'll show the most jitters, young, new call-up Aaron Cruden or gifted maverick Cooper? Will Australia be able to replicate their magnificent Brisbane performance in August? Or will they this week discover that, unlike the Springboks, you can't allow the All Blacks 70 per cent of possession and still win? 

Ultimately, too much class in the All Blacks to be outdone by an Australian team that imploded against Ireland and burgled a victory against South Africa. NZ 24 Australia 15.

Wales v France A mouth-watering match to start the weekend. Wales have been mammoth so far, hugely disciplined too. They've stepped up in each game after losing their pool opener. Have they mentally and/or physically got one or two more massive games in them? And how much will Rhys Priestland's injury hurt them?

The French, by contrast, have been loose canons, who bumbled their way through the pool stage and were helped to victory last week by England's ineptitude. Was that their customary one big game per World Cup? Or is that game still to come? This has the potential to be the match of RWC 2011.

I'm going to pick Wales' structured, overall game plan over the French's thrilling but hot-and-cold approach to their game, and say Wales 18 France 11.

Let me know how you see it…

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Rugby World Cup 2011: Will NZ even need Richie McCaw do whack the Wallabies? And my predictions…

Will he play? Won't he play? How do you handle a 'problem' like McCaw?

Captain and commander: Might Graham Henry leave Richie McCaw on the bench just in case he's needed?

His injury again brings up that age-old debate – do you field a star player able to give only 70 per cent or so, or an average player giving 100 per cent?

I know Steve Hansen has claimed McCaw is fit and will play at Eden Park, but I'm not convinced yet. Hansen seemed to whisper it, rather than say it loudly and confidently, and it appears he was sick of being asked the 'will he, won't he' question, that his answer was aimed simply at cutting short the press conference. Besides, reports have it widely that McCaw is still hobbling around town with a slight grimace on his face.

McCaw, even on one leg, is well worth his spot. Even just for the psychology of his presence. No argument there. But will he even be needed on the field, is my question? Why risk him possibly being injured for the final, when the All Blacks can subdue Horwill & Co without him on Sunday?

Yes, David Pocock is a big threat to the New Zealand dream of ending 24 years of hurt, but after the whole Bryce Lawrence furore I'm confident referee Craig Joubert will watch him like a hawk on Sunday and the openside flanker won't be half the force he was against South Africa.

Okay, maybe the All Blacks will need McCaw – if only to cut off Will Genia or put motor-mouth Quade Cooper in his place, but should the question be purely black or white, as in he plays or he's out of the match-day 22?

Might Graham Henry spring a surprise by naming him on the bench? Then bring him on when/if the All Blacks turn to custard, or keep him fresh and fit(ter) to deal with the menace that's Sam Warburton if the black machine whacks the Wallabies off the park.

Or if Henry picks him him for the starting XV, should he have considered keeping Captain Fantastic on the bench instead? A simply crazy idea or a viable middle road?

And with that my predictions for the weekend…

New Zealand v Australia Could come down to which loose forwards rattle the opponents' No 10 the most. Who'll show the most jitters, young, new call-up Aaron Cruden or gifted maverick Cooper? Will Australia be able to replicate their magnificent Brisbane performance in August? Or will they this week discover that, unlike the Springboks, you can't allow the All Blacks 70 per cent of possession and still win? 

Ultimately, too much class in the All Blacks to be outdone by an Australian team that imploded against Ireland and burgled a victory against South Africa. NZ 24 Australia 15.

Wales v France A mouth-watering match to start the weekend. Wales have been mammoth so far, hugely disciplined too. They've stepped up in each game after losing their pool opener. Have they mentally and/or physically got one or two more massive games in them? And how much will Rhys Priestland's injury hurt them?

The French, by contrast, have been loose canons, who bumbled their way through the pool stage and were helped to victory last week by England's ineptitude. Was that their customary one big game per World Cup? Or is that game still to come? This has the potential to be the match of RWC 2011.

I'm going to pick Wales' structured, overall game plan over the French's thrilling but hot-and-cold approach to their game, and say Wales 18 France 11.

Let me know how you see it…

Sponsored by Maximuscle and the Cyclone Challenge – build muscle in 30 days or your money back – www.maximuscle.com/cyclonechallenge