One Is The Magic Number

Hope the landlord didn't visit during the world cup period.

There's a thin line between love and hate and no one appreciates this more than the New Zealand All Blacks (AB) rugby team.

Big ups to the team for winning the 2011 Rugby World Cup (with a desperate 8-7 win over France last week) to bridge a 24-year gap between victory drinks.

A single point - one, uno, tahi - was all that separated the team, AB skipper, Richie McCaw and Graham Henry, the coach from eternal pain.

While they played with style, class and courage throughout most of the six week tournament, the final was an ugly beauty - not one for repeated viewing. But as in most big, big sporting clashes the final result is all that is remembered.

Brothers from another planet.

It takes two to make a contest and huge praise and props to France for being at the enigmatic best in the competition. I've always been a big France fan because like the ABs at their best, they play with verve, flair, passion and a fair degree of controlled mayhem.

My love has only increased because in the current uber-professional environment where players are over-coached, over-cooked and over-analysed, the French refuse to conform.

They're not shy to express the full range of emotions. Like Auckland's ever changing weather they can be emotional, moody, happy, angry, brooding, insouciant insolent and detached in a short space of time - they are very human and long may they remain like this - in my eyes, consistency is a little overrated in sport (guess that's why I also support West Ham United).

All-in-all, a fantastic tournament and here are my injury time thoughts after six weeks of living, breathing, but not dreaming, rugby.

Props to Tongan supporters for getting the 2011 RWC party started.

Player of the tournament - Israel Dagg - is this Kiwi an Aussie in disguise? He has Ocker confidence, the stepping, swerving skills of David Campese and a booming Roger Gould-like punt. And his semi-final wonder offload deserves to be as widely recognised and praised as Campo's outrageous no-look fling it back pass to Tim Horan in the 1991 semi against the All Blacks.

Young Guns of the tournament - Pre-tournament, not many of us knew much about the Welsh fab four of Warburton, Faleatu, Priestland and Lydiat but they came, played, and nearly conquered - thanks Wales for making the six nations watchable again. Their stirring performance against the Springboks will live long in the memory.

Thanks to the 2011 All Blacks for lifting NZ's happiness index.

Game of the tournament - My favourite live game was the Australia v Ireland pool match. Auckland was like mini-Dublin on the day - complete with grey skies and drizzly rain - and the Irish team and their fans responded big time. Watching up high gave a great view of Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale's deadly "from deep" running skills but the Irish played a smart, simple and brutally effective game to strangle the Aussies. The Irish front row got stuck in and flanker, Sean O'Brien was a revelation to neutral spectators - the passionate "go Seany go" chant from my neighbouring Irish fan will stay long in my memory. And if there was a world cup for supporters, the Irish would win this hands down every time - what a super bunch.

Favourite World Cup memory #1 - No single game, but a couple of road trips with good friends to Hamilton were great fun, had many funny moments and produced a key learning - never go supermarket shopping after a few beers.

Irish fans go crazy - NZ will welcome them with open arms next year.

Favourite World Cup memory #2 - Again, not game related, but I enjoyed a terrific rugby comedy night held on the eve of the cup final. The four rugby comedians - Martin Beyfeld, Eric Rush, Vince Sorrenti and Ian Robertson were all polished, witty and bloody hilarious speakers - an unexpected highlight.

Eden Park Upgrade Request #1 - When the NZRU has more dollars in the bank please build a statue/sculpture of Tony Woodcock's try scoring dive in the final and place it next to the excellent Michael Jones sculpture.

Finally...WTF - How/why was All Black Everything not the official All Black anthem? Thanks and praise to Scribe and P Money for this lyrical and musical gem - probably the best sports anthem ever.