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Tony Ward: Rugby still struggling to touch Irish hearts and minds
When it was announced that New Zealand were to be awarded this World Cup back in November 2005, almost everybody knew it was the morally wrong decision. However, we also knew that the New Zealanders, as a rugby-loving people, would embrace the competition with every fibre of their being.
Tony Ward: French heart makes for a fitting finale
Allez La France, Allez Les Bleus. They may have come up just short but Thierry Dusautoir et amis did themselves and the game proud.
Peter Bills: All Blacks won the cup, but it was the locals who won hearts
SO the wrong side won the final but the right side won the World Cup. Well, that was what it amounted to in the end, wasn’t it?
Hugh Farrelly: A final word from Down Under
Pretty decent. Not as good as 1995, but not as bad as 1999 or 2007. While issues remain as to whether New Zealand should have been hosting in the first place, the Kiwis put on a good show and the country embraced the competition fully -- although this was undoubtedly aided by the All Blacks' progression to the decider.
Peter Bills RWC Diary: Is this guy just plain thick?
I woke up this morning here in Auckland and couldn’t believe what I was reading on the internet. No, I don’t mean that the Libyan tyrant was dead – he had it coming to him. I wonder if his ‘friend’, Tony ‘Phoney’ Blair will be attending the funeral. Well, they’d become quite chummy, hadn’t they?
Hugh Farrelly: 'Brave' French can soften Kiwis' cough
THERE has been a lot of talk about bravery this week. Wales were praised across the board for 'bravely' battling on after being reduced to 14 men in their World Cup semi-final defeat to France.
Peter Bills: Pressure on All Blacks to stick to attacking guns and light up World
New Zealand believe their beloved All Blacks have just one task left in this Sunday's Rugby World Cup final -- win the Webb Ellis Trophy for the first time in 24 long years.
Peter Bills RWC Diary: Play-off games are for losers
I shared a panel on TV here in Auckland the other night with former All Blacks coach John Hart and that great No. 8 of yesteryear Murray Mexted.
James Lawton: All Blacks' boy next door is living every player's dream
Dan Carter will receive a World Cup winner's medal if his team-mates beat France in his absence on Sunday, retain his lucrative underwear ads and remain the most idolised Kiwi by roughly the width of the Tasman Sea.
Tony Ward: Officials doing Ireland proud
IT should have been a weekend to celebrate all that's great in rugby but, good as New Zealand were -- and they were awesome -- the penultimate phase of the competition will be remembered for one game-changing, history-shaping decision by a referee.
Pictures: Ireland World Cup fans
• Pictures: Ireland v Wales
• Pictures: Ireland World Cup fans
• Pictures: Ireland v Russia
• Pictures: Ireland training sessions
• Pictures: Ireland v Australia
• Pictures: RWC's 30 greatest moments
• Pictures: Ireland player profiles
• Pictures: RWC opening ceremony
• Pictures: Ireland squad portraits
Best Irish rugby player of all time
It is a question that will pop up again and again this week as the clock ticks down to our World Cup quarter final game against Wales in Wellington on Saturday. Who is the best Irish rugby player of all time?
It is a question that will pop up again and again this week as the clock ticks down to our World Cup quarter final game against Wales in Wellington on Saturday. Who is the best Irish rugby player of all time?
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Ollie Campbell 5%
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Simon Geoghegan 2%
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Mike Gibson 11%
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Jackie Kyle 5%
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Willie John McBride 8%
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Brian O'Driscoll 56%
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Tony O'Reilly 2%
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Philip Orr 1%
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Fergus Slattery 2%
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Keith Wood 8%
Most Popular in World Cup
- Split loyalties but Bowe's girl backs Welsh win
- Rugby World Cup: ‘Tullow Tank’ Sean has last laugh after teenage snub
- Confidence high as the green army descends on Wellington ahead of battle against Wales
- Angry Kidney brands Horan claim of ‘cheating Irish’ as ‘scandalous’
- Rugby World Cup: Irish team take a dip to heal sore bodies after Italian triumph
- Rugby World Cup; Irish eyes are smiling as heroes return to Dublin airport
- Ireland fans looking to swap tickets after surprise pool win
- Fire breaks out as Tonga take on Japan in New Zealand
- Momentum growing for Kidney to pair O'Gara and Sexton in the Ireland midfield
- Dwarf throwing shame: Video of England skipper Mike Tindall hugging mystery blonde
