SEE YOU NEXT TIME RWC

What a Rugby World Cup! The best ever? Most probably.

It had everything: shock wins & unexpected losses; magnificent tries & memorable man of the match performances; heartbreak & celebrations; and probably most important of all, it had the All Blacks.

If you know anything about rugby then you know that the All Blacks are The Team. They are the team that millions of children across the world aspire to emulate and they are the team that all rugby nations train to beat. They are simply magnificent.

Of course they aren't perfect but gosh they are close. Watching the likes of Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu (the oldest player to score a try in a RWC final at 33) and Dan Carter play is like watching the professionals dance on Strictly Come Dancing - you can't help but be completely and utterly mesmerised by their moves. Those sharp side steps and skilful offloads would not look out of place on the dance floor.

When you look at the RWC stats the All Blacks players plague the page. Dan Carter is named as one of the tournaments top points scorer with 82, Julian Savea tops the try scorers chart with 8, Nehe Milner gets the accolade for most clean breaks (14) and consequently he also receives top prize for the most meters made - a staggering 561, the All Blacks are also the team who scored most tries throughout the tournament with a massive 39. What is telling however is that New Zealand are also a team who had the second most yellow cards throughout the tournament - a total of 5 (joint with Argentina). Even when down to 14 players and some ill discipline they can score tries, win matches and become World Champions.

They are simply awesome. That game against France was breathtaking.

However, obviously the RWC was not all about the All Blacks. What about the complete ruthlessness of Australia's Pocock and Hooper over that ball at the breakdown. The openside flanker clocked a staggering 17 turnovers. It came to a point that when you saw his number 7 shirt approaching the breakdown you knew it was only moments before the ref's whistle would be blown.

Another great moment was when Georgia's Mamuka Gorgodze received the Man of the Match award against New Zealand in the pool stages. The second tier teams really made an impression during this tournament and talks are already being had about the possible introduction of countries such as Romania into the Six Nations Championship. 

Japan, a second tier nation which has seen the likes of Shane Williams, Sonny Bill Williams and Nick Cummins play in their national league, was another country that shook up the tournament like never before. Japan V South Africa. A no brainer right? Wrong. When Japan's over time try sealed their most famous ever win, the world rugby community celebrated like never before. The celebrations were certainly not in any way disrespectful to SA, conversely they were to celebrate this David versus Goliath victory for the men in red. A memory that will live long in the memory of not only the Japanese, who welcome the RWC to their shores in 4 years time, but also the world. What a win! 

Of course, a significant moment in the tournament that, one could certainly argue, changed the trajectory of the World Cup was Wales' win against hosts England. There is almost no denying that if Wales were to lose against England in Twickenham they would not have made it out of the pool stages. Plagued by injuries, England's bonus point win against Uruguay and the little obstacle of Australia as their final pool match would not have made for a smooth ride to the quarters for Wales. However, Lloyd William's miraculous in-field kick (a play that we almost never see in rugby any more) and Gareth Davies' incredible pick-up meant that Wales broke millions of English hearts. Despite being Welsh, I did feel for England in this RWC. Nobody wants to see the home nation leave the tournament in the pool stages. Although, it certainly was Wales' best ever win against any opposition - another game that will certainly go down in Welsh rugby folklore. 

Ireland, oh Ireland. They were unfortunately struck by the injury curse that engulfed Wales in their last pool game which meant that the men in green still have not made a RWC semi-final. Scotland. What can I say about Scotland. To be honest I can't say much about them because I think I'm still so heartbroken by their narrow defeat (which really should have been a win) to Australia. I was more gutted for Scotland missing out on the semis than I was for Wales. However, I'm excited to what the scots can do in next year's Six Nations. 

There are so many memories to be taken from this year's World Cup and inevitably there are a mountain of questions to be asked among many nations, most notably England. But Northern hemisphere teams must also question why once more it was their Southern hemisphere rivals who clinched the last 4 places in the competition. It certainly is getting a bit boring seeing northern hemisphere teams fall short time and time again but that doesn't take anything away from the spectacular RWC that England put on. Glorious.

Now, with the competition over, it's time to focus on the Pro 12  & Europe.