Wonderful stuff.

Great tournament. Rugby Union is getting stronger and better.

Aubrey Wilson, Fyfe, SCotland

Excellent review of an excellent tournament, however you have missed out best try, have you not?

I will propose the end to end try by Japan against the Welsh, it was pure rugby! If it were perfomred by a team in black shirts and black shorts we would be still revelling in its glory.

ps: Most expensive try goes to England's Andy Farrell.

Marc G, Leeds, Yorkshire

England could do with a few NON PERFORMING PLAYERS like Butch James.
As for OS, he was there to dominate the opposing pack which he did.
I would appear that Mnr Jones suffers from a touch of tunnel vision.

Stuart, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Brian O'Driscoll underperforming, surely you jest? You may have him confused with every other member of the Irish team.

Joe, Basel, Switzerland

Stephen
Why do you persist in berating the AB's, werent the players gracious in defeat, did the players blame the ref at all ? i dont think so, us supporters did , some still are, but the majority have moved on. I lament the loss of true test match rugby, days of old when teams toured a country, played mid week games against club sides and took the game to the grass roots, perhaps in your wisdom ( sarcasm stephen) you can convince the money hungry unions that this is the aspect that will make rugby a truly international game, we will continue with vested interests (such as english clubs not releasing players for the world cup, think Samoa in 2003)
We supporters may be arrogant, but , winning 42 out of 48 does give one a belief in their team, pity you dont have the same belief about wales (who used to be a great side). you could only dream of stats like that..Gatland coaching wales, must be painful for you stephen, a kiwi coaching your beloved dragons, nooooooo that cant be good

poppa, Sydney, Australia

NZ's inability to close out games?

Yep, closing out games is certainly one of NZ's weaknesses.

NZ v England
Played 29
NZ won: 22
Eng won 6
Drew 1

Look forward to our next opportunity to close out a game in England.

Sid Pickering, Auckland, New Zealand

Tsavua, He' s only a Welshman by birth - he can't see beyond England even to vaunt their style of play. However, he's largely right about NZ - their arrogance against France deserved defeat.

Denis, Paris, France

You forgot one:

Biggest Chip on the Shoulder: Stephen Jones. For using his every column to defame All Black rugby regardless of the team's record as the most successful in the history of the sport. Don't worry Stephen. Wales will win one day.

Patrick Connellan, Sydney, Australia

For once Stephen Jones has got it right. We need to take a look at ourselves and not blame others.

Champions don't fret the mistakes they pick themselves up and fix them.

The current debacle regarding whether Graham Henry should stay or not proves this, we seem to be attempting to ensure we share the blame around. He lost after getting everything he asked for, Time to let another general assume comd and dictate the future battle.

This just goes to show what a PC Nation we have become. Lets become people of action and make decisions for the future and make them decisively, as we all know leadership should come from the top not the masses

Glenn, Hastings, New Zealand

The words Welsh bigot come to mind yet again!

Tsavua Sovalu, Auckland, NZ

Just how was the Super 14 a hidden loser. You have to be kidding, right?

The article was simply a case of 'Spot the snide comment about Southern Hemisphere Rugby'. The term 'Thinly veiled attack' springs to mind.

Coach of the Tournament - Ilivasi Tabua (Fiji) - Without question. Running Rugby (not stodge) never looked so good.

Wilkinson, Icon. Even as a Brit I find that to be pushing it a bit. Try Sebastien Chabal, Freddie Michalak or maybe Schalk Burger.

Most maligned figure(s) - Wales. Mainly for trying to play a game of sevens against Fiji. Everything about that performance was flawed.

Pay attention to the game Mr Jones.

Ross Mativenko, Manchester,

Please give generously to the "Educate A Journalist" fund !!! His parents should have worked harder to afford him a real education.

Paul, Coventry, UK,

Thats total baloney about Brian O'Driscoll, he was the only Ireland player to perform at all

Paddy O'Brien, Leitrim, Ireland

The problem with Stephen Jones is when he does have a decent point to make its so undermined by anti NZ bile the point is lost. Also would be nice if Paul Ackford showed humility after his early RWC damning critique of Easter, Vickery et al was shown to be very wide of the mark.
SA deserved the win, England played more rugby than they were credited with and it was a cracking World Cup

Ken D, Reading, England

It's hilarious to see Stephen Jones accusing others of lacking humility in sport!! His obsession with lambasting NZ rugby is looked on as a bit of a joke - none of us expect balanced reporting from him; perhaps it points to an underlying insecurity... Many Kiwis realised that it was a tournament not a tour and sudden death was always a possibility. Personally, I'd rather the ABs played great rugby year in year out than did an England for four years and then won the cup.

Chris Burton, Palmerston North, NZ

Anne, Jozi - I was at the final and I thought that SA deserved the win. SA were great over the whole tournament.

However, why do you seem to STILL be unhappy?

JLP, Cambridge,

Craig in Christchurch, thank you for what you said about SA.

It seems that no one in the Northern Hemisphere has noticed how Butch James has cleaned up his act.
Also that too many people don't know that SA had both finalists in the Super 14, and I'll take a bet, on 9 out of 19 days, that either of those 2 teams could clobber most national teams from other countries, except, possibly, for the Australians and New Zealand teams.

I expect SA to win the next RWC cup too, so many of their best players are still under 25.

What would the referee have done if the English guy had shoved Percy Montgomery onto something sharp and he'd been blinded or really badly cut? And the photos show clearly that that was no try by the English, according to the rules.

Anne, Jozi, RSA

SA Class Act.

There was no bite. That was your imagination. We were by far the best sports. SA were there to win, with no funny business.
Did you watch how many high tackles were thrown by both the Tongan and Fiji - SA matches? You didn't see the chaps complaining once.
Worthy champions.

Chris, Guildford, Surrey

Yes, class act. When you get subjected to the number fo high tackles and clothes hangers that the Boks were, while still keeping your cool mind you, AND then being UNFAIRLY accused of biting, then its understandable they were reluctant to clap for such underhanded tactics.

Fiji were also damn high and late, but at least they didn't LIE!
Also, clearly Fiji were a much better side than the Tongans, who only managed any decent opposition against the Bok B team after all.

MikeB, Auckland, New Zealand

SA - Class Act??

I'm guessing you didnt go to the SA V Tonga match?

If you did you would have seen Steyn bite a Tongan player and only get away with it due to discussions between the Unions after the match (wouldnt it be amazing if Tonga were to tour SA in the very near future!!!!!)

Secondly you would have seen most of the SA players storm off after the match and not wait for the Tongans. One of the very few SA to come out of that game with any credit was skipper for the day Skinstad who clapped off the Tongans and spoke very well on TV after the match

John Brown , Newcastle , UK

Stephen Jones is always entertaining and often controversial I just wish he knew more about rugby.

mike scott, ny, USA

Vacancies? How about England tries. Os du Rand? One of the best props in the world and winner of two world cup medals. Wayne Barnes, best referee?? How did not only Barnes but both touch judges miss that huge French forward pass against NZ. Oh and I would rather be Butch James than Johny Wilkinson.
I have often been fairly amused by peoples criticism of Stephen Jones. Now I can see why. He has no business writing about rugby.He seems to be harbouring some kind of seething resentment. Against a lot of people, including most of the English team.

Chris Butler, Orlando(ex Knysna), United States

Good on that man Michael Mann. Jones needs to be called for the one-eyed hack he is early and often.
Even as a biased Munster fan I have to agree with Mr. Mann that O'Gara was the single biggest disappointment in a hugely underperforming Irish side. He failed to get his boot around the new ball and from that failure sprang his poor decision making. O'Gara's game is more strongly based on his kicking than any other word class No10 and as his foundation crumbled so did his confidence.
Our centres were very poorly served by O'Sullivans refusal to consider Jonny O'Connor and Keith Gleeson to provide backrow cover. Sure, D'Arcy underperformed (again) when the chips were down, but O'Driscoll certainly didn't lack for effort or enterprise. That his usual levels of excellence weren't reached frequently was more down to opposition defences, lack of support from his team-mates, and recent injuries, as any failure or lack of committment on his part.

Charlie McCarthy, London,

As always Jones gets it completely wrong. Ronan O'Gara was the single biggest disappointment of tournament whereas Brian O'Driscoll was one of the few Irish players to perform - carried team and captaincy single handedly.

I'm not surprised Jones got repeatedly lost driving in France - his map reading skils are less than pefect.

michael mann, leeds, UK

five out of six for the southern hemisphere......must be the mickey mouse competitions down under!

Joe, Sydney,

Butch James was unremarkable, but a nonetheless steadying influence that allowed Francois Steyn to flourish. As a combination it certainly it seemed to work alright.

On the subject of Hakas, it's not just NZ that perform these outdated distractions. Perhaps England should perform a short Morris dance before games. They are ridiculous and to suggest that someone dare not say that to the players is a joke. What are they going to do...? Hit you?

Other teams should use the time to keep warming up and ignore this pathetic touristy gimmick.

Oh, and as for Kiwis et al bemoaning the 'lack of flair' shown by the more successful teams... so what? A win is a win is a win. That's rugby... You can play it how you want. The fact that you only seem interested if it looks like basketball says more about your understanding of the game than anything else.

There are many things to moan about in modern sport, but the fact that some teams win occasionally is not one of them.

Jim , Brighton, UK

About Jonny WIlkinson, I found millions of people who hate him : French people !
Every four year he crucifies us. Great player but we can't do anything but hate him.

JP, Compiègne, France

Dear Reid

Butch James banned for two years? What planet are you from?
Every world cup has been won by the team with the best flyhalf, this year being no exception.

Andrew, Durban, SA

I liked the entire article and had a good laugh...but...I really can't agree that Butch James was a non-performer. I played 10 my whole life and although I am the biggest JW fan in the world I have to take my hat off to Butch. Played a perfect pivotal role. Well done Mr James.

Jason, Richmond, UK

Old Stephen Jones. Forget this. Lets remember some earlier predictions. Wales to go further than England?! To get to the semis he said! I have no idea what this prediction was based on. England, for all their lack of form, have players who are battle hardened and can keep it tight and close out matches. The welsh, whilst bein entertaining, have one of the worst defencesive systems in world rugby. They need a radical rethink.

You should also get over your horrible bias to certain players. I agree with you on Sheridan and Shaw, immense both of them. But patterns start to become apparant. Mathew Tait, despite having a solid world cup, putting in tackes all over the park and making the best break of the final, gets a 5/10 for his overall performances. He won't be dropped and will be first choice full back. Get over it.

Paul Cartledge, Barnsley,

Ah Mr Jones, always a kind word for our antipodean friends from New Zeland. I must confess some quiet amusement at your negative ramblings against the All Blacks and all things NZ over the years. However I have not always been able to reconcile your views with those of my own, (well in principle often), but certainly not with the ferocity and negativity you express. Its always been of amazement to me how so few reporters in the sporting media can influence the views of so many. But balanced articles don't sell as many papers or generate as much interest. Your views on NZ rugby are not exactly a modicum of balance & perhaps do their country & sporting public a dis-service....I do worry that your own prejudices have begun to influence the perspective of others. This you may say - is the point. I do wonder though if you have tiptoed over the line btw reporting & something quite different.

Like the plaudits to your media colleagues and rivals! But Do they really extend to the NZ media?!

Michael Rousis, Bath, UK

Talk about taking the bait. This piece is a humorous and entirely subjective opinion on the world cup, but surprise surprise we have Kiwi's and South Africans reacting without a drop of humour or self deprecation. We may have many faults in England, incl. biased reporting and a limited rugby team, but at least on the whole we have a sense of perspective and the ability to laugh things off. Lighten up guys, you sound like my children.

Alastair, Dubai,

I would very much like to point out that Mr Stephen Jones is a Welshman - not an Englishman with "red rose goggles", and many of his opinions are not shared by this Englishman.

Butch James was a class act, although it may not have been so obvious given the talent that surrounded him in the South African backs. I for one will be looking forward to his appearances in the Guinness Premiership with great anticipation.

Jim, Bath, England

Laughable. Butch James as a non-performing player? After how he tore the mighty and oh-so-hard-done-by England to pieces in the pool game and played every game for the Springboks bar one? And won a RWC medal?
And got his backline moving better than any previous South African flyhalf of the last 10 years?
Aaah, yes. He MUST be a non-performer. No mention of your beloved Jonny here then?

Graeme, Johannesurg, South Africa

To Reid, St. Seurin de Prats...
Have you watched ANY rugby in the last 4 years sir?
To still rate Butch James as the dirtiest player outside of the scrum is patheitic and ignorant. Clearly you are hanging onto the lips of the "expert" pundits who still bizarrely, clammer on about James' disciplinarary record. Remind me again the last time James was carded or penalised for a dangerous tackle?

Graeme, Johannesurg, South Africa

Foisting the increasingly silly haka on others

I do not know about the rest of the world but after pulling the green and gold of South Africa over your head. Facing the HAKA it is most (S.A.) rugby players dream.

WK, Cape Town, South Africa

Clearly Barnes was the best ref as shown by his role in the semi-finals, oh hang on wait a minute....

Vacancies: England numbers 11, 12, 13, 14, unbiased open minded English media.

Why would anyone take a lead from European rugby as you suggest the Aussies will? 5 world cups to the Southern Hemisphere and 1 to the North despite a far more teams and money in the North suggest the Aussies would be foolish indeed.

Patrick Sawyer, Wellington, New Zealand

Hidden winner is the English club system? Super 14 the hidden loser?

I don't pretend to be a rugby expert (at least I don't pretend as well as you) but 2 South African teams played in the Super 14 Final. I believe South Africa were clearly the best side at the tournament, how does that reflect on the Super 14?

Your argument may be that Aust & NZ choked because they aren't used to knockout rugby, while English clubs are experienced. But to say they choked would mean that they are quality sides, and didn't play to their normal high standards.

Lets put things in perspective, just the facts, ignoring the contempt you have for Southern Hemisphere administrators.

1) World Cups: Tri Nations = 5 6 Nations = 1
2) New Zealand unbeaten against all Northern Hemisphere sides for 4 years (until the q/f of course).

Surely, the Super 14 must be doing something right to produce the players, and style that continue to set them ahead of their Northern Hemisphere counterparts.

Graeme, Seoul, South Korea

How are Scotland hidden losers? They beat a team ranked higher than them (at the time) to take a QF place and then lost by not that much to team on a roll, ranked higher than them that they hadnt beaten in 6 or 7 attempts.

Not glamorous ill grant you.

How many Scotland qualified professional players are there compared to the likes of say......England?

Roll on 6 nations!

A, Stowmarket, England

Most pathetic Reporter: Stephen Jones. Deluded. Needs to get out more. Should learn things before spouting them as facts to sell papers to an amazingly naive English public.

Matt, Epsom,

Not bad, but VERY surprising to see that the one and only Mr Stephen Jones is amongst those that can see the Australians didn't whinge after being beaten by England. The Australians had the skill but not commitment. They didn't turn up to play and got what they deserved. The players & media roundly acknowledged this. A variety of idiotic bloggers did not and were judged as 'the Australian public'. Well done England, for showing how much heart still counts for in the game of Rugby.

But not sure how much can be read into the S14 after this WC. The South Africans are from the comp and it does allow a variety of styles.

But really everyone - can anyone see NZ being beaten at home in 2011?! If they are, that country better look for a new sport.

John, Shanghai, China

Best referee: Wayne Barnes (England). For the sheer courage of his refusal to believe in New Zealand fairy tales

I love it - we finally have confirmed evidence from the Comical Ali of the rugby writing world of what a class act Wayne really is.

What's the world cup score now - Southern Hemisphere 5, Northern 1 - gee you guys must really be the authority on world rugby and how it should be played. Can you see a pattern here perhaps!

Hey Stephen, you can go back to bashing England again in the joke of a comnpetition that the six nations is, see you in four years.

Barbary, Auckland,

The best thing about the disallowed try in the final and the refereeing blunders in crossing etc., was sitting back and waiting for the likes of Stephen Jones and others with a strong inferiority complex, having to restrain their tendency's to blame the referee for England not winning the world cup.After berating the arrogant Kiwis for complaining about Barnes, and in S Jones' case putting him on a pedestal for his blunders, they had to try and stay restrained. But I see even that has not stopped them. It would have been a total injustice for the English team to win the World Cup after four years of total mediocrity. I am an English man who lives in New Zealand and I follow the All Blacks because they play consistently the best rugby. If that means having to go through a little embarrasment every four years, so be it. At least I have four years of pleasure in between, watching the likes of boring, mediocre England getting their usual pasting at the hands of the All Blacks.

Dave Rayner, Napier, NZ

I'm delighted the Poms got done by the kicking game by a southern hemisphere game.
I predict over the next 2-3 years video referring will play a big part in international refereeing
The final was labelled as boring much like table tennis

Rob de Bique, Wellington, New Zealand

Only a Bok could think that Butch James is good for rugby. Banned for 2 years!! should have been for life - he's the dirtiest player outside the scrum in world rugby & the most over-rated - by the way the dirtiest player inside the scrum also is a Bok in the 2nd row -

Reid, St. Seurin de Prats,

Why did your demigod Jonny ignore President Mbeki's hand? Would Butch James show the Queen the same disrespect?

Fanus Dreyer, Dumfries, Scotland

I'm not sure why Stephen Jones doesn't like Southern Hemisphere rugby. "Hidden losers: ... The Super 14".

If the Super 14 and its predecessor the Super 12 is so bad why has only one Northern Hemisphere team won the world cup? One can only assume that William Webb Ellis picked up the ball an ran with it for a reason?

Rob Mackie, Wellington, New Zealand

Its now Monday and I have just woken up to discover that the Cup is over, I went to sleep whilst the ball was in the air waiting for it to come to earth again. Went and made tea (yes I am English) came back and it was still aloft. I had got a little bored waiting for either team to move it sideways by hand, so promptly went to sleep. I do the same during Aussie Rules football which this resembled far too closely.

The ascerbic Mr Jones has missed one award, the Lack of Enterprise Award...the contestants South Africa, England, France, and the winner is....all of them. Has anybody scored a try yet, please wake me up for the replay.

Nick , Wellington, New Zealand

SJ

C'mon, isn't your anti-NZ shtick just getting a little tired now? (on that note, how do you think your career as a hack will be remembered?)

If you can find a quote from Henry or McCaw that blames anyone else, then you'd have a point, but they have both been dignified in defeat (as have the Aussies and the English teams) and to equate the actions or attitudes of some of the fans with those of their team is to argue that English football team (soccer) are thugs. Same false argument.

Well done to England for over-achieving and reaching the final. Also well done to the PI and Argentine teams. Underachievers were obviously the AB's, Aussies and Irish.

What seems lost in the wash-up and all the gratuitous antipodean bashing is that for the 5th time out of 6 RWC's, the cup was yet again won by a Tri-Nations team.

And, hopefully, test rugby between RWC's will still retain meaning, otherwise the sport will suffer from being locked in a 4 year cycle of 'friendlies'.

Llew, Auckland, NZ

I found quite a bit of this article interesting and amusing. I'm an Aussie so I appreciate your comments about Australians as graceful losers, etc.; and strongly agree that we badly need some strong props!

I will offer a comment on your comment that the Super14 is a 'hidden loser'. While this competition is by no means perfect, a Super14/SANZAR nation has again won the World Cup (and this time, after a team from that nation won the preceding Super14 title). Further you will realise that across 6 rugby world cups to date, Super14/SANZAR nations have now won FIVE - 83.3% - of those.

Therefore, even if one or another non-SANZAR/non-Super14 nation wins each of the next five rugby world cups, it will still take_UNTIL_2027_for the number of cups won by non-SANZAR/non-Super14 nations to surpass the number won by SANZAR/Super14 nations.

And I think that even the most biased of observers will agree that the probability of the above occuring even by 2027 is HIGHLY unlikely, i.e., <5%.

Lachlan Shaughnessy, Brisbane,

Whatever the kiwi say, they still didn't make it to the semis or the final and banging on against past glories doesn't make any difference. In the 2007 World Cup, they were losers. I'm totally fed up with the constant crowing from the kiwis and lack of respect for Northern Hemishere rugby.

Even David Campese (yes I know he's a wallaby)said albeit grudgingly, the he respected England and who did Jake White say was the only team he would be interested in coaching? The England team.

Don't knock the Haka though, I like it

PTBE, Roquecor, France

"Although the current team won't know what it is like to hold the Webb Ellis trophy at least no-one who has worn the black jersey knows what it feels like to lose 36-0"

I'm sure most people would rather lose a group game 36-0 and be in the final with a chance to win than go out in, what was it, the quarter finals.

I'm equally sure that while most people would acknowledge the achievements of the kiwi's, until they stop falling short in the world cup, there will always be a question mark over their greatness.

Chriws Lawrence, Huntingdon, England

Glad to see Butch James Underperformed.

Out tackled, out thought and out-kicked Johnny Blondie and Mikey Cat - all the way to a winners medal on the biggest stage in world Rugby - on the way enduring the pressure that Hernandez buckled under, the heat that melted Larkham and the cold that cracked Carter. No team has ever won a World Cup with an under performing fly-half - I'm sure Butch will lie awake at night trying to fathom how he was so bad and his team still won. -Or - maybe, just maybe - Mr Jones - Butch played his part absolutely perfectly adding uncompromising solidity to the number 10 jersey where other teams opted for has-beens and show-ponies who fell by the way side.

Lee, London,

Why doesn't Stephen face the Haka and, during this great ritual, tell the All Blacks personally how silly he thinks it is?

For me the Haka contributed to one of the most dramatic moments in the World Cup, when France squared up to Graham Henry's men just before the commencement of the Quarter-final.

Come on, Stephen, the Haka is a great rugby traditon, there to be challenged, if not necessarily respected.

I don't know, you'll be wanting to ban the "silly" national anthems and the pointy shaped ball next.

John Gilheaney, Llantrisant, Wales

I find your article very interesting but do not agree with your comment regarding Butch James.

Before the final we here in South Africa believed that the only Englishman that will hold the Web Ellis trophy after the game would be the engraver. (Sorry, but it is only a joke)

Emille Kilian, Alberton, South Africa

I totally agree with the "silly Hakka" it is definitely past its sell by date as the exciting spectical that once adroned the opening of any NZ game in the 60's,70's and 80's. Now it is simply a tool for showing naked aggression with no opportunity to respond. No longer is it the traditional challenge of a proud warrior nation to another. It is tarnished to the point of absurdity.
Biggest winner: Eddie Jones for his version of "rope a dope"

Steve Wevill, Eastleigh, england

Strange that the English and French club systems have some how been vindicated in the eyes of Mr. Jones when the count is now 5 world cups to 1 in favour of the constiutent unions of the Super 14...

I also recall that you too Mr. Jones believed the hype surrounding the All Blacks - Whose coach you suggested not all that long ago could cure England's ills. Perhaps you need reminding that in their 104 year test-match history the All Blacks greatest ever defeat is by 21 points - which was at the hands of another super 14 nation.

Although the current team won't know what it is like to hold the Webb Ellis trophy at least no-one who has worn the black jersey knows what it feels like to lose 36-0

As for the soap - box tragics from NZ that act as the unwanted conscience for the whole of rugby - sports journalist are all cut from the same cloth and I believe that is simply the pot calling the kettle black...

Richie, London, United Kingdom

Well done South Africa, worthy champions.
Mr Jones why do you dislike all Kiwi's. I think you make some very good points and I enjoy reading your reports as I think you have a very good rugby brain. I feel that you let yourself down however by showing total hatred for anything New Zealand. What goes, Mr Jones I have a Kiwi Passport do you hate me??
How about going easy on us Kiwi's ah. Did'nt your granddad fight along side my granddad 70 yrs ago???

Craig Christchurch N.Z.

Craig, Christchurch NZ,

"Best referee: Wayne Barnes (England)"

That is derisory and I'm not a kiwi. The spectacle of the English defending Barnes and complaining about Rolland is distinctly unedifying.

Alphonse, Kirribilli, Australia

Maybe some listerine or absinthe would help wash away the taste of bitterness towards all things NZ rugby?

Certainly it won't get rid of the 87% win record over last 4 years, Lions PASTING, Grand Slam, unbeaten NH tours, Tri Nations trophies etc.

Maybe red rose goggles have replaced the spectacles?

Peter Annand, Wellington, New Zealand

So the World Cup winners are made up, predominantly, of the players who fought out the final of the Super 14, and that makes the Super 14 what?
And a more mind blowingly out of his depth performance by a referee than that of Wayne Barnes in a world cup playoff game has yet to be seen...and hopefully never will be again.
The All Blacks played terribly, had key injuries in the 2nd half, and it still took a performance that bad for them to lose by 2.
However a great tournament not entirely spoiled by a dire final of no imagination or skill.
The South African's were certainly the best at this Cup and are worthy champions.

Mark, Auckland, NZ

I'm very pleased to see that you describe South Africa as a "class act" who displayed sportsmanlike behaviour. I often find that South African sports teams are stereotyped as arrogant, bullying and unsporting in the British press. Doubtless there is some historical basis for this view (Louis Luyt etc). However, I also think that the current team represent a new generation of South Africans who can be admired not only for their achievements on the field but their conduct off it as well. Hopefully, they, and the rest of us, will increasingly be judged on our own merits and not through the prism of the past -- something that marred at least some of the commentary in the British press prior to the world cup final.

Murray , Leeds, United Kingdom

Dear Mr Jones

Thank you for the final few twists of the knife. Now that Kiwi rugby has been exposed for the overhyped, pretentious shambles that it obviously is to your eyes, a question: Who is you prediction to win next years Tri Nations, and which team will win the next 5 NZ - England encounters?

Hayden Mellsop, Salida, USA

I must say Mr. Jones; Butch James under-performing??? He was heady and disciplined throughout, a real rock bed for the Boks. Player of he Tourney was certainly Viktor matfield for his steely play, dominance at the lineout and his leadership on the field.
Team flop other than NZ (where was Mauger/Howlett in the final?), it had to be Ireland. Biggest Improvement = US. much improved tackling and improved organization.
Yes, Marseilles is a cool city.....

jeff taylor, Boulder, USA

"Nonperforming players: Butch James"

Utter rubbish. You're standing on your head while you speak mate. Did you watch a single game?

Charles, Delft, Netherlands

Yeah Wales are really racking up the trophies!

Chris, London,

Big winners too --- Clive Woodward and Martin Johnson. In British sport there is the propensity to wheel out former sporting stars to provide in depth analysis and opinion for newspaper and TV coverage. They are introduced as the last to hold that world record, the last to win the world cup or the last to win this. The late Fred Perry did this for years during Wimbledon and the boys of 1966 still do it for soccer. In their cases the time gap has probably has gone on too long but four years in rugby is nothing. After all the meticulous preparation, all the money spent and no stone being left unturned back in 2003, deep down Sir Clive and MJ proud of their 2003 achievement must have been horrified at the though of this band of misfits going into the final on Saturday ready to emulate their victory four years earlier with on paper is clearly an inferior team. Don't let anybody else say other wise, deep down they are both relieved!

Biggest Losers -- The pundits, bloggers and anylists!

B.D. Calhoun, Dallas , texas

Enjoyable read but...

...Nonperforming players: 3 Butch James (South Africa)??? Do me a favour Stephen. He may not be Jonny Wilkinson OBE CBE MBE etc but he was terrific in this tournament. (as he was in the Super 14 but you missed it, of course). You have Jason Robinson's outstretched arm to thank for making the final as close an affair as it was by preventing a great 7-point chip-n-chase by Butch. And no doubt the trauma of 36-0 seared all memory of his contribution of pinpoint kicking, deft handling and destructive tackling from your mind.

What sucks is just when we finally have a decent flyhalf in the Bok side...he's off to Bath. Sods law.

Brad, Johannesburg,

2 Acting as unpaid and unwanted conscience for the whole of rugby.

4 Foisting the increasingly silly haka on others.

Now that's funny...

tosh, J'berg, RSA