Rugby Moments of 2007
PA Sport
December 27, 2007

As yet another year draws to a close, PA Sport's Alex Lowe takes a light-hearted look back on the last 12 months in rugby.

That's it. The year is drawing to a close and the votes are in (or I have made up my mind) for the PA Sport Rugby Column Awards for 2007.

This is a chance to stick tongue firmly in cheek and remember some of the biggest rugby moments of 2007...

WORLD CUP

The Fishbone Award for biggest choke:

It was a World Cup year so it has to be New Zealand. This is the only prize they do win every four years. The All Blacks only made it as far as the quarter-finals. Don't forget, Australia also bowed out in the last eight.

The Rob Curling Award for greatest turnabout:

England. Just when it seemed England's World Cup defence would end with a whimper they began to roar and powered their way past Australia and France to reach the World Cup final.

The Hoodies 'n' Alcopops Award for best gatecrashers:

The Fijians for knocking Wales out of the World Cup with a thrilling victory - and then giving South Africa palpitations in the quarter-final. Fiji led the way in a tournament when the minnows made their mark.

The Barnum Award for biggest circus:

Ireland's World Cup campaign. The Irish played dreadfully and the squad was dogged for the whole tournament by rumours - some outlandish, some outrageous - which the French press revelled in.

The Nelson Mandela Award for a presidential World Cup performance:

Where Mandela wore a Springbok jersey in 1995, South African president Thabo Mbeki was hoisted onto the shoulders of the victorious Springboks squad after their victory over England.

The 'We Wuz Robbed' Award for coming so near yet so far:

``There were about 30 text messages on my phone. I think 29 out of the 30 had 'robbed' in the text. It's irrelevant now, but as long as I live I will tell people that I scored a try'' - Mark Cueto after his effort was ruled out in the World Cup final.

COACHING

The Aldrich Ames Award for switching sides:

1 Eddie Jones for his role as technical advisor with the World Cup-winning Springboks - four years after he lost the final as Australia's head coach.

2 Second place goes to Kiwi Robbie Deans, who missed out on the New Zealand job so took his back-up option with Australia.

The Michael Fish Hurricane Award for worst prediction of the year:

``There is no need for a huge knee-jerk reaction'' - Gareth Jenkins after Wales were knocked out of the World Cup. He was sacked within 12 hours.

The Trigger Award for decision making:

The RFU for taking two months to decide Brian Ashton, John Wells and Mike Ford should keep their jobs after guiding England to a World Cup final.

OFFICIALS

The Cyclops Award for TMO moment of the year:

1 Stuart Dickinson for his decision not to award Mark Cueto a try in the World Cup final. It seems he made the right call but it was not convincing at the time.

2 Donal Courtney was a close second for awarding Jonny Wilkinson a try against Scotland in the Six Nations when one foot was clearly deep in touch.

The Rolex Award for best time-keeping:

Referee Chris White for promising Wales could go for a win in their Six Nations game against Italy by taking a lineout - and then blowing the final the whistle as soon as the ball was kicked into touch.

PLAYERS

The Merv Hughes sledge of the year:

``They were like a bunch of Teletubbies'' - Mark Regan on Australia's front row after England's World Cup quarter-final win.

The Specsavers award for keeping things in perspective:

``I have just finished reading Massacre at Passchendale and also All Quiet on the Western Front. The feeling in the sheds was like no man's land, like it is described in those books. Sort of desolate, decayed, the smell of - I don't want to dramatise it - but death. But that is what it feels like, no man's land, and it is not a nice place to be'' - Anton Oliver after New Zealand's World Cup defeat.

The Spice Girls Award for comeback of the year:

Mark 'Ronnie' Regan. He came out of international retirement and was one of England's most consistently good players all year.

The Prince Philip Foot In Mouth Award:

Won jointly this year by Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt for their poorly-timed criticisms of Brian Ashton and his coaching team.

The Saga Award for most deserved retirement:

Jason Robinson bowed out of rugby in the World Cup final having proved himself as the greatest cross-code rugby player in history.

The Alan Black Award for best fight with a player:

Alan Black himself takes this inaugural prize. The RFU employee and president of Wasps' amateurs was banned for the rest of the season after walloping Clermont Auvergne forward Martin Scelzo with a rolled-up programme.

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