A WORLD AWAY FROM PERFECT

Game must heed lessons for the future

- Alex Spink

AT TIMES the two-month long Rugby World Cup in France was all we hoped it would be.

From 60,000 Irish fans belting out Zombie to Siya Kolisi singing his way into the winners' press conference, there were times of joy to mix with high drama.

We will not easily forget Ireland's win against South Africa, Fiji giving Australia a bloody nose, Wales trouncing Eddie Jones' hapless team, the English hearts.

Springboks breaking Portugal grabbing their first win, Fiji setting aside acute disappointment to make music as they boarded their flight snapshots, In this was a tournament rich in colour, but there was not enough to consider it an overwhelming success.