Sir Graham Henry - Former All Blacks coach © Getty Images

Michael Brown reflects on the tenure of Graham Henry as All Blacks coach following his knighthood in The New Zealand Herald.

"Graham Henry calls himself a 4.30 man. It's the time he wakes up most mornings and it's a habit he's struggling to break, even though he's ended his long tenure as All Blacks coach and brought peace to not only his life but also most of New Zealand after delivering the Rugby World Cup to this country for the first time in 24 years.

"The 65-year-old is a self-confessed workaholic and could often be found reviewing tape or working on game plans after waking in the early hours. It's part of the reason he was so successful, why the All Blacks won so many games under his watch and why he survived in 2007 when most Kiwis held him accountable for a certain defeat in Cardiff."

Sean Diffley backs plans in Ireland to cap the number of foreign players in domestic squads in The Irish Independent.

"As Oscar Wilde remarked, "an unbiased opinion is always absolutely valueless" and I am in favour, more or less and on principle, with the latest effusion from the IRFU -- a body of gentlemen who are running the game in this country streets ahead of any of the other major rugby nations.

"As you all will know by now, the IRFU is moving to curtail the number of foreigners in our provincial squads. The move's objective is to nurture promising Irish talent, allowing them 'game time' with the aim of augmenting the Irish team. Players from south of the equator, who are ineligible for Ireland but hold down too many provincial places, clearly upset the IRFU's grand plans for Ireland's progress."

Former England centre Will Greenwood offers some predictions for 2012 - on the domestic and international stage - in The Daily Telegraph.

"Precision, pace and dynamism everywhere that was built around a very solid set-piece. Jonathan Sexton looked as good as any fly-half on the planet and threw in a 45-metre dropped goal to cap his try. As always, Munster are in the mix, but my days of never doubting them are fading.

"Toulouse and Harlequins have produced an epic, I still love my Clermont boys while Saracens love being party-poopers. But for me, it’s Leinster to win it."

SRU chief executive Mark Dodson has set some lofty goals © Getty Images

The Scotsman's David Ferguson talks to Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson.

"The obvious question is: where is the money coming from? The SRU has been able to turn over £35m but, as welcome as the new funding is, it must beg the question how Murrayfield has changed from its Scrooge-like status to an eager investment broker breathing new hope into the professional game.

"Dodson said: “There is money here and there has always been money generated by Scottish rugby. To answer that honestly, I think it is about spending priorities. We have looked very closely at the non-rugby activities, administration and other areas, bringing some work that was contracted out in-house and are basically driving people harder and making them work in a slightly different way.

“We’ve cut back on certain expenditure. We haven’t had a chance to generate new revenues but the difference now is that rugby here is no longer seen as a cost, but seen as what we do. Everything now is about rugby, and everything else that we do is a support for rugby and maybe that wasn’t the case before.

“I don’t want to look backwards, but we obviously saw things we could do quickly that could turn things around in here and it comes back to a desire to put rugby back at the core of what we do in the Scottish Rugby Union.”

Ireland are set to confirm expanded roles for Les Kiss and Mark Tainton in the Six Nations, with no direct replacement for former backs coach Alan Gaffney. The Irish Independent's Hugh Farrelly reports.

"Defence coach Kiss and kicking coach Tainton will see their working briefs expanded to include responsibility for Ireland's attacking play when the Six Nations gets under way in February, as it was deemed there was not enough time to find a replacement for Gaffney, whose contract expired after the World Cup

"Kiss has been a notable success since coming in as defence coach in 2008 and has displayed an innovative approach, earning widespread credit for his coaching of the 'choke tackle' which was a critical element in Ireland's World Cup victory against Australia and has been introduced as a defensive tactic by other nations."

A bit of ball-hopping for a rugby-mad nephew highlights some issues which should concern Eddie Wigglesworth, writes the Irish Times' Liam Toland.

"[IRFU director of rugby, Eddie] Wigglesworth pointed out the IRFU’s priority will always be to the national team because it generates 84 per cent of revenue at 14 per cent of total cost, while the provinces are currently responsible for 41 per cent of overall cost to the union.

"This may be true but the pendulum has swung and my nephews are rooted in their provinces. They will soon become teenagers and men, the future participants and supporters; that’s 84 per cent, if you will.

"Wigglesworth does acknowledge the province: “We have to have provincial rugby and that’s why there is never an issue about funding it. But this is about getting the balance right,” he said.

"I look forward to observing from the safety of the ditch the knock-on effect because the future supporters will become very impatient if their provinces slide in Europe."

Newcastle fly-half Jimmy Gopperth is confident that Premiership's bottom club can stay in the Premiership, but these are bleak days in the north-east. The Guardian's Ian Malin reports.

"Newcastle's fly-half Jimmy Gopperth, for one, is looking at the match against Northampton with glass half-full in hand. "I have no doubt we'll still be in the Premiership at the end of the season," says the New Zealander who has consistently been Newcastle's best player since his move two years ago.

"Gopperth can point to victories at Kingston Park over London Wasps and Gloucester that back his theory. Traditionally visiting sides have not been at their best after making the long journey north but it is away from home that Newcastle are suffering. With their Boxing Day defeat at Sale they have gone six matches without picking up a bonus point on the road.

"Gopperth, though, is not short of confidence as befits a man who has filled the big boots of Jonny Wilkinson at Kingston Park. "It is hard to pinpoint why we are so much better at home but there is a passionate crowd here and we feel a lot more comfortable playing in front of them."

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Brian Moore reflects on the rugby year and ahead to 2012.

"New Zealand can be proud of the way it ran a high standard Rugby World Cup and the All Black’s win was deserved. Unfortunately, the financial return for the International Rugby Board means it cannot invest the amounts necessary to develop lower ranked nations over the next four years and further close the gap between them and higher ranked Unions.

"The consistent theme of the past year has been the tension between the rich and poor, the professional and the amateur, and without careful stewardship there is every chance that rugby will not make the right decisions for its long term good.

"At international level, the claim of former All Black coach Lauire Mains that as the No 1 in world rugby the Kiwis are entitled to a greater share of the profits from the World Cup is in nobody’s interests but New Zealand.

"A World Cup cannot and should not be run among a few existing top countries and that it is in the longer term interests of rugby to see several of the presently ranked second-tier teams emerge as contenders over the next few tournaments.

"If anything, the split of profits should be disproportionately spent on lower ranked countries to advance rugby in fledgling markets, ones that have the potential to grow and enrich the game in playing, spectating and monetary terms."

Leinster's Ica Nacewa would be one player affected by the new laws © Getty Images

The Irish Independent's Hugh Farrelly looks at the bad blood between Leinster and the IRFU following the introduction of the cap on foreign signings.

"Leinster's war of words with the IRFU over the new policy on player recruitment escalated yesterday, with the province questioning the practicality of the selection process.

The initiative, announced last week and due to come in for the 2013/14 season, is based on the principle of having two quality Irish-qualified players in each position among Leinster, Munster and Ulster.

This means no more than one Non-Irish Eligible (NIE) player in any position, and on position specific deals, with no contract extensions or short-term deals for NIE players.

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt and his Ulster counterpart Brian McLaughlin raised strong overall objections after their Pro12 clash on Monday, and yesterday Leinster manager Guy Easterby zeroed in on the workability of the selection process to decide which province gets the first pick on position."

Simon Thomas, of Wales Online, speaks to Ospreys boss Scott Johnson ahead of their clash with Cardiff.

"As Scott Johnson confirms his departure from Welsh rugby, so Gavin Henson prepares to continue his comeback on familiar territory.

And Johnson, for one, is glad to be talking about Henson the rugby player again.

The Aussie never got to utilise the talents of a man he describes as “a wonderful player” while they were together at the Ospreys.

When Johnson arrived at the Liberty Stadium in the summer of 2009, Henson was sidelined with the ankle injury which ruled him out of contention for that summer’s Lions tour."

The New Zealand Herald talks to Hurricanes lock James Broadhurst following a close-season of upheaval at the Wellington franchise.

"Towering lock James Broadhurst represents everything there is to like about next year's Hurricanes squad.

Bearing in mind this is a group shorn of their biggest stars after Andrew Hore and Ma'a Nonu were shown the door by coach Mark Hammett midway through the 2011 season and a flurry of other players jumped off the seemingly sinking ship.

Broadhurst though, who was born in Kaitaia and educated during his high school years at Campion College in Gisborne, is part of the new breed."

The Daily Mail's Chris Foy looks at the battle between England and Wales over Scarlets No.8 Ben Morgan.

"England are optimistic they can win a cross-border tussle with Wales for the services of Scarlets No 8 Ben Morgan — with the issue due to come to a head in the next fortnight.

The 22-year-old was born in Bristol but will qualify for Wales on residency in time for the start of the Six Nations in February. He was approached in the summer to represent the Saxons in the Churchill Cup but rejected that opportunity to keep his options open."

The Guardian's Barney Ronay provides a fictional take on what could have happened following the England team's night out in Queenstown.

"1 min: Hello and welcome to exclusively typed, live-blog coverage of the England rugby squad's daily World Cup meeting in the luxurious Larsen-Snedden Business Centre at the majestic Hotel Conchord, New Zealand's fourth most splendid hotel/conference complex.

2 min: It has been an unusually turbulent 24 hours for England's players, even by the standards of what is an unusually turbulent, slow-burn, listless, embattled,fatally undermined, terminally self-torpedoing, shakily hurled together, disastrously inharmonious, macrocosmically doomed World Cup campaign. Or at least that's what it looks like so far, a mere six days in. No doubt everything will be fine from here and England will go on to win the World Cup with a scintillating exhibition of sustained running rugby so thrilling they're gripped by the urge to hurl themselves into Auckland harbour in celebration on the way home. Something along those lines anyway."

The Daily Telegraph's' Paul Hayward talks to England coach Graham Rowntree about his experiences after the infamous World Cup campaign.

"So, Graham, how does it feel to be the last man standing? There is no answer, but then a smile. “Thanks. I’m so proud,” he finally says. But before pride there was a kind of grief.

Graham Rowntree is describing the bleak hours when England’s Rugby World Cup team touched down from New Zealand: “When we landed, for the first time in my life I felt ashamed. Ashamed of being a part of it. We got back on the Monday and I didn’t go to pick the children up from school for a few days, or drop them off, because I didn’t want to see anyone.

“I didn’t want to see friends who know what job I do, or mates in rugby. I just wanted to stay away from people.” The only England coach to escape condemnation by England’s players in those infamous leaked World Cup reports, Rowntree is now happily embedded in a three-man caretaker regime for the Six Nations Championship, alongside Stuart Lancaster and Andy Farrell."

Ospreys boss Scott Johnson is set to join the Scotland coaching team © Getty Images

The Scotsman's David Ferguson reports on the appointment of Scott Johnson to the Scotland coaching team.

"The addition of Scott Johnson to the Scotland coaching team is one of the most intriguing and bold moves made by any Scotland coach, never mind Andy Robinson.

"Scrape away the SRU’s trumpeting of the appointment and there is perhaps less to the Australian coach than was suggested yesterday. He is not the experienced international coach one might expect to advise Andy Robinson, his five years in the Wales backroom team, just over a year with Australia and a shorter stint in America incomparable with Robinson’s 11 years with England, Scotland and the British and Irish Lions.

"And neither is he the “sage-like” figure we picked up from Robinson’s revelation at the start of the month that received the backing of the new SRU chief executive Mark Dodson to be added to his team. For a sage in a rugby sense, the likes of Brian Ashton, Alan Gaffney or Scots Jim Telfer or Richie Dixon spring to mind. But we understand now that that was not what Robinson had in mind after all. He does not wish a veteran coach to watch over him, but a different and forthright rugby mind to challenge him. Johnson has a reputation for saying it as it is, and what Robinson has been attracted to is a new dynamic and new approach to energise his coaching team."

The Irish Times' Gerry Thornley reflects an eventful year for Irish rugby.

"This was a good year for Irish rugby, indeed a very good year. Any year that yields a Heineken Cup triumph for Leinster, all the more so as there’s rarely been a comeback in a final quite like it, and a League triumph for Munster, has to be considered good. Lose sight of that and we really have lost it.

"Of course, World Cup years are defined by the World Cup and after trading four warm-up defeats for four pool wins, Ireland also showed up well at the World Cup, perhaps more effectively than at any previous World Cup. The victory over Australia in Eden Park and the astonishing support from a largely ex-pat Blarney Army remain indelible memories.

"Ireland’s first win over a Tri Nations powerhouse in the Southern Hemisphere since 1979, and first of any hue in a World Cup, makes it a stand-out, one-off win.

"It was also a memorable, feel-good World Cup to be at, for as expected the hosts put on quite a show."

Afghanistan kicked off its first official rugby tournament last week, with organisers hoping the game will one day be as popular as buzkashi, a kind of polo played with the carcass of a headless goat. Iol.co.za reports.

"Cricket and football have already gained a strong following, and regional sporting success has offered a rare glimmer of hope in the war-wracked country.

"But enthusiasts believe Afghans, who have faced decades of conflict and hardship, are even better suited to the rough and tumble of the rugby field, which is more akin the national sport buzkashi, without the need for horses.

"Ten teams from four different provinces gathered in central Kabul for the sevens competition, the first since the Afghan Rugby Federation won affiliation from the Asian Rugby Football Union last month.

“It's becoming popular and soon it will replace cricket and football,” said Asad Ziar, the ARF's chief executive officer."

It was the year of the Rugby World Cup but some of those who took part will be remembered more for their off-field activities than their prowess on the paddock. The New Zealand Herald reports.

"One punched random strangers after running naked into a bar on a tropical island, the other was caught on camera in a compromising situation with a woman other than his wife - who just happens to be the Queen's granddaughter.

"It's a tie as to whether All Black Zac Guildford or England's Mike Tindall is rugby's reprobate of the year but I'm going for Tindall - not only has he married into royalty but his wife is also an attractive international sportswoman. Some people are never satisfied, it would seem."

Rugby Heaven picks its best squad of 22 players from 2011. Not surprisingly, the world champions dominate selections.

"15. Israel Dagg (New Zealand). Displaced Mils Muliaina as New Zealand's - and the world's - best fullback. An attacking genius with a booming boot, Dagg's World Cup form was enough to displace Kurtley Beale.

"...7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand). Openside flanker may be the most competitive position in world rugby. Injury hampered McCaw and he was edged by David Pocock of Australia in straight No.7 play, but throw in leadership and big-match performances and the Kiwi captain gets the nod."

The Daily Mail's Chris Foy reports from Saracens' Aviva Premiership victory over Harlequins at Twickenham.

"Conor O'Shea was forced to acclaim Owen Farrell’s remarkable maturity and Test potential after Harlequins’ record- breaking festive extravaganza at Twickenham was spoiled by the Saracens rookie.

"A crowd of 82,000 — the largest ever recorded for a club game in this country — massed at HQ with the vast majority hoping to see Quins extend their lead at the top of the Aviva Premiership table. Yet, after 25 minutes, Saracens were 19-3 ahead, Farrell had 14 points to his name and O’Shea’s men were chasing the game. They would never recover.

"This was a second defeat in three games for the team who had begun the season with a run of 14 straight victories. Having lost at home to Toulouse 16 days earlier, they had responded with an epic win in the return fixture but on this occasion they had no answer to Saracens’ initial power and control up front, allied to Farrell’s precision in front of goal.

"At the end of last season, the 20-year-old had kicked his club to a maiden Premiership title in the final against Leicester. This time he was similarly assured and it was a good time to make such a positive statement, with England head coach Stuart Lancaster among the hordes in attendance."

The Times' Mark Souster chats to injured Harlequins lock Ollie Kohn about the business he expects will form the backbone to his business life once he has retired from rugby. (Via paywall)

"As with any proper red-blooded lock, Kohn, 30, has always had a passion for meat, but never expected to be able to translate that into something that would make him a living.

"The situation changed three years ago when Eloise, his wife, gave him a sausage-making machine for his birthday. It was his Damascene moment. Suddenly he had found his vocation.

"His first attempts were less than successful, with more meat spewing out on to kitchen walls than in the sausages themselves. “It drove her mad and she wondered what she had done,” Kohn said. “But I didn’t want it just to be a hobby. It has become much bigger than I thought it would be.”

"After his first dodgy attempts with a less than tasty chipolata, he moved on to something more exotic: pork and leek, pork and apple, venison and cranberry, and now a sausage with flecks of black pudding.

"It is all served and sold from the travelling retro Airstream van called “Miss Piggy” in which can also be roasted a whole hog. He sells up to 20,000 sausages a year all made in a special unit — rented to cope with demand — in Bristol, where he was born and where he played under Bob Dwyer, then director of rugby at the Memorial Ground."

Richie McCaw raises the World Cup as New Zealand celebrates © Getty Images

The New Zealand Herald looks back over 2011 when two events transformed the landscape and history of the country.

When the year began we looked forward to quite a different event dominating 2011 and, in its own way, it did. Our editorial on New Year's Day anticipated the Rugby World Cup with trepidation. We thought the "stadium of four million" ambitious "because New Zealand is not quite the rustic, rugby-mad land the slogan suggests. Most of its people live in cities and many of them dislike rugby and all it represents. Of those who do follow the game," we said, "the vast majority are interested only in the fortunes of the All Blacks."

How wrong that proved to be. New Zealanders turned out to be everything the Rugby Union promised when it gained the right to host the event, and everything Martin Snedden's organisation had trusted them to be when it spread the matches around the country.

The Daily Telegraph's Mick Cleary assesses the potential of Harlequins prop and England prospect Joe Marler.

Joe Marler is not one of life’s conventional characters, as 80,000 fans at Twickenham for Harlequins’ top-of-the-table Aviva Premiership clash with Saracens on Tuesday will testify.

The flame-red Mohican sported last season may have become more muted - although you never quite know what a short Christmas break may have prompted the 21 year-old to come up with - but there is no mistaking Marler’s unique presence on a rugby field, the potential apprentice butcher with hands so deft that they can reverse offload on a cut-back run as he did against Wasps a couple of weeks ago to create a try for centre Matt Hopper.

In his own words, Marler is “a little bit odd”. He has his “expression of individuality” haircut, now almost grown out, and his occasional skirmishes with the disciplinary officers following what he calls “the descent of the red mist”.

Writing in the Irish Times
Greg Thornley questions the wisdom of the Irish Rugby Union's new edict over the signing of foreign players.

The recent unveiling of the IRFU’s changes to player contracts, specifically those for non-Irish qualified players, raises one simple question: If it ain’t broke, why fix it? The provinces have won four of the last six Heineken Cups in backboning an Irish side which won its first Grand Slam in 61 years and produced its best World Cup campaign to date in New Zealand this year.

Furthermore, the IRFU’s all-powerful Professional Contracts Review Group (PCRG) already have the power of veto over any players signed by the provinces, so why apply such rigid straitjackets to recruitment of overseas players?

In the Scotsman Stuart Bathgate ponders the implications of last night's clash between Edinburgh and Glasgow for two of the scrum-halves vying for the Scotland No.9 shirt.

As Scotland coach Andy Robinson watched last night’s match, for instance, you can be sure he took especial interest in the first direct meeting for six years of Mike Blair and Chris Cusiter. It scarcely seemed credible that the two scrum-halves had not been in direct confrontation for so long, and they could hardly believe it themselves when told so last week.

The most glaring difference was in the breaks made by the two. Blair, once so dangerous in broken play, made just one break, early in the second half.

Cusiter made four, beginning with a good sniping run in the first half as Glasgow came back into the game after going 10-0 down, and continuing deep into the second as they fought back to snatch a draw at the death.

Glasgow's Rory Lamont will look to make an impact against Edinburgh © Getty Images

The Scotsman previews the 1872 Cup clash between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

More than 10,000 tickets have been sold for this evening’s first 1872 Cup clash of the season between Edinburgh and Glasgow as talk of a feelgood factor in Scottish rugby begins to spread.

The recent moves by the Scottish Rugby Union to lift the depression which had returned to the Scottish game earlier this year, and led to the resignation of chief executive Gordon McKie, have strengthened the Glasgow team in particular.

Samoan World Cup winger David Lemi joined the Warriors until the end of the season, filling the void left by injury to Canadian star DTH van der Merwe, and then Scotland full-back Rory Lamont agreed a deal to leave high-spending French club Toulon that could see him finish his career in Glasgow. Rory’s brother Sean, who has 60 Scotland caps, has also agreed a return next summer, while most of Glasgow’s top young talents have re-signed and full-back Stuart Hogg is expected to tie up his first senior pro contract in the near future.

Marc Hinton, of the New Zealand Herald, looks back at a successful year for New Zealand rugby.

"Graham Henry has his inner peace, and probably a knighthood to go with it.

But if anyone can testify to the fine lines that exist in international sport it's surely the All Blacks coach who was finally able to flip that upside down smile of his the right way up at the end of 80 excruciating minutes at Eden Park in late October.

Yes, Henry got the World Cup crown that he always knew would define his career, but boy was it a close run thing as the All Blacks defeated France 8-7 in a final packed with tension, drama and thundering commitment from both sides. Not to mention just a little symmetry in the form of the score. The last time the All Blacks lifted that prized Webb Ellis Cup? Er, '87."

Brendan Gallagher, of the Daily Telegraph, looks at Marco Wentzel's role with Wasps and his part in their set-piece.

"It says much for Marco Wentzel’s reputation as possibly the top line-out operator in the Premiership that somebody as experienced and knowledgeable as Dai Young has no qualms about handing over all coaching responsibilities in that area to one of his players.

Not only will the athletic South African lock be Wasps' go-to line-out jumper at a sell-out Kingsholm on Monday against Gloucester, but Wentzel is the man who has planned and coached every variation – attack and defence – in Wasps' line-out play book. If it all goes wrong he will have nobody to blame but himself.

But so far so good. Like many it seems in a spectacularly congested Premiership table behind high-flying Harlequins, Wasps have endured mixed results but their line-out play, a source of concern over the decades, has improved dramatically.

“Marco is recognised as one of the very top line-out operators in the European game and he’s certainly the best I have ever encountered on and off the field,” says Young."

The Daily Mail's Chris Foy talks to Sale boss Steve Diamond about his side's change in fortunes.

"It was arguably the transfer coup of the year and the most compelling sign yet that a revival is in full swing.

Last month, when Scotland lock and Lion-in-waiting Richie Gray agreed to join Sale, it confirmed the overhaul of the club’s reputation.

Several leading clubs in Europe had coveted the 22-year-old’s signature, but he opted for Sale despite a last-ditch attempt by Saracens to hijack the deal. He agreed to come because of the remarkable work done by Steve Diamond, director of rugby at Edgeley Park."

The Guardian's Paul Rees previews the potentially key clash between Sale Sharks and Newcastle Falcons on Boxing Day.

"Four Aviva Premiership sides are looking to put the punch back into their campaigns after falling away in the autumn. Sale and Newcastle, who meet each other at Edgeley Park, have both won only one of their past four league matches, the same record as Gloucester and Wasps, who face each other at Kingsholm.

Newcastle will go into the new year at the bottom of the table if they fail to leave Stockport with at least a point. They are six points behind Worcester and entertain Northampton on the last day of this month. The Falcons have lost all their five away matches in the Premiership season and have not mustered a bonus point."

Jonny Wilkinson remains as dedicated to rugby as ever © Getty Images

The Daily Telegraph's Oliver Brown talks to Jonny Wilkinson about the fly-half's future post international retirement.

After a decade’s worth of monastic dedication, complicated by a heartbreaking injury sequence and his own self-reproach after every performance he perceived as imperfect, the hero of 2003 surely merited as much.

But in the wake of his international retirement this month Wilkinson has become, if anything, even more obsessed — to the point where every kick he makes in the red-and-black of Toulon assumes the significance of ‘life and death’.

Former England centre Will Greenwood reveals his biggest moments of the rugby year in the Daily Telegraph.

Best kiss Les Kiss, Ireland v Australia

The Australian former rugby league player, who is now one of Ireland's coaches, turned the World Cup on its head with the ‘choke’ tackle and changed the tournament into a northern hemisphere v southern hemisphere match-up. Ireland had used the tactic before, but their perfect execution of the team tackle in this game is why rugby anoraks will keep watching it. Life is about being a pioneer, well done Les.

In his column for the Independent, former England coach Brian Ashton reveals the lessons he learned on a trip to watch Manchester City against Arsenal in the Premier League.

So what did I learn at the Etihad Stadium? In no particular order;

1) The control and accuracy of the players under intense and ever-changing pressure was immensely impressive – skills underpinned by intelligent movement from virtually everyone on the field when they were not in possession. The general willingness to seek out space and offer options was outstanding;

2) The pace at which all this took place is only truly discernible when watching live. Television does not come close to highlighting this quality;

3) The vision and communication skills common to the vast majority of the players ensured there was little in the way of hit-and-hope football: the long ball was sparingly used, and only when appropriate;

4) The way both sides dealt with transition play – the turnover, in rugby parlance – was highly instructive. Their capacity to be both reactive and proactive with their own and the opposition's changes of shape amounted to a coaching lesson.

Writing in the Irish Independent Sean Diffley hails the way Ireland has taken to professional rugby and insists it's time to show requisite confidence on the international stage.

Before the World Cup I proclaimed that Ireland could win the competition. They had the skills and the only lack, in my view, was in self-esteem.

The players might dismiss that as nonsense, but, I say, think about it.

Remember that ordinary England side winning in 2003, inspired by the self-esteem, or arrogance of their captain Martin Johnson?

And Australia winning it twice, sheer modesty ruling the roost.

A recent professional survey has, not surprisingly, soccer as our favourite sport, with gaelic games at 20.9pc and rugby, the ever progressing sport, at 20.5pc.

Now in a long tenure on this green and misty isle, I've never been approached for my invaluable views, but they say that those polls claim to be accurate up to 2pc either way, so whatever way you view it, rugby is taking a firm hold in Ireland.

And it should foster a much-needed advance in self-esteem.

Dan Cleaver in the New Zealand Herald talks to the All Blacks' new coaching team.

The seeds of the Ian Foster-Steve Hansen partnership were sown more than a year ago when the Chiefs supremo was considering offers to take his mentoring skills offshore.

While the "Aussie and Fozzie Show" was unveiled only yesterday, Hansen and Foster had been in talks for much longer.

Hansen, Graham Henry's successor as All Blacks coach, used his powers of persuasion to convince Foster to stay in New Zealand to work on "special projects" until after the World Cup, rather than weigh up offers in Europe.

Chris Paterson retired from international rugby after winning 109 caps for Scotland © Getty Images

The Scotsman's David Ferguson speaks to Scotland greats Gary Armstrong and John Rutherford about the international career of Chris Paterson, who retired from Scotland duty last week.

“He has had a brilliant career,” said Rutherford. “Who’s to say he won’t still be playing professional rugby in two or three years’ time?

“He played very well at the weekend and has taken himself off the kicking, which was tough with the injuries he’s had. He’s fit and he can play in lots of positions.

“There is no doubt, though, when he does decide to finish altogether, that he will be viewed as an absolute legend, and it’s right that he should be held in that esteem.

“He has played more games and scored more points than anyone. The Grand Slams were great for those of us fortunate enough to be involved in them but that is reliant on being in the right place at the right time with the right squad and coaches. A whole lot of things coming together, which is why it doesn’t happen very often.

“And there are a lot of great Scottish players that should have gone on Lions tours that didn’t, and Chris is definitely one of them. There’s a lot of luck involved in that, too.”

All Blacks legend Grant Fox talks to the New Zealand Herald about his new role on the All Blacks selection panel.

"My first reaction was, 'Shag [Hansen], I'm just trying to get my life back'," he said. "But this is just a great chance to be involved with the team that I'm very passionate about, without a massive time commitment.

"Sky, I'd given up ages ago to try and get my weekends back and spend some time at home with my wife and use our beach place a bit more, but now I'm back into it," he said.

"With modern technology we can do a reasonable amount of the job on computer screens and TV sets at home. I've got Sky at my beach place so no doubt I'll be watching a fair bit of rugby at the beach."

The Irish Independent's John Fallon talks with Munster coach Tony McGahan about the enduring legacy of John Hayes ahead of the prop's impending retirement.

"His general demeanour has always been about the team," said McGahan.

"That has been evident all the way through, but for him to sign up with us after the World Cup to help us out of a situation speaks immeasurably of the man.

"His giving nature was always evident. It didn't matter who you were in the squad, whether it was first team or staff, anyone. It didn't matter, he treated everyone the same.

"His legacy as a person will be one of the remaining features of him in Munster.

Could Charlie Hodgson line up for England during the Six Nations? © Getty Images

Mick Cleary, of the Daily Telegraph, writes that the Sarries half-back partnership of Charlie Hodgson and Owen Farrell is likely to be reunited during the Six Nations.

"The prospect of fly-half Charlie Hodgson taking his club partnership with Saracens’ centre Owen Farrell into England’s 2012 Six Nations championship campaign is a very real one.

Telegraph Sport understands that Farrell will be in the 32-man elite player squad named on Jan 11 while Hodgson is sure to be understudy to Toby Flood now that Jonny Wilkinson has retired from Test rugby.

Hodgson, 31, did not have such an arrangement in mind when he announced his shock decision in January to move south from Sale, the club he had served with seemingly unbreakable loyalty for over a decade."

The Daily Mail's Rob Wildman talks to Manu Tuilagi as he reflects on the year gone.

"Manu Tuilagi has vowed to avoid further trouble after an 'awesome and hectic' first year in professional rugby.

Tuilagi has gone from Leicester's academy team to be first-choice centre for England and gained notoriety along the way. Diving from a ferry in Auckland harbour, following England's defeat by France in the World Cup quarter-final, earned him a £3,000 fine and a warning from then manager Martin Johnson.

'It was a stupid thing to do and I have let everyone down,' the 20-year-old admitted."

The Irish Independent pours over what the IRFU's new stipulation regarding foreign players means for the provinces.

"An hour after Leinster won their first Heineken Cup final in 2009, Jonny Sexton poured his heart out in the mixed zone and told us just how close he had been to packing in his career with the province.

Six months earlier, he'd had a shocker in a league game against Glasgow and was summarily replaced against Castres after an hour of their Heineken Cup pool game by a re-signed veteran out-half, Australian David Holwell.

With two other foreign imports, Felipe Contepomi and Isa Nacewa, due to return to the busy out-half position, Sexton would speak about the "depressing" nature of his position with a club to which he dearly wanted to belong.

Despite his desire to remain with Leinster, he spoke of how he contemplated leaving Ireland in order to seek opportunities. Later, he would credit Declan Kidney's intervention in selecting him for an Ireland 'A' game as a significant springboard to renewing his confidence."

Daniel Richardson, writing for the New Zealand Herald, looks at the Hurricanes' prospects for the forthcoming season.

"If a week is a long time in politics then a year in rugby must feel like an eternity.

Twelve months ago - give or take a few weeks - Mark Hammett was preparing for his first season as coach of the Hurricanes, a Super Rugby franchise known for their flash, brilliant and audacious backline play rather than the number of trophies in their cabinet.

From the glory days of Christian Cullen, Tana Umaga and Jonah Lomu in the late 1990s and early 2000s to the slick moves of Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu and Cory Jane in 2010, the Hurricanes knew how to entertain the crowds."

Saracens and Ospreys pack down during their Heineken Cup clash at the Liberty Stadium © Getty Images

With a set-piece shambles threatening to ruin rugby as a spectacle - the Daily Mail's rugby writers asks five experts to analyse what's wrong with the scrum.

"Ed Morrison - RFU referees' manager

"The engagement is being refereed in a reasonably consistent manner, but the game does have a problem with scrums and that was clear for all to see on Friday. It's time to wake up to that.

"Referees don't collapse scrums, players collapse scrums. Teams don't want to go backwards so they will just collapse or stand up. That brings the referee into the equation and they don't always get it right.

"A lot of cheating goes on and it is difficult for the referee who might not have played in that area. Having more ex-front row players as referees is one idea but there is a lot of running around involved and that might be difficult for them.

"You have to ask yourself if the 'crouch, touch, pause, engage' sequence is working, but well-disciplined, well-coached packs can cope with it."

Regional rugby bosses insist the new salary cap imposed on the four Welsh sides will prove a long-term solution to the player drain to France. Western Mail's Gareth Griffiths reports.

"The Welsh Rugby Union and Regional Rugby Wales yesterday agreed a salary cap of £3.5m for each region, to be introduced to cover a 38-man squad from next July and which will be reviewed annually.

"This compares with £4.2m in England, though Welsh rugby officials point out their figure does not include development players or academy costs. All existing player contracts will be honoured in full. But it is still a long way short of the £7m figure in France which has helped to lure away the likes of Mike Phillips, Lee Byrne and James Hook across the English Channel.

Wales trio Luke Charteris, Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins have also been recently linked with moves to France. But RRW chief executive Stuart Gallacher believes the salary cap will be crucial to protecting the Welsh game’s long-term future.

"I believe this is the first building block to working together to collectively try and get to the position to give our best players the opportunity to stay in Wales,” said Gallacher.

"We are all working hard to try and get a package together that will be sufficient in the long-term.

"There is an immediate short-term threat from France and we would be naive to think otherwise. But we have to meet it head on and see what we can do in the future."

Soccer is proving increasingly popular in Ireland but Brian O'Driscoll reigns supreme according to the Irish Times' Philip Reid.

"It's official. Brian O’Driscoll – by a whisker – is deemed Ireland’s current “greatest” sports star; Stephen Cluxton’s last-gasp point to win the All-Ireland football title for Dublin is considered the most “iconic” sporting moment of 2011; and the Republic of Ireland’s qualification for the Euro 2012 finals has been found to be the “greatest achievement” of the past year.

"Yet, while a comprehensive new survey has found soccer retains its position as the most popular sport, only Robbie Keane has managed to make it into the top-five (and only barely so!) in the list of greatest current sports stars behind O’Driscoll, Rory McIlroy, Katie Taylor and Ronan O’Gara.

"What does it all mean?

"Well, the survey – conducted earlier this month amongst a nationally representative sample in the Republic by research agency AskChili, on behalf of Dublin-based Pembroke Communications – provides an intriguing insight into the sporting sentiments of the public, affirming that almost 80 per cent of the adult population have a genuine interest in sport."

The Irish Independent's Hugh Farrelly chats to Connacht's John Muldoon as his side bid to stop the rot.

"When you are on a run of 10 straight defeats, you do anything to break the cycle and there are those in Connacht who believe a scissors could be the best way forward.

"John Muldoon has long been an inspirational figure in Connacht and last week the Portumna man signed a deal to keep him at the Sportsground for another two years. However, some supporters are wondering whether the 29-year-old has put a hex on his team's performances or, more specifically, whether his facial hair is the jinx -- Muldoon has been sporting a lumberjack beard for the past couple of months.

"I've been hearing that I'm a jinx," says Muldoon with a wry chuckle. "There are lads saying I need to shave off this beard because since it came in we haven't won a game. I don't know, I would do anything if I thought we could get the win, but I think I've been playing okay, I'm just incredibly frustrated by the run we are on."

Will the scrum be an image of the past? © Getty Images

The Daily Telegraph's Mick Cleary looks at the growing debate over the scrum and argues that the IRB need to throw their weight behind the much-maligned aspect of the game.

"To those who say that the scrum needs to be downgraded or streamlined or depowered or given a spell in the naughty corner for repeated misdemeanours, many of us say ‘clear off and follow another sport’.

It’s best to make that clear before we set off looking to cure the ills of the scrummage, for there are any number of boneheads who will use the opportunity of a certain malaise with our dear friend, the tight scrum, to advocate outlawing it or reducing it to a neutered state, no better than a rugby league scrum which is essentially a restart mechanism.

Union’s scrum must never be seen in such a light, merely as a means of getting the game under way again. That’s called a kick-off or, at a stretch, a tap penalty, and even that requires a certain amount of nerve and sense of opportunism. A scrum is so much more than a coming together of 16 heavyweights just so that the backs can get to play with the ball."

Even Pegden, of the Dominion Post, talks to an excited Aaron Cruden ahead of his move to the Chiefs.

"All Black Aaron Cruden couldn't stay away.

Cruden has plenty of reasons not to be in Hamilton with the Chiefs. He is recovering from a knee injury suffered in the Rugby World Cup final and, as an All Black, is officially on holiday until January 9, when preseason Super Rugby training resumes.

But, as far as the young first five-eighths is concerned, he's had his holiday and wants to be part of his new Super Rugby team as soon as possible."

Mike Brown, of Wales Online, talks to Lee Byrne following his move to France and gets his view on the seemingly imminent exodus to follow him cross-Channel

"Lee Byrne believes the player-drain to France could benefit Welsh rugby.

Full-back Byrne joined the growing exodus to France when he left the Ospreys to join Clermont-Auvergne last summer.

Byrne’s former teammates Mike Phillips and James Hook joined Bayonne and Perpignan respectively – and world-class forwards Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones and Luke Charteris have also been tipped to make the move to France’s Top 14.

That has sparked fears the domestic game could be stripped bare of its top talent and persuaded the four Welsh regions to request top-up payments from the WRU to ward off wealthy French clubs.

But Byrne – who impressed in Clermont’s 23-19 Heineken Cup defeat to Leicester on Saturday – said he is already feeling the benefits of plying his trade in the Top 14 and believes players moving abroad will not harm Warren Gatland’s national team."

David Ferguson, of the Scotsman, praises the SRU for bringing home Sean Lamont.

"There is more to the decisions of Sean and Rory Lamont to return to Scottish rugby than merely the delight of the Glasgow coach Sean Lineen to have experienced internationalists strengthening his back division.

Both players view Scottish rugby as a place where they can improve and taste success, which lies at the heart of sport’s appeal to all performers.

But why did they move away in the first place? There were various reasons, one of which players feel uncomfortable talking about publicly.

It is that the SRU refused to respond to news that they were being offered substantial increases on their salaries to leave the country and join clubs in England. Over the past decade, the SRU was about as secure dealing with professional sportsmen, agents and the whole circus of pro sport as Europe is with the Euro."

The Irish Independent reckons that Ian Madigan must be on the verge of a call up to Ireland.

"You sensed it was coming. With 77 minutes on the clock and Leinster pushing hard for a seventh try, replacement out-half Ian Madigan cleared out a ruck after Jamie Heaslip took up the ball and, walking casually back into position, assessed his options.

Realising the demoralised Bath defenders were vulnerable on the far side, Madigan broke into a trot and then accelerated onto a pass from the next ruck -- a quick shimmy and he was over.

It was Madigan's fifth try from 11 appearances this season, a remarkable tally considering his position and the fact he started in only six of those matches. It was especially noteworthy when you consider that Isa Nacewa (recognised as one of Leinster's finest attackers and looking as sharp as ever), has managed only one try from 12 games, all of them over 80 minutes."

Gavin Mairs and Mick Cleary, of the Daily Telegraph, believe that Mike Brown will get his chance to shine for England at the expense of Delon Armitage.

"Mike Brown’s outstanding form for Harlequins this season looks certain to be rewarded with a place in the England elite player squad next month at the expense of London Irish full-back Delon Armitage.

Brown, who scored twice in Harlequins’s 31-24 victory at Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Sunday, is expected to be named on Jan 11 as one of the two full-backs in Stuart Lancaster’s squad, along with Northampton’s Ben Foden.

Brown won the last of his three caps for England on the ill-fated tour of New Zealand in 2008 when he got embroiled in the scandal that followed the first Test in Auckland, eventually being fined £1,000 for misconduct in staying out all night.

While it has taken more than three years for Brown to rebuild his reputation, Armitage’s has been tainted by four suspensions this year."

Referee Alain Rolland lectures Quins' team manager Grahame Bowerbank for playing the ball © Getty Images

The weekend’s Heineken Cup games were beset by the inconsistencies of referees, according to Daily Telegraph columnist Brian Moore.

"We should not get to the stage of other sports and blame them for all the ills of the game, but you have to say that at times the standard is simply not good enough.

"Take the eccentric performance of Alain Rolland during Harlequins’ thrilling 31-24 win at Toulouse. Early on Rolland watched a Toulouse forward pick up a Quins forward, drive him up and over a maul and drop him so he fell on his shoulder and neck.

"We know Rolland has a strict policy on dangerous play because he sent off Wales captain Sam Warburton for dropping Frenchman Vincent Clerc in a tackle in the Rugby World Cup.

"The Quins’ player was caused to fall from a greater height than Clerc but this time there was no yellow card, no red, not even a warning."

The Irish Times' Gerry Thornley reflects on Munster's latest Heineken Cup success against Scarlets.

"Sunday brunch-time is no time for a Heineken Cup classic and so it came to pass. Munster’s somewhat subdued and laboured 19-13 win over the Scarlets was actually a meat-and-two-veg serving by their standards, although then again Munster tend to save their Euro haute cuisine until January.

"In point of fact though, a fourth win in four pool matches gives Munster a five-point lead in what is an ultra competitive pool and victory in their penultimate pool game at home to Castres could actually secure qualification for the knock-out stages before the last day trek to the stadium.mk against Northampton.

"Compared to the 10-try feast at the Aviva the previous night, events at Thomond Park yesterday almost felt like a different sport, but though something of a slow burner, with the result in doubt until the end, it at least made for a more competitive 80 minutes."

Writing in The Times (via paywall), Mark Souster believes Quins' victory over Toulouse masks emergence of a two-tier Europe with England in the slow lane.

"Harlequins’ outstanding win in Toulouse yesterday lifted the mood of pessimism enveloping English clubs in the Heineken Cup — whether it signals a genuine revival in the country’s overall European fortunes or was simply a glorious one-off remains to be seen.

"After the first four rounds, the tournament is beginning to take shape and there did not seem to be a huge amount of festive cheer for the seven Aviva Premiership representatives. It may well be that only one, Saracens, makes it to the knockout stages. Nothing though is cut and dried, and Leicester and Harlequins still have realistic hopes of making the last eight. That said, the feeling still exists that it is not only on the political front that England is slightly out of step with the rest of Europe.

"The performances in general may be indicative of a post-World Cup malaise. Questions are once again being asked not only about the inequality in the tournament in terms of the annual battle for qualification, but also the handicap of the salary cap. Two years ago, when Northampton were the only team to make the quarter-finals, there was talk of that being a blip. It is perhaps more deep-seated than that."

The Guardian's Rob Kitson reports from Harlequins' stunning Heineken Cup victory over Toulouse.

"Anglo-French political relations may be strained but no one could dispute Harlequins' glorious riposte to those who had lost faith in English clubs conquering Europe's wealthy elite this season. While Quins have been involved in several remarkable Heineken Cup contests in recent years, this was something else again. If rugby union indulged in credit ratings, Quins would once again be triple‑A material.

"It made a stunning change from the obituaries filed last week about England's tournament prospects. With Saracens in charge of Pool Five and Leicester defeating Clermont, there is life in the old bulldog yet. Only good sides defeat the French aristocrats on their own turf; only mentally tough ones can possibly recover from the serious beating they received at the hands of the same opponents nine days earlier. "It was the size of the heart against the size of the wallet and the heart won today," said Conor O'Shea, Quins' proud director of rugby."

The future of the Welsh regions is “teetering on a knife-edge” after a triple-whammy of Heineken Cup disappointments over the weekend. The Western Mail's Delme Parfitt reports.

"That was the verdict last night of dual code legend John Devereux after the Scarlets’ 19-13 defeat to Munster in Limerick completed a miserable three days of European competition for our representatives in the elite tournament.

"The Ospreys are all but out of contention following a 16-13 reverse at home to English champions Saracens on Friday night, while the Scarlets now have to beat Northampton at home, and Castres away, to stand any hope of qualifying for the quarter-finals as one of two best runners-up.

"The Blues’ situation is healthier – they are level on points with Edinburgh at the top of Pool Two after picking up a bonus point in a 19-12 loss at Murrayfield – but the manner of their recent performances has led many to doubt whether they can see the job through against London Irish and racing Metro in the final two rounds next month.

"And Devereux reckons the current picture is indicative of the uncertainty surrounding the regional game, amid fears over poor attendances and a lack of cash to prevent top players leaving for foreign clubs."

The world's largest commercially operated aircraft to be painted completely black in honour of the All Blacks has been revealed. The New Zealand Herald reports.

"Players Kieran Read and Andy Ellis ceremonially led the one-of-a-kind Boeing 777-300ER aircraft out of Boeing's paint hangar facility in Seattle on Friday night. Read said the plane looked "sensational" and would "really turn heads" at airports around the world.

"Ellis said he felt similarly about the plane.

"I always feel a huge amount of pride when I pull on the All Blacks jersey with the silver fern to represent my country on the rugby field and to see that replicated similarly on something this big is just awesome."

"It took 700 litres of primer and paint and 14 painters working in shifts 24 hours a day for just over a week to complete the transformation."

The familiar image of Jonny Wilkinson going for the posts © Getty Images

Paul Ackford, writing for the Sunday Telegraph, pays tribute to Jonny Wilkinson.

"It’s been a bad few weeks for the icons of 2003. First Martin Johnson went, forced out by a small group of self-serving players who were unable to live by the values Johnson himself modelled.

Then Sir Clive Woodward’s return to the elite end of English rugby appeared to go south when the performance of the senior England team became a matter for the new chief executive, Ian Ritchie.

And now Jonny Wilkinson has taken leave of the Test arena, the only environment which can truly validate his obsessive search for perfection. Ah well, at least 2003 should never again haunt the current regime as it seeks to establish itself.

Wilkinson’s departure is the saddest by some distance. You can imagine Johnson and Woodward surviving beyond rugby. Indeed Woodward self-evidently has. But Wilkinson? That’s not such a certainty."

Hugh Godwin, of the Sunday Independent, talks to the next potential England captain - Tom Wood.

"Appropriately for the numbers he is accustomed to wearing on his back, Tom Wood is a man at sixes and sevens when judging this season as it nears the halfway point. In one breath he is answering the question of what he would say if he was offered the captaincy of England – "Yes please" is the simple reply – and in the next he is explaining why the World Cup made him "bitter and angry" and his club Northampton are at a low ebb playing a Heineken Cup pool match today with three defeats out of three in the tournament behind them.

A less engaging conversationalist than Wood might resort to the term "roller coaster". But an hour chatting to the 25-year-old from Coventry is time well spent. There is a detailed analysis of the flanker position he plays with Northampton – a mix of blind and openside which, Wood says with a glint in his steady gaze, is misunderstood by TV commentators – and how he was misused by Martin Johnson's England."

The New Zealand Herald hand out their end of season awards.

"In a stellar rugby season for New Zealand, and with a nod in the direction of the official rugby awards, Gregor Paul makes his own decisions about the best of the best (and the worst) of 2011

Best Decision

To keep the selection door open for Cory Jane. The Hurricanes wing was in horrible form throughout Super Rugby. His head was scrambled by the birth of his third child; the difficulty of deciding whether to shift overseas in 2012 and the civil war raging in his franchise between new coach Mark Hammett and the senior players. He sneaked into the initial All Black squad as injury cover for Isaia Toeava and used that opportunity to find his form and confidence. Given his influence in the knockout rounds and ability to take high balls and launch counter-attacks, the All Blacks would have been in trouble without him."

Andy Howell, writing for Wales Online, reflects on his encounter with Jonny Wilkinson.

"The one thing squeaky clean Jonny Wilkinson never did during his glittering Test career was court controversy ... so it raised a few eyebrows when he named me in a newspaper column!

Nice guy Wilkinson didn’t really have a pop, as such, because that’s not his style, but he did write of his amazement at being at the centre of an exchange between yours truly and Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward during the disastrous 2005 tour of New Zealand.

Woodward had omitted Gavin Henson, Shane Williams, Martyn Williams and Tom Shanklin from his Test starting XV, even though Wales had just won the Grand Slam and those players were bang in form."

Wales Online's Gareth Griffiths talks to Scarlets boss Nigel Davies ahead of their huge clash with Munster.

"Scarlets coach Nigel Davies has labelled today’s Heineken Cup crunch clash against Munster as a potential defining moment in the region’s short history.

The Scarlets travel to a sellout 28,000 Thomond Park to face the mighty Munster, who have been crowned European champions on two occasions and won 17-14 in Llanelli in the first part of the double-header.

Davies believes it is time for his Scarlets side to come of age and make the transition from promising youngsters to serious contenders."

The Sunday Herald hands out their awards for the World Cup.

"Best Game

South Africa versus Wales. This had a bit of everything: some genuinely good rugby from both teams but particularly the Welsh; controversy thanks to referee Wayne Barnes who said a penalty that appeared to go over, hadn't gone over; a hero in Springbok wing Francois Hougaard who scored a memorably good try late in the piece and added drama when Ryan Priestland missed an easy drop goal and James Hook a late penalty to win it for Wales."

The Sunday Herald analyses rugby's battle with the bottle.

"It's a measure of how far out of touch the New Zealand Rugby Union is that it could announce the four-game suspension of trouble-prone winger Zac Guildford with what seemed to be a corporate straight face.

Guildford was handed the suspension this week for a drunken rampage in the Cook Islands in November in which he burst into a popular bar, naked and bleeding, and assaulted two of the patrons.

It was the fourth time in 18 months that he had engaged in an inappropriate alcohol-fuelled act."

David Flatman, in his column for the Independent, remembers the time he played alongside Jonny Wilkinson.

"As rugby union grows steadily into the bespoke suit that is professionalism, so it becomes gradually more established in the eyes of the public and, perhaps more significantly, those of potential sponsors. Like any start-up business, its solidity as an investment improves with every year that it survives.

And with this, inevitably, comes a boatload more perks. When I was a kid playing for Saracens we were all given the keys to a new car at the start of the season as if it were the norm. "You're a pro now, lad," said our team manager, "better get used to all this."

Paul Ackford, writing for the Sunday Telegraph, looks back at his moments of the year.

"Match of the year: The Heineken Cup final between Leinster and Northampton. Sensational atmosphere, a dramatic fight-back by Leinster, and a stellar, 28-point match-winning effort from Jonny Sexton. What’s not to like?

Player of the year: All Black captain Richie McCaw. Better on one leg during the Rugby World Cup than most players on two.

2011 Hero: Martin Snedden. Not even a terrible earthquake prevented him from staging a magnificent World Cup."

Clermont's Morgan Parra gets to grips with Leicester's George Chuter © Getty Images

Will Greenwood, writing for the Daily Telegraph, looks at where the England club sides have failed in Europe.

"England’s big sides went out against the powerhouses of Europe and by and large they got mauled. There have been victories but no one can say they have stamped their authority on a group, and many of the sides we fancied have had their metaphorical trousers pulled down and been given a good spanking.

Last week Harlequins were schooled, Northampton battered, Leicester fed through a mincer. There were times in every match when the English sides looked as if they were the stronger, but those moments were fleeting. What I found most worrying was when the instances of genuine quality came, they tended to be reactive rather than proactive.

What this means is that when the key moments came, it was not the English sides who were dictating what happened, and that isn’t good enough if you want to win competitions. It is the step up in intensity and speed of thought that seems to be scuppering their efforts.

For me there were three prime examples of how they fell short."

The Guardian's Rob Kitson talks to Leicester's Ben Youngs about matters England and Tigers.

"It has been a long 10 weeks since England were knocked out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup by France. Small wonder Ben Youngs wants to move on. The reviews, the leaks, the recriminations, the managerial changes – no self-respecting 22-year-old can afford to spend the rest of his life regretting what might have been. "It'll be very interesting to see what happens next," he says softly. "I think it's a very exciting time for England."

He may be proved right. If Leicester can beat the Michelin men of Clermont Auvergne in their pivotal Heineken Cup pool game at Welford Road on Saturday afternoon, a little cautious confidence will seep back into the English rugby psyche. From Youngs' perspective, outplaying his influential opposite number, Morgan Parra, would also banish some Auckland ghosts. It will be tough, given the Tigers' 30-12 away defeat last Sunday, but the benefits of victory could ripple beyond the chilly east Midlands."

Wynne Gray, of the New Zealand Herald, looks at the difference between Steve Hansen and Graham Henry.

"Are you with us or agin us," was Steve Hansen's favourite line as he tried to cajole the media.

That inquiry has been on the backburner for a spell but those familiar with the new All Black coach's working philosophy say there is no ambiguity about his demands on his players.

He does not like those who operate Devil's Advocate policies or want to run their own agendas.

The 52-year-old coach can get gnarly if things are not going well or he senses some in the squad are not working in the same direction."

The Dominion Post's Toby Robson looks at Steve Hansen's appointment as All Blacks boss.

"It was more a coronation than a contest, an inheritance rather than an appointment.

There were no gasps when Steve Hansen walked into the Ernest Hobin room at the New Zealand Rugby Union's headquarters yesterday.

Of course, we already knew who the All Blacks' new head coach would be, had done since the final whistle blew on the Rugby World Cup final.

In the end the New Zealand Rugby Union only formally interviewed one man despite plenty of vim and bluster about how "robust" the process had been.

That's no fault of the New Zealand Rugby Union because there weren't really any other convincing candidates. But it all added up to a fairly flat beginning. And there-in lies Hansen's biggest challenge."

Ireland international Rob Kearney, talking to Hugh Farrelly of the Irish Independent, plays down talk of him taking the national side's armband.

"Rob Kearney says he would welcome the "highest honour" of captaining Ireland, but believes Paul O'Connell or Rory Best are the best options heading into the Six Nations.

With Brian O'Driscoll unavailable until the end of the season, Ireland need a new captain for the Six Nations and Kearney's name has been suggested as a candidate alongside existing vice-captains O'Connell and Best.

The full-back does not turn 26 until March and would fit the age profile if Ireland seek a long-term leader to take them towards the World Cup in England in 2015.

However, while Kearney says he was flattered when his name was linked with the role, he believes there are stronger candidates available to coach Declan Kidney."

The Daily Mail's Chris Foy speaks to Gloucester's Luke Narraway about his international aspirations.

"Whatever the stresses and strains of captaining Gloucester - and there have been plenty this season - Luke Narraway will be out and about on Christmas Eve, delivering turkeys on behalf of the family butcher's shop in nearby Worcester.

No matter how intense the desire to resurrect his club's faltering season and force his way back into the England ranks for the Six Nations, there will be other business to attend to. It acts as a useful outlet from the chosen profession and the 28-year-old has as much of a passion for it as he does for his rugby."

Steve Hansen is unveiled as the All Blacks boss © Getty Images

The Dominion Post's Duncan Johnstone provides his take on Steve Hansen's appointment as All Blacks coach.

"Continuity has been the catchword in All Blacks coaching circles and it's a commodity Steve Hansen now lives or dies by.

The coaching regime that finally gained New Zealand their second World Cup in 24 years survives - in part - with the appointment of Hansen to take over as head coach for the next two years.

The pressure, as always, will be to continue the All Blacks' incredible success rate that operated at something like 86 per cent during Graham Henry's eight-year reign.

Any significant drop in that won't be tolerated as Hansen well knows.Hansen now goes it alone.

His umbilical cord to Henry is cut and the precise detail that Wayne Smith always brought to the table is also gone.

There's no word yet on who will help Hansen, only confirmation that he will have one assistant as well as some help in specialist areas."

The Daily Mail's Chris Foy talks to Saracens' Brad Barritt about his aspirations for both club and country.

"When Saracens face the Ospreys in Swansea, Owen Farrell will not be in the No 12 shirt that many expect him to wear for England. At the Aviva Premiership's champion club, that shirt belongs to Brad Barritt.

The Anglo-South African centre has made the place his own after three seasons of incredible consistency since moving from Durban to Hertfordshire.

When Charlie Hodgson arrived from Sale in the summer, it wasn't Barritt who shifted to accommodate him, it was Farrell."

The New Zealand Herald's Gregor Paul reports on Steve Hansen's unveiling as All Blacks coach.

"One non-mystery has been solved with the confirmation Steve Hansen will be the All Blacks new head coach but the plot has thickened around the make-up of his wider management team.

The New Zealand Rugby Union board has accepted Hansen's team in principle and is now in the process of making contract offers to an assistant coach and a range of specialists. An announcement is due before Christmas and until the full picture is known, it is hard to know just what to make of the All Blacks future prospects."

The Independent's Chris Hewett looks at the growing divide between the French clubs and the rest in the Heineken Cup.

"It has all the makings of a humdinger: Saracens, the English champions, travel to Swansea tonight for a Heineken Cup match with Ospreys, the strongest side in Wales, that will go a very long way towards deciding who qualifies automatically for the knock-out stage of the world's best club tournament. Unfortunately for those on the red-rose side of the Severn, there may not be many more humdingers ahead. Collectively speaking, the Premiership contingent are struggling badly in Europe, to the extent that 2011-12 may turn out to be 2009-10 revisited.

Two seasons ago, Northampton were the only English side to make the quarter-finals. It was, statistically as well as in every other sense, a low point for the professional club game in this country, so the growing threat of what might be called "cross-border calamity redux" is alarming indeed. Most alarmed of all are Northampton themselves, for they are already out of a competition that is only halfway through its pool phase. Bath, pioneering European spirits who broke new ground by winning the Heineken Cup in 1998, are on their last legs – defeat against Leinster, the holders, in Dublin tomorrow evening will end their campaign for another year – while Harlequins, the Premiership leaders, are by no means guaranteed to advance. Leicester, two-time champions? Ditto. As for Gloucester... let Bryan Redpath, the director of rugby at Kingsholm, tell it how it is."

The Guardian's Paul Rees looks at the Ospreys' struggle to bring in the crowds.

"Ospreys ban fake tan" is one of the more enduring headlines of the season. It was not a flippant gesture but a statement of intent from a region who had spent millions on building a squad of international players, including expensive imports, but had seen little return in the Heineken Cup.

Coloured boots have gone the way of bogus tans for players who have not made 50 appearances for the Ospreys or won 15 caps. The policy of recruiting galácticos has been abandoned and, like Wales, the region are looking to blood young players with core values.

When Warren Gatland took charge of his first Wales international, in 2008, 13 of his starting line-up were Ospreys. That number had been reduced to four for October's World Cup quarter-final against Ireland and one of those, Shane Williams, has since retired from international rugby."

The Daily Mail's Chris Foy provides his take on the mooted summer season.

"English and French clubs are trying to revive the concept of a summer season in Europe as part of revolutionary plans for the sport, but traditionalists are in uproar.

The well-worn argument is that rugby union is a winter game - always has been. Well, so was rugby league until they switched it to the sunnier months and that has been a success.

It is time to at least consider the outlandish possibility."

AELTC boss Ian Ritchie has been revealed as the RFU's new chief executive © Getty Images

The Daily Mail's Mike Dickson profiles the Rugby Footbal Union's new chief executive Ian Ritchie.

"Ian Ritchie is known in tennis for his bonhomie and, while he does not have a major rugby background, he will enjoy the sociable culture of the sport he is moving into.

"Whether visiting a Grand Slam overseas or amid the frenetic pressure of a Wimbledon fortnight, he retains his self-deprecating good humour and is always prepared to engage in a chat with his many friends in the game.

"Those who encounter him in rugby would, though, be unwise to mistake that for any lack of intelligence, drive or business acumen.

"His people skills are excellent but underneath he will take a hardheaded approach to the manifest problems which await him, and it will help that he arrives with no baggage."

The Irish Times' Gerry Thornley previews a crunch weekend in the battle for this season's Heineken Cup.

"Whatever about completing back-to-back wins, it’s fairly imperative to emerge with a superior head-to-head record from the December rounds. In each of the last three seasons, all six pool winners and the two best runners-up have emerged from these games with a superior head-to-head record, be it match points, try tallies or points aggregate.

"In the last seven seasons, the only slight exception to this trend was in December ’07, when London Irish shared wins with Perpignan and won the pool by two points despite an inferior head-to-head record with the French side, based on tries scored over the two games. Even then though, Perpignan qualified with them as one of the two best runners-up. Similarly, Northampton traded wins but lost out to Toulouse on match points in 2004, but still qualified behind the French team as one of the best two runners-up.

"The back-to-back rounds were introduced along with the current format of six pools each comprising of four teams in the 1999-2000 season, with Munster grasping their importance in registering consecutive wins over Colomiers en route to earning a home quarter-final as pool winners and ultimately reaching the final, where they lost to Northampton.

"By contrast, although Leinster avenged their defeat in Paris to Stade Français at Donnybrook a week later, their inferior try tally enabled Stade to progress."

The Western Mail reports that the Welsh regions ready to welcome talks on revolutionary plans to reform world rugby calendar.

"Regional Rugby Wales chairman Stuart Gallacher, the man who would do any negotiations on behalf of the our Welsh teams, said his organisation had not been approached in any official capacity.

But he admitted the regions would be willing to be involved in future discussions. "We are prepared to sit down with anyone to discuss the advantages of the game for the regions, Wales and the world game,” said Gallacher.

"Regional Rugby Wales have had no official dialogue with anyone surrounding the global game or changing the structure of the season. We have not been involved in any official talks with any English clubs regarding these proposals.

"I did have a loose conversation on behalf of RRW three months ago with our colleagues in France. That is it and as far as we are concerned, that is where it stands at the moment. But we work closely with our colleagues in England and I would like to think we would be a player in any future decisions.”

New RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie must put all his energy into reviving rugby in England according to Brian Moore in the Daily Telegraph.

"While Ritchie has this columnist’s best wishes, there are a few points to make about his previous experience.

"The full time CEO of the RFU should not be allowed to have outside business interests that are anything other than nominal and should not continue to be an active administrator in other sports.

"First of all, his entire energy and time should be directed to the RFU and its business. Further, the potential for any conflict of interest to arise has to be removed completely.

"Being involved in the operation of two other governing bodies of major sports undoubtedly gives Ritchie a wider sporting perspective. However, the FA has, hitherto, hardly been the best example of an organisation that works seamlessly."

The Daily Telegraph's Mick Cleary chats to All Blacks captain Richie McCaw at the end of an eventful year.

"McCaw has encouraging words for England, aware that things can go off the rails very quickly.

"As soon as you think you’ve got this thing mastered, other teams will slide on by right past you,” said McCaw, acknowledging that the All Blacks had their occasional disciplinary issue.

"Wing Zac Guildford was banned last night for four weeks for indiscretions. “That’s what Ted [Graham Henry] kept hammering into us. You’ve got to be on top of everything.

"England obviously had some challenges to deal with. There’s talent here in England, though, and they’ve got good enough players to knock over anyone. I do feel sorry for Martin Johnson. He’s a hell of a good man.”

Jonny Wilkinson embraces team-mate Will Greenwood following their Rugby World Cup triumph © Getty Images

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Will Greenwood pays a personal tribute to Jonny Wilkinson following his international retirement.

"The lad was born with talent, and there can be no doubt about the gifts he was given. But that is only part of the story. His brilliance was achieved through his dedication to his craft.

"He worked harder than anyone to maximise his talent, even to the point that his own physical and mental wellbeing came into question.

"When the rest of England’s players were already deep in their baths, Dave Alred, the kicking coach, would drive his car onto the pitch so that Jonny could keep practising in the beams of his headlights. In terms of running he would do the drills and switch off his brain to pain.

"When others were limping off after heavy contact sessions he was just getting warmed up. No matter how long a session was he would do each drill as if it was the only one, giving his all each and every time. I still don’t know how do you do that."

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll tells the Irish Independent's David Kelly that his side blew a big chance to make a major impact at this year's Rugby World Cup.

"I kind of look back on just a massive missed opportunity," said O'Driscoll. "I don't really allow myself to think about it too much, because I don't know when again an Irish team could have the same route into a World Cup final.

"But we just didn't do it on the day and I think they peaked. They played their best against us in that quarter-final. And you know that's it in knockout football when you get to that stage.

"It was just a huge, huge anti-climax, because we felt as though during the group stage we had gotten ourselves in a good place to really push hard. And then when you get into a semi-final, I think all bets are off -- it doesn't matter about form, it's just about the teams that turn up. Unfortunately we didn't get to taste that."

The new All Blacks coach will be announced on Friday but the only uncertainties are whether Steve Hansen's assistants will also be unveiled and how long he will be given the job, the New Zealand Herald reports.

"It's widely acknowledged Hansen is the man to take over from Graham Henry and the NZRU board will meet on Friday to rubber-stamp the appointment. It shouldn't take long - it took about 20 minutes for Henry to be reappointed in 2007 - but it's less certain whether his assistants will also be named.

"A team of Hansen, former Chiefs coach Ian Foster (backs) and former Canterbury coach Aussie McLean (forwards) seems the most likely with Mick Byrne remaining as skills coach. Byrne has expressed an interest in becoming forwards coach, a role he filled with Japan at this year's World Cup, but his lack of experience might count against him becoming one of the three main All Blacks coaches.

"It's a lack of international experience in the Hansen package that is the biggest concern and it might be a reason why the NZRU delay officially naming Hansen's assistants until meeting with the candidates further."

New Zealand rugby officials voiced confidence on Wednesday that change is on the way despite the re-election of Frenchman Bernard Lapasset as International Rugby Board chairman. The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew believes the closeness of the vote sent a strong message that change is necessary in the way the sport is run.

"During the recent Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Tew threatened to pull the champion All Blacks from the next edition of the sport's global showpiece in 2015 unless there was a shake-up.

"He argued that IRB regulations surrounding participation in the World Cup led to combined losses for the major rugby unions of around STG35 ($A54.49) to STG40 million ($A62.28 million).

"Although he believed Beaumont was the best man to initiate a new era for rugby, Tew told Fairfax Media from Los Angeles he was confident Lapasset would address the issues."

Talking to the Daily Mail's Chris Foy, Jonny Wilkinson's mentor Steve Black insists the fly-half has the makings of a great coach.

"The man who has spent the last 15 years as Jonny Wilkinson's Geordie guru, trainer, confidant and friend believes that the legendary England fly- half will emerge as a formidable coach in years to come.

"...In my opinion he has all the attributes to become a superb coach,' said Black. 'He has always been a student of the game, he has so many great ideas and I doubt many people know more about the psychological and physical preparation a team need.

'He is hugely interested in how sport operates and, with the experience he has, I think he would be tremendously successful."

The Guardian's Paul Rees reflects on Bill Beaumont's failed bid to become International Rugby Board chairman.

"The home unions suffered one of their worst days in the IRB's history and, for the first time in the professional era, supply neither the chairman nor vice-chairman. After failing to become chairman Beaumont stood as vice-chairman, the position he has held for the last four years. He had tried to cut a deal the night before with Lapasset but the Frenchman said he would not betray his running mate, South Africa's Oregan Hoskins.

"...While Beaumont will have support on the RFU's council there is a feeling that the union's second seat on the IRB – the other is held by John Spencer – should be given to the new chief executive, who may be appointed as soon as Wednesday. That would leave Beaumont adrift. He was elected to the executive because it was felt England, as hosts of the 2015 World Cup, should have a presence on it but it was assumed Spencer would fill the position."

The Rugby Football Union’s new chief executive will feel less like the latest headmaster of St Trinian’s when he sees the projected team in place for the 2015 World Cup in these lands, according to the Daily Telegraph's Paul Hayward.

"Studying the last four World Cup winners the RFU calculated average team ages of 27, 28, 27 and 28. The number of caps held by Australia (1999), England (2003), South Africa (2007) and New Zealand (2011) was 622, 638, 668 and 709 for Graham Henry’s All Blacks, the most experienced of the quartet.

"These studies nail down the kind of elements England will need in their quest to win a second world title 12 years after their first. The names mentioned are theoretical — and subject to change — but the new head coach can already draw on a core of the players who flopped in New Zealand.

"Wilkinson’s place at No 10 is now fully open to Toby Flood, who will be 30 in 2015 and could have 79 caps by then.

"Ben Youngs, Chris Ashton, Ben Foden and the ferry-jumping Manu Tuilagi are other likely regulars in the next four-year cycle. They could be joined in the backs by the exciting Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples and Owen Farrell, son of Andy, who is part of Lancaster’s temporary coaching team.

"In the pack, Tom Croft, Tom Wood and James Haskell are the projected back row with Courtney Lawes and Dave Attwood at lock and Joe Marler joining Dylan Hartley and Dan Cole at the shoving end.

"This is not RFU propaganda. These projections were drawn up long before the slew of leaks and are not evidence of Andrew’s department trying to pick the England team."

Jonny WIlkinson strikes a familiar pose © Getty Images

The Guardian's Robert Kitson looks at the legacy Jonny Wilkinson will leave behind following his retirement from international rugby.

"On the eve of England's 2011 World Cup quarter-final against France in Auckland, Jonny Wilkinson received a fax from his long-time friend and guru, Steve Black. "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel. Make us all feel wonderful. We'll never forget." In Jonny's case, Black was employing a little poetic licence. There is not a single English rugby follower who will ever forget Wilkinson's World Cup-clinching drop goal in 2003, nor the utter delirium it prompted.

Finally, it is all over. Wilko and out. If anyone deserves a restful Test retirement it is Jonny. He did not so much lay down his body for his country as donate it entirely to Twickenham, limb by limb, joint by joint and organ by organ. Even had he not broken every points-scoring record known to man he would still have gone down in history, along with Lewis Moody, as the ultimate English patient. Many will be quietly relieved he has now walked away, rather than be carted off to the knacker's yard.”

Former England maverick Austin Healey provides his take on Jonny Wilkinson's career in the Daily Mirror.

"History will fondly remember Jonny Wilkinson as the Geoff Hurst of rugby – the man who kicked England to World Cup glory.

It will also view him as the most famous rugby player of the modern era and the best kicker of all time.

He has probably been the most professional, in terms of sacrifice and dedication. Certainly in the top three, with World Cup-winning team-mates Neil Back and Richard Hill."

In the Sun, former England skipper Will Carling pays tribute to Jonny Wilkinson.

"As an English sporting icon, Jonny Wilkinson deserves to be ranked right up there with our other World Cup-winning hero Geoff Hurst. Hopefully, it will not be more than 40 years before England win the rugby World Cup again.

But however many times we manage it, that first one will always be extra special.

And the memory of Jonny landing that last-gasp winning drop goal in the 2003 final — with his "wrong" right foot — is one that will be savoured by Englishmen for as long as the game is played.

And I honestly can't think of anyone who deserves to be remembered with such fondness more than Jonny."

In the New Zealand Herald, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew calls for change following Bernard Lapasset's re-election as IRB president.

"It wasn't the result Steve Tew wanted but the New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive says the closeness of Bernard Lapasset's re-election proves change is required at the International Rugby Board.

Frenchman Lapasset today retained his position as chairman of the IRB after he was voted in for another four-year team by 14 votes to 12 at its reconvened interim meeting in Los Angeles.

Tew and the NZRU board were backing Lapasset's opponent Bill Beaumont because they saw the Englishman as the man more likely to effect the changes they have been agitating for - most notably the way funds are raised and distributed by the global body."

In the New Zealand Herald, Adam Thomson pleads for his World Cup jerseys to be returned after his flat was burgled.

"World champion All Black Adam Thomson says the thieves who burgled his apartment can keep what they like but "for God's sake return the Test jerseys".

The loose forward, who was on the reserves bench for the World Cup final victory over France, came home to his Dunedin apartment on Sunday to find it had been burgled and his precious mementos stolen.

A stereo system, a PlayStation console, sunglasses, shoes, clothes and some foreign currency were also taken, but Thomson feels much worse about the theft of suitcases containing his All Black gear."

The Daily Mail's Chris Foy provides his take on the legend that is Jonny Wilkinson.

"It shouldn’t have ended the way it did. After all the graft and the glory, the acclaim and the commitment, all the injury, pain and all those hours and years of lonely practice and rehab, Jonny Wilkinson deserved better.

The last image of the iconic No 10 was captured at Eden Park, Auckland, on October 8 this year as England imploded against France in a World Cup quarter-final that was there for the taking. In the final moments of that grim ordeal, there was Wilkinson on the bench, head in his hands.

It was a stark, sad sight. Here was the man who had done so much to deliver Test success having to accept desperate, crushing disappointment."

The Daily Telegraph's Gavin Mairs pays tribute to Jonny Wilkinson following his retirement from international rugby.

"Even in his valedictory message, released, as is the modern vogue, on his own website yesterday evening, there were echoes of the demons that have pursued Jonny Wilkinson since he first asked his dad to stop the car on the way to a mini-rugby session at the age of seven so that he could release his anxiety by being sick in the bushes.

That fear of failure never left him. In fact, it defined him, a tormented soul in search not only of perfection but also of inner peace. Even if he can be said to have achieved the former in dropping the goal that sent a nation into raptures, he never got close to the latter.

Nothing came easily to Wilkinson, the exemplar of one who willed himself to greatness rather than assumed it would alight on his shoulders."

Is Scotland's attack coach Gregor Townsend set to get a helping hand? © Getty Images

The Scotsman's Tom English talks to Scotland assistant coach Gregor Townsend ahead of the latest Six Nations battle.

"Scotland have failed to score a try in 13 of Robinson’s 24 Tests. In both of his Six Nations championships, Robinson’s side have either finished bottom or joint bottom of the try-scoring charts. In New Zealand they became only the second side in World Cup history to go three games on the bounce without scoring a try. The other being that rugby behemoth, Spain, in 1999.

Robinson addressed all this stuff last week and said that a new coach would be coming in after the upcoming Six Nations. This is what brings us to Townsend’s door. The feeling is that the new guy is being brought in on the attack side, even if Robinson doesn’t specifically say so. The name mentioned more than any other is Brian Ashton, a relatively free agent at the moment and a radical thinker on the subject of attack play.

This doesn’t look great for Townsend. “How do you mean?” he says.

“Andy Robinson wants to bring in somebody on attack.”

“I don’t think he mentioned attack. Andy never mentioned anything about attack. If you look at his quotes he said he wants to bring someone into the coaching group, which is a great idea.”

The Sunday Herald's Gregor Paul previews the likely confirmation that Steve Hansen will be the All Blacks new head coach.

"When the New Zealand Rugby Union board sits down this week to deliberate the appointment of the next All Black coach, the taxing part will be determining the length of the contract.

"It should take less than five minutes to agree the job has to be offered to Steve Hansen but longer to decide whether they want to continue with the current system of offering two-year deals that fall neatly into the World Cup cycle.

"The surprise could be that Hansen is offered a three- or possibly four-year deal with clearly defined performance objectives that allow for the national body to terminate things relatively inexpensively should the new man struggle."

Melbourne Rebels second-rower Adam Byrnes was dumbstruck during his first gym session with the Russian Rugby World Cup squad this year. The Sydney Morning Herald's Georgina Robinson reports.

"The backs were lifting the same weights Australian forwards usually lift and there wasn't a spotter in sight.

"I saw how naturally gifted these players are athletically, more so than any squad I've been a part of – the Reds, Waratahs, Leinster and the Rebels," Byrnes said.

"Just the build of the squad, they were truly pure athletes, but it was frustrating in the [World Cup] to see the disappointment when their defensive line was wrong or their scrum and lineout techniques weren't quite right.

"They can be so much better; I just saw the massive potential."

"Now back in Melbourne, Byrnes is campaigning to bridge the gap between Russian rugby's raw talent and its experience."

Munster get over the line once more, but remain a team in transition, says the Irish Independent's Brendan Fanning.

"Having played more get out jail cards than are normally issued in the pool stages of the Heineken cup, Munster went to West Wales looking for the sort of performance that would not just give them control of Pool 1, but provide them with a confidence boost about their game in general.

"Last week scrumhalf Conor Murray was asked if it had been a good thing that they lost against a half-strength but feisty Ospreys side -- the question wasn't phrased quite like that -- on the basis that they got it out of their system. Offered the chance to ascribe the setback to a sort of bug that had to be flushed out, so better they do it in the Pro 12 than the Heineken, Murray gratefully toed the line and agreed. It was another get out of jail card, if you like. It's unlikely that the scrumhalf felt a week ago that his team had been cleansed by the experience.

"So this was about re-establishing themselves. The game in Swansea a week ago had been madcap and without structure, and the looser it became the more uncomfortable Munster looked. And what did we get in Llanelli? Another version of the same movie, albeit with a whole lot more entertainment. And the Munster fans got some reassurance about their set-piece, which was top of their wish-list."

The Western Mail's Simon Thomas reflects on the Scarlets' Heineken Cup defeat to Munster.

"Having waited so long for a victory over Munster, the Scarlets will be all the more frustrated at having missed out on an opportunity to finally get the better of their bogey team.

"You have to go back to the Heineken Cup quarter-final at Stradey Park in April 2007 to find their last victory over the men from the south west of Ireland.

"Now the losing run has been extended to 13 games following Saturday’s Euro defeat – a result that has left Nigel Davies’ team facing an uphill struggle to make the knockout stages.

"Coach Davies was left to reflect on what might have been as he ran the rule over a contest which his charges could – and perhaps should – have won."

Writing in The Observer, Eddie Butler previews the task facing England's interim head coach Stuart Lancaster.

"The rebuilding has begun. The first blocks were laid on Thursday, under the cover of the Varsity Match, and England now have a coaching team for the Six Nations: Stuart Lancaster, Graham Rowntree and Andy Farrell. They wore white at their unveiling, confessed to inexperience, but promised passion and energy. It was as if a shaft of light had penetrated the bunker.

"The new team have time to plan the selection of their squad for the Six Nations. Or at least they can enjoy their Christmas before revealing just how radical they are prepared to be as caretakers. With no promise of work beyond March, they could play safe and stick with an experienced England squad, a group so full of remorse and guilt after their failings at the World Cup that they would seize their chance at redemption. Wouldn't they?

"This line may be tempting given the sticky twist to the fixture list. England are on the road in the first two rounds of the Six Nations, at Murrayfield and in Rome, neither a good place to go with experimentation on your mind. Any revolution must have self‑belief at its core and that only comes with winning."

In the wake of his side's latest euro defeat, Northampton boss Jim Mallinder has backed his flanker Tom Wood for the England captaincy. The Guardian's Pau Rees reports.

"Jim Mallinder has in a few weeks gone from being favourite to lead England into the 2015 World Cup to having to salvage Northampton's season from the wreckage of a Heineken Cup campaign that is the exact opposite of a year ago, when the Saints had won three out of three.

"Defeat by mediocre opposition on Saturday left Saints at the bottom of their pool. Three victories in their remaining matches may be enough to secure a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals, but while just a few months ago Northampton appeared a model of stability compared with England, fault lines are appearing.

"The majority of their England players have yet to rediscover their zest of last season. The flanker Tom Wood is an exception but he followed the previous week's red card at Leicester with a trip to the sin-bin 18 minutes from the end. Wood saw yellow for encroaching as Castres rolled a maul on the Northampton 22."

Wayne Smith is among the favourites to become England's next coach © Getty Images

Kiwi coaches are currently the most coveted in world rugby and the New Zealand Rugby Union should be wary of clipping their wings, according to the New Zealand Herald's Gregor Paul.

If they could, the New Zealand Rugby Union wouldn't mind reverting to the bad old days and reintroducing the so-called 'Graham Henry' clause.

Back in 1998, after Henry famously announced he was heading to coach Wales (and going that night), the NZRU decreed that anyone who coached a foreign national side could never hold the All Black job. They reneged on that petulant stance a few years later but protecting their best coaching capital has again become a pressing issue.

The World Cup was a potent demonstration of the power and influence New Zealand coaches hold across the globe.

The Irish provinces are once again the teams to beat in this season's Heineken Cup, according to Bath prop David Flatman Independent on Sunday.

This afternoon we at Bath take on mighty Leinster, the reigning Heineken Cup champions. The truth is that we have not quite hit our straps over the past few weeks so, despite being on our own patch, we go into the game as underdogs. Certainly I would expect the bookmakers to offer us relatively slim odds.

Such is the recent Irish dominance in European competition, these odds would be similar even if we were on top form. Leinster and Munster have become the new European rugby superpowers.

The reason the French teams did well was – and is – often put down to cash alone, and there is some mileage in this most basic theory. Their budgets are enormous and, consequently, their squads are flooded with high-end international players. One goes off, another comes on. This is tough to beat.

But the Irish provinces seem to thrive for different reasons and this, I think, is because they are set up to peak for the Heineken Cup. The Pro12 is a good competition littered with top-class players, but many of them don't play that often.

The central question for the New Zealand Rugby Union's board this week will not be who to appoint as the new All Blacks coach, but rather how many years to give Steve Hansen in charge, according to Paul in the New Zealand Herald.

When the New Zealand Rugby Union board sits down this week to deliberate the appointment of the next All Black coach, the taxing part will be determining the length of the contract.

It should take less than five minutes to agree the job has to be offered to Steve Hansen but longer to decide whether they want to continue with the current system of offering two-year deals that fall neatly into the World Cup cycle.

The surprise could be that Hansen is offered a three- or possibly four-year deal with clearly defined performance objectives that allow for the national body to terminate things relatively inexpensively should the new man struggle.

All Blacks skipper RIchie McCaw has been named the NZ Herald's New Zealander of the Year © Getty Images

The New Zealand Herald's Dylan Cleaver explains why the newspaper has named All Blacks captain Richie McCaw the New Zealand of the Year.

"It is McCaw's great skill in that although he is at the very apex of professional sport - he and Dan Carter are New Zealand's two highest-paid players and their media and public commitments are strictly vetted and controlled by agents and communications managers - he has retained a sense of normality.

"His down-to-earth image is uncultivated. The casual she'll-be-right shrug of the shoulders when he's asked to assess problems, real or imagined, is not practiced.

"It is easy to imagine McCaw leaving his door at 7.30am in the morning, doing a day's work at the office before heading to footy practice, even if that lifestyle is a million miles from the one he is living.

"Put simply, McCaw is a popular chap, but even he sounds genuinely awestruck at the amount of goodwill that's been thrown his way since the 8-7 win against France on October 23.

"I've had a lot of letters and everyone that comes up has a 'well done' for me. People have said to me that I must be sick of being congratulated. I'm like: 'Shit no, it's awesome'," he says. "It's blown me away really. People who wouldn't normally take a lot of interest in rugby were telling me they never even really watched the All Blacks, yet here they were watching other games and loving it."

The Irish Independent's Hugh Farrelly previews the latest Heineken Cup milestone for Munster's Ronan O'Gara.

"His commitment to the team is absolute and it is no surprise that the Heineken Cup final defeats of 2000 and '02 still rankle -- he wants another European crown to add his '06 and '08 medals.

"That's (medals won) not enough. We left two, well certainly one, Heineken Cup behind us. Winning is what you play for," said O'Gara this week. "I'll never leave Munster, not a chance. That's what makes me tick, the red jersey, playing for my club, with my friends. That's what I'm about. That's what defines me.

"I'm not a rugby player, I'm a Munster rugby player. When I do eventually retire that's what I'll be known as -- a one-club man. Being a part of this team very much helps in that regard. I have high standards but Paul O'Connell has maybe even higher standards than me. We drive each other on, all of us."

The Irish Times' John Sullivan previews Munster's latest euro date with the Scarlets.

"Ronan O'Gara commandeered the headlines by virtue of his drop goal heroics in Munster’s two Heineken Cup victories to date this season, a feat he would be content to replicate, not primarily for personal approbation, but if it was the precursor to a third consecutive win for the Irish province.

"This afternoon in Llanelli he’ll reach another milestone by becoming the second player – team-mate John Hayes was the first – to play 100 matches in the tournament. It’s a remarkable testament to longevity of excellence. In 13 years he’s been at the epicentre of many a triumph.

"As he stated in the build-up to the match the latest garland is something on which he’ll reflect when his playing days are past; his immediate focus is on driving his team to another win. It’ll be tough for a variety of reasons, some of which may be traced to Munster’s flawed performances in victory against the Northampton Saints and Castres Olympique; others attributable to the challenge that a rejuvenated Scarlets will muster."

First Minister Alex Salmond believes rugby can become a major selling point for Scotland in a way never before cultivated, and drive a new era of sporting benefits in this country. He talks to The Scotsman's David Ferguson.

"Speaking exclusively to The Scotsman, the First Minister said: “Rugby is a hugely popular sport in Scotland, both played and watched with passion by people throughout the country.

“I particularly enjoy watching Scotland play in the Six Nations at Murrayfield. Not only is this country the internationally recognised home of golf, Scotland is also the home of rugby sevens, with an incredible heritage in the sport, born from its origins in Melrose in 1883.

“I know that the SRU is working hard to make that unique heritage work for the benefit of Scottish rugby and Scotland in general. I am in Hong Kong, and nowhere is the global reach of Scottish rugby more evident. There is a thriving ex-pat community here that love rugby and get actively involved through cheering on the national team in the flagship Hong Kong Sevens tournament and growing the Hong Kong Scottish club that is now flying the flag for Scottish rugby in the city. I look forward to seeing how these links are developed in the coming years to the benefit of the sport.”

"Salmond stressed that support for rugby has grown under his government, but there also seems to be a growing awareness that real investment in rugby will lead to the wider benefits that those active in the game have been shouting about for decades."

England assistant coach Graham Rowntree reveals to The Guardian's Rob Kitson that the RFU's England World Cup review was 'painful'.

"The England forwards coach, Graham Rowntree, the only survivor from Martin Johnson's World Cup management team, has spoken of the "almost unbearable" anguish he felt after players' supposedly confidential comments about the coaching staff were made public. Rowntree said he and his fellow coaches endured a hugely difficult period, during which he feared he would also lose his job.

"Johnson and Brian Smith have resigned and Mike Ford and John Wells have been relieved of their duties since the failed campaign in New Zealand. Rowntree said the post-tournament furore had been tough for all concerned.

"Every day I wondered what the future held," said Rowntree. "What the next job was, whether I still had my current job, the whole uncertainty has almost been unbearable. There have been dark times. It was painful the way everything was packaged up on and off the field."

"Rowntree said the Rugby Football Union's World Cup review process had been "messy", despite his having emerged with universal credit. He now, temporarily at least, has an expanded job title and is desperate to ensure the England players feel "proud again" about pulling on their national jersey."

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Will Greenwood believes Heineken Cup hopefuls must hold their concentration for the full 80 minutes.

"It’s called Fergie Time. Manchester United may not have managed it in the Champions League this week, but Sir Alex Ferguson’s sides so often manage a great escape when it comes to the final minutes. They understand that as the sands of time run out, the weight of expectation can all but crush those in the lead.

"Rugby is no different, even if the red zone comes after 80 minutes. The losing side have a desperation that makes them dangerous, and if you want proof of what can happen, then you only need to look at the first two rounds of the Heineken Cup when games and fortunes have turned around in ‘Fergie Time’.

"Go back a few Sunday afternoons, and Glasgow were behind at home to Bath. The clock ticked on, and they were going nowhere offensively. Fly-half Duncan Weir pulled back in the pocket for a speculative dropped goal. It was half charged down and if you had paused the moment there you would have seen there was no way Richie Gray, the Glasgow second row, should have got to it first. But that’s the beauty of ‘Fergie Time’ – it warps reactions and changes perceptions."

Bath's Olly Barkley emerges from dark times hoping to inspire victory over Leinster in Heineken Cup, the Daily Telegraph's Mick Cleary reports.

"The manicured 140 acres, the landscaped gardens, the 17th century restored manor house, the hi-tech 3G pitch, the purpose-built gymnasium, Bath’s sumptuous headquarters at Farleigh House seemingly has it all, save for one thing: the kick-up-the-backside facility. The millions invested by owner Bruce Craig allied to the shrewd input of Sir Ian McGeechan have yet to bring tangible yield.

"On Sunday, defending Heineken Cup champions Leinster come to the Recreation Ground, the ground as brimful as it has been for three years with not a ticket to be had. Yet the locals are half-enthralled, half-fearful.

"Their team are maddeningly inconsistent. If they stumble as they did last weekend against Sale, throwing away a significant half-time advantage to lose at home, then it could get very messy. For all Bath’s riches and resources, the glory years are a memory rather than a prospect.

“We’re probably not deserving at the moment of what we have here,” said Olly Barkley, as frank as ever, admitting also that he was still some way short of match fitness after an eight month lay-off with a broken leg."

Tom Wood is one of the names in the frame to skipper England © Getty Images

Chris Foy of the Daily Mail gives his backing to Tom Wood as England's next captain.

"Step by step, the RFU are putting their house in order. Last week, they clarified Rob Andrew’s role and the structure around the England team. Yesterday, they appointed coaches for the Six Nations.

The bigger picture is also in hand because Nick Mallett and Wayne Smith have been spoken to as the search for a long-term management line-up intensifies.

Come the new year, Stuart Lancaster and his fellow caretakers will need to fine-tune their plans for the revised England squad to be named on January 11. They must approach that task with the other major box to be ticked — the captaincy."

Shaun Edwards, in his column for The Guardian, previews Harlequins toughest game this season as they prepare to face Toulouse on Friday evening.

"These are heady times at Harlequins. Fourteen wins on the bounce, by a long way the best start to a season by an English club, and on Friday night Toulouse are the visitors. Top of the Premiership versus top of the Top 14 and a chance that the traditional fortnight of back‑to‑back Heineken Cup rugby may kick off with an English win. Quins winning on the banks of the Garonne the following week is another matter.

First Harlequins must not be daunted by the aura that surrounds the French club. They may be the big moneybags of European rugby and they may be four‑times Heineken champions but, as Gloucester showed last month, if you get in their faces, they can be vulnerable. OK, Gloucester did not win but it took Clément Poitrenaud to make something from nothing for Toulouse to keep their home record. And Poitrenaud will not be around tonight at The Stoop."

Blues flanker Sam Warburton, talking to Simon Thomas of Wales Online, believes now is the time for Wales' regions to shine in the Heineken Cup.

"Wales captain Sam Warburton has sounded a Heineken Cup rallying cry to the regions, insisting there’s no reason why one of them shouldn’t go all the way to this season’s final.

Warburton’s Blues side host Edinburgh tonight in a match that will kick off a vital weekend of European rugby for the capital city side, the Ospreys and the Scarlets.

The Ospreys face English champions Saracens at Wembley tomorrow, while the Scarlets entertain crack Irish province Munster in what promises to be one of the most mouthwatering fixtures of the year.

But despite all three teams coming through the first two rounds of the elite competition undefeated, Wales is still weighed down by the burden of Heineken Cup history – which tells us no side from these parts has reached a final since the old Cardiff side managed to do so back in 1996, its inaugural year."

Andy Howell, of the Western Mail, talks to Scarlets youngster Liam Williams as he prepares to face Ronan O'Gara.

"Liam Williams has done a Leigh Halfpenny and challenged Ronan O’Gara to pepper him with up-and-unders at Parc y Scarlets tomorrow.

Halfpenny issued his “bring it on” plea ahead of Wales’ World Cup quarter-final with Ireland in wet and windy New Zealand capital Wellington two months ago. And veteran outside-half O’Gara proceeded to have one of his worst games for the Emerald Isle as they crashed to a 22-10 defeat at the ‘Cake-tin’.

But exciting Scarlets full-back find Williams, who was in the Wales squad for last weekend’s Test with Australia, certainly won’t be taking Ireland and the Heineken Cup’s record points-scorer lightly when Munster pitch up at Llanelli.

“O’Gara has got a very good mix to his kicking game,” said the 21-year-old Wales Under-20 international. “He’s able to go long and hit grass but, if I’m back, he will put it up. I’m more than happy to take those balls."

The Daily Telegraph's Gavin Mairs looks at the appointment of Andy Farrell and his original reluctance to take the post.

"Andy Farrell had to be “pushed and prodded” into accepting the position of England backs coach after initially rejecting the offer from Stuart Lancaster to join his caretaker coaching team for the Six Nations Championship.

It is understood Lancaster, who has been confirmed as England's interim head coach as the Rugby Football Union continue their search for a permanent successor to Martin Johnson, first approached Farrell last Friday to see if was interested in the position.

Farrell, who was appointed Saracens head coach last year, initially turned down the offer because of his commitment to his club. Farrell’s contract with the English champions runs until 2014.

It was only after Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths and the club’s director of rugby Mark McCall made it clear to Farrell that he had their backing did he change his mind this week."

Who will lift the Varsity cup this year? © Getty Images

Cambridge captain Matt Guinness-King, talking to Brendan Gallagher of the Daily Telegraph, speaks of his pride at captaining the light blues in the Varsity.

"Canadian Matt Guinness-King went head to head with Dan Carter in the 2003 World Cup, but he considers captaining Cambridge against Oxford at the Nomura Varsity match at Twickenham on Thursday afternoon as the pinnacle of his career as he bows out of the game.

“I couldn’t think of a better team to be playing for and a better bunch of guys to be playing with in my final game – if it all comes together, it would be a fantastic way to finish,” said Guinness-King, whose Cambridge side have won seven of their 13 matches so far this term.

“It’s a unique feeling within this club. Here the experience is so complete. When you’re playing for Canada you’re achieving athletic excellence and really pushing yourself next to a top-notch bunch of guys. But at Cambridge you fulfil so many goals in your life. You look at academic achievement, the friends you make from studying together, working out and playing together and you can see that you tick so many different boxes.

The New Zealand Herald's Daniel Richardson talks to NZRU CEO Steve Tew about the plans to franchise out their Super Rugby sides and the subsequent lack of interest.

"New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew is yet to receive an offer from an investor keen to buy a slice of a Super rugby franchise but is remaining positive, saying there is plenty of interest in the market.

The NZRU announced last week that it was selling off the licences of Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes or Crusaders as a way of injecting cash and fresh ideas into the franchises. The Highlanders are already in the process of attracting an interested party.

The NZRU would continue to oversee the coach and player contracts."

The Dominion Post's Evan Pegden looks at Sonny Bill Williams' latest move and where exactly he will fit into the Chiefs' jigsaw.

"Sonny Bill Williams wants to form a lethal backline combination with fellow All Blacks Aaron Cruden and Richard Kahui, wearing the No 12 jersey for the Chiefs.

He also wants to challenge Ma'a Nonu, now moved to the Blues, for that same position in the All Blacks.

But Williams, speaking for the first time yesterday on his recruitment by the Chiefs, said he was prepared to play on the wing, as he did for the All Blacks, if that was what the coaches wanted.

He left little doubt, however, that he sees himself as a midfield back with a preference for the second five-eighth role and wants to become part of the best midfield combination in the country and challenge incumbent All Black test No 12 Nonu for his starting position."

The New Zealand Herald reports that the All Blacks will name their new coach before Christmas.

"The Rugby Union still plans to unveil the next All Black coach before Christmas.

Applications closed last week and the interview panel has begun quizzing a shortlist of contenders to succeed Graham Henry.

"We are still heading towards an announcement before we break up at Christmas," said NZRU chief executive Steve Tew after yesterday's board meeting.

Tew is part of a group involving board members Mike Eagle, Graham Mourie and Graham Cooney, All Black manager Darren Shand and NZRU high performance manager Don Tricker who will grill the aspirants."

David Kelly, of the Irish Independent', looks at Luke Fitzgerald's return to form.

"And so the revival of Luke Fitzgerald continues apace. For anyone who has been eagerly awaiting the return to form of one of Ireland's most naturally gifted rugby footballers, the bad news is that you may have already missed the greener shoots of his latest rehabilitation.

The good news is that this energising healing is destined to continue on Saturday, when Heineken Cup champions Leinster descend upon the banks of the River Avon, where they will attempt to clinically butcher Bath's dwindling European ambition.

Typical of someone who has spent much of his adult life amidst the burning flashbulbs of media hype and burdensome expectation, Fitzgerald managed to strive so energetically well away from the spotlight earlier this season."

Newcastle Falcons hope Jonny Wilkinson can reverse decline in attendances when he returns to Kingston Park with Toulon this weekend. The Times' John Westerby reports (via paywall).

"There was a time when Newcastle Falcons, with Jonny Wilkinson in their ranks, would travel away from home and put a few extra thousand on the gate for their opponents.

"This evening, the Falcons are expecting the process to work in reverse. When Wilkinson returns to the club for the first time since he left in 2009, as a replacement for Toulon in the Amlin Challenge Cup tie, Newcastle are hoping to attract their best crowd of the season.

"That does not mean that there will be a sell-out, because home attendances at Kingston Park are in decline. The average crowd for Premiership matches has fallen from 6,177 in Wilkinson’s final season, in 2008-09, to 5,316 last season and, in five Aviva Premiership home games this season, to 4,528.

"It is not an easy sell for the club’s marketing department because a number of leading players have left in recent seasons. The loss of quality is evident at a club who finished eleventh last season and are six points adrift at the bottom of the table this season."

Is Gavin Henson the man for the Wales No.10 shirt/ © Getty Images

After another failure against Australia, and being given a lesson in creativity and game management by Berrick Barnes, the Western Mail argues Wales must bring more subtlety and variation into their midfield if they are to take the next step under Warren Gatland.

"Of the many lessons taught to Wales by Australia on Saturday, surely one stood out like a beacon as we head towards the Six Nations – Warren Gatland must have a player of more guile in the No.12 position.

"Way before the eruption that greeted Shane Williams’ sentimental try, the Wallabies’ Berrick Barnes had been the most influential figure on the Millennium Stadium pitch by a country mile, turning in a textbook example of what southern hemisphere nations would call ‘second five-eighth’ play.

"Second five-eighth? For the non-aficionados out there, it is the term applied to a 12 who is viewed not as a banging gain-line merchant, but rather a secondary playmaker.

"Somebody who can pull the strings as adroitly as the fly-half should the need arise."

The top two teams in all six pools play each other twice before Christmas. But it could lead to dead games in January according to The Guardian's Rob Kitson.

"Perfect symmetry is rare in rugby union. Not this week. The middle fortnight of the Heineken Cup pool stages is always significant but the tournament is about to witness something unique. By a quirk of fate, the top two teams in all six pools will be playing each other home and away in rounds three and four. It is more than possible a number of pools will be virtually settled by Christmas.

"This is unusual to say the least. Traditionally, supporters are still sweating on pool winners entering the final minute of the final games in January. This time around six clubs – Scarlets or Munster, Edinburgh or Cardiff Blues, Leinster or Bath, Leicester or Clermont Auvergne, Saracens or Ospreys, and Toulouse or Harlequins – could secure near-certain quarter-final qualification way ahead of schedule if they achieve successive wins this weekend and next.

"It clearly remains a big "if". The beauty of Europe is that beating Toulouse, say, on a Friday night in south-west London is absolutely no guarantee of doing likewise on the banks of the river Garonne the following week. Last season six teams out of 24 managed to achieve a home-and-away double at this stage of the competition. The previous year it was seven. Would you bet on Bath beating Leinster home and away inside seven days? Thought not."

Half a century after Cambridge were proclaimed the finest ever Varsity match side, its veterans return to Twickenham. The Guardian's Frank Keating reports.

"On Wednesday night in London's swish Savoy hotel will gather 15 greybeards in faded, threadbare light blue blazers, a few of them a little shaky on their pins, but each with soft-boiled rheumy eyes glowing furnace-bright in the recollected glories of their prime. And on Thursday they will take their hangovers to Twickenham to share a slap-up commemorative lunch with 13 of their deadly rivals from a precise half‑century ago. Then, together, the 26 fond old codgers will watch the 130th University rugby match.

"When this junketing band of Cambridge ancients beat Oxford in the 80th contest on 11 December 1961 they established a timeless record which proclaims them still as the finest Varsity match XV in history as the only one ever to remain unbeaten throughout their season – P14 W14, points for 249, against 49. It is particularly notable for in those days both universities would prepare for Twickenham with a string of matches against the grandest clubs in the land, full‑strength teams packed with international players from such as Cardiff, Newport, Gloucester, Leicester, Coventry, Bedford, Harlequins, and Northampton. The Cambridge immortals of '61 beat them all. No wonder old men's recollections on Tuesday night will be rich and roseate."

The Irish Times' Gavin Commiskey reports on Connacht's fight for further financial assistance.

"Connacht chief executive Gerry Kelly is to meet the IRFU management committee today to discuss the ongoing financial plight of the province.

"Their difficulties were further highlighted by the 15-13 home defeat to Benetton Treviso last Saturday, their eighth successive loss and third straight at The Sportsground.

"What was initially greeted as a historic breakthrough season is entering nightmare territory. Qualification for the Heineken Cup, via Leinster winning the competition, only came after four frontline players – Ian Keatley, Fionn Carr, Jamie Hagan and Seán Cronin – had signed for Leinster and Munster (Keatley).

"Of 12 players recruited only two have started more than 50 per cent of the Pro 12 fixtures to date."

The Irish Independent's Hugh Farrelly previews Ronan O'Gara 100th Heineken Cup appearance for Munster against Scarlets.

"Munster's new coach Declan Kidney raised more than a few eyebrows in 1997 when he named his team to face Harlequins in London for the opening round of the Heineken Cup.

"Travelling to the Stoop was a daunting assignment by any standards, as Quins had a powerful side featuring world-renowned performers such as Will Carling, Keith Wood, Jason Leonard and Laurent Cabannes, but that did not stop Kidney giving a clutch of youngsters their European debuts.

"For Greg Tuohy, an athletic No 8 from Sunday's Well, it was to be his only taste of Heineken Cup action after a miffed Anthony Foley was restored to the back-row the following week against Cardiff.

"Tuohy's clubmates Conor Burke and John Lacey picked up a few more Heineken Cup caps each that season but were out of the frame by the time Munster made their breakthrough in 1999/2000.

"Other debutants, such as winger Anthony Horgan and flanker Alan Quinlan, would go on to experience long and productive Heineken Cup careers -- and then there was Ronan O'Gara."

Supersport's Gavin Rich reflects on the latest developments in the race to be the next South Africa coach.

"The chances of Rassie Erasmus being involved in the Springbok coaching announcement, which is now scheduled for 27 January, appear to have diminished with confirmation that the director of rugby role we have been speculating about is not quite what we thought it was.

"Erasmus had been linked in some reports since the World Cup with a new position that will be created by the South African Rugby Union in 2012. With his technical abilities and his proven record as a director of rugby at Western Province, Erasmus, who did wonders as Peter de Villiers’s technical adviser in 2011, was considered the perfect candidate to take on a role similar to that being filled by Rob Andrew at England.

"However, Saru officials have made it known that the position they have been talking about is not the same as director of rugby. It is not on the same level, and while some coaching ability and knowledge may be a pre-requisite, the new position is going to be more of an administrative one."

Former All Blacks coach Graham Henry admits his life has changed a little since his side's Rugby World Cup triumph. The New Zealand Herald's Isaac Davison reports.

"Graham Henry is a warmer, more relaxed person these days, though getting near him may set you back $5000.

"At a charity lunch yesterday, the retired World Cup winning coach was visibly lightened by his achievements, and said he was relishing his break from rugby.

"I've got a lot more friends now," he said. "They're coming out of the woodwork. It wasn't quite the same four years ago in France - it is a fickle business, rugby."

Mike Brown has shone for Harlequins this season © Getty Images

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mick Cleary argues that potential England caretaker coach Stuart Lancaster needs to take note of how the next generation of stars perform in this weekend's Heineken Cup.

"There is one man who must be ringside for this coming weekend’s Heineken Cup action, and that man is Stuart Lancaster, the caretaker England coach.

Now, if Stuart Lancaster gets the nod, then he will have no difficulty in being at the Stoop on Friday night to witness born-again Harlequins take on European aristocracy in Toulouse, to see at first hand if the highly-regarded Quins captain, Chris Robshaw, really is the man to lead England through the Six Nations.

What, too, of promising 21-year- old prop, Joe Marler, or Nick Easter in the back row? Will the 2012 championship be a tournament too far for the old slugger as England sow the seeds for the 2015 World Cup?

Mike Brown at full-back, feisty and fast, Ugo Monye, fit and raring again, Danny Care to challenge Ben Youngs – there is plenty of illuminating viewing in prospect."

Simon Thomas, writing for the Western Mail, looks at who might be able to step into Shane Williams' shoes.

"It's the toughest job in Welsh rugby – but someone’s got to do it.

With Shane Williams having left the international stage, the big question is who will be handed the onerous task of filling his dazzling boots?

George North is firmly in possession of one of the Wales wing berths and looks set to occupy that spot for a decade or more.

But who will partner him on the other side of the pitch for the Six Nations and beyond?

Of course, Wales already have an international class wing at their disposal in the shape of Leigh Halfpenny.

But he has proved such a success at full-back since switching there during the World Cup that coach Warren Gatland would probably be loathe to shift him from that role."

Wallabies star Berrick Barnes, talking to the Sydney Morning Herald's Adrian Warren, believes he is back to his best after a lengthy injury lay-off.

"Resurgent Wallabies back Berrick Barnes is convinced he is almost back to his best after producing two strong performances at the end of a tough year.

Sidelined for the latter stages of the Super Rugby tournament following issues with footballer's migraine, Barnes just squeezed into the Wallabies' World Cup squad.

He then formed an exciting new midfield combination with James O'Connor on Australia's two-match tour of Britain, playing primarily at inside centre with the latter calling the shots from five-eighth."

James Lawton, of the Independent, looks back at the impact Shane Williams has had on World rugby.

"Coming right at the end of both the match and an astonishing international career, it was the almost eerily appropriate departure of arguably the most relentessly mischievous gnome in the history of his or any other sport.

But then if you wanted another kind of measurement of the mystical impact of Shane Williams – 5ft 7in and 12 and a half stone – in 87 Test matches, it was provided by his tough but adoring coach Warren Gatland with just 10 minutes left."

Shane Williams tries to contain his emotions during the national anthem © Getty Images

Writing in the Western Mail, Andy Howell looks at whether Shane Williams' retirement will herald in a new dawn for Welsh rugby.

"If anyone didn’t know it already, Shane Williams’ last act in a Wales shirt underlined just what a gaping hole he will be leaving in Warren Gatland’s side.

It would be wrong to call it a fairytale ending, because Wales lost to Australia, lacking intensity and drive and giving plenty of food for thought to Gatland following the plaudits his team rightly received during the World Cup.

But how typical of our 34-year-old wing wizard, who had hardly had a sniff of the ball up to that point, to have the final word with his last-minute try.

Coming into the centre to try to make something happen, he collected Scott Williams’ pass, went outside Berrick Barnes, made mincemeat of Anthony Fainga’a and took his Wales record try tally to 58 in 87 appearances.

Records are there to be broken, but it is going to be some time before anyone gets remotely near that landmark Shane has set."

Chris Foy, of the Daily Mail, looks at a bad weekend of ill-discipline by some of England's players.

"Four of England’s disastrous World Cup squad will find out on Monday whether they could be banned for more indiscipline in Premiership matches over the weekend.

The worst incident involved England winger Chris Ashton, who sparked a fight on the touchline at Leicester’s 30-25 win against Northampton by grabbing hold of Alesana Tuilagi by the dreadlocks and shirt and dragging him into the advertising boards.

But Ashton’s tackle went unpunished while Tuilagi and England captaincy candidate Tom Wood were shown red cards for their parts in the 14th-minute bust-up. Courtney Lawes was also involved, appearing to throw a punch at the Samoan."

Greg Gowden, appearing in the Dominion Post, speaks to a bullish Wallabies captain James Horwill who is eyeing the world number one spot.

"The Wallabies stumbled well short of winning a World Cup trophy but have set their sights on being the world's top team by this time next year.

After defeating Wales on Saturday, Wallabies captain James Horwill said Australia's goal for next year was to take the No.1 ranking from the All Blacks. And he pointed to the calm professionalism his team had shown against Wales as a sign the Wallabies were again on the up.

It was an emotional night for the Welsh, as they farewelled one of their most celebrated wingers, Shane Williams, but the Wallabies managed to keep their heads and showed a ruthless streak in the second half to put away quality opponents who have the potential to win the Six Nations in a few months' time."

The New Zealand Herald's Dylan Cleaver looks back at a remarkable year for the Crusaders.

"Part odyssey, part passion play, the Crusaders' run to the final of the Super 15 was, above all else, a remarkable piece of sporting theatre.

Unfortunately, it was a fairytale without a happy ending.

To recap: the Crusaders travelled from Christchurch to Auckland to play the Blues and lost in the first round of the Super 15.

Then the "Big One" struck.

Among the carnage, AMI Stadium stood cracked and useless, part of its surface liquefied. In the general scheme of things it was a small break in a fractured city, but it would have huge ramifications for coach Todd Blackadder's carefully constructed campaign."

The Guardian's Martin Pengelly gives out his awards for the last 12 months.

"From New Zealand glory to England's indignity: 12 months in Test rugby

Team of the year:

New Zealand, because the World Cup had to be taken the hard way – without Dan Carter for half of it, with Richie McCaw battling injury for all of it and with the relentlessly cited "stadium of four million" supporters rather on the eager side for a first Webb Ellis Cup win in 24 years. The All Blacks were definitely the best team but they had to hold their nerve as well as their line. Honourable mention: Wales, obviously."

Have RFU acting chief executive Stephen Brown and PGB chairman and RFU board member Ian Metcalfe got the Union on the right track? © Getty Images

Writing in the Sunday Times (via paywall), Stephen Jones is not convinced by the RFU's attempts to clean up their act.

"Revival? Where? Perhaps the most eloquent testimony to the shambles at Twickenham lies in what is deemed there to constitute a revival. Last week, we were encouraged to hail better days, possibly because the application of a load of manure is meant to nurture green shoots.

"What evidence for a revival actually exists? You need more than a new PR company and a few good intentions. Two men stood before a media conference and offered a ringing apology for the shocking play, coaching, administration and discipline.

"It was big of them since neither Ian Metcalfe of the Professional Game Board nor Steve Brown, acting chief executive, had been responsible. They were merely apologists though their appearance constituted the first occasion in months at which Twickenham grandees had not simply put forward their own agenda."

Saturday's match between Wales and Austraila will forever be remembered as Shane Williams’ farewell game, but as a contest in Wales’ preparation for the Six Nations Championship it was all but irrelevant as far as the Wales on Sunday's Neil Gibson.

"After the intensity of the World Cup the Wales players could have really done without this – something coach Warren Gatland inferred in the build-up – but because of the Welsh Rugby Union’s desperation to fill the coffers they were forced to get on the pitch again.

"And that the match was played just a week before the regions have important European games can be seen as a foolhardy move.

"Sometimes worries about the WRU bank balance seem to become all-important at the expense of the players’ welfare.

"It was sold on the back of Shane’s retirement, but not even that momentous occasion could attract a sell-out crowd – a reflection on desperate economic times and a lack of appetite for a meaningless friendly after Wales’ World Cup exploits.

"But let’s not take anything away from the man of the moment, and the dramatic end to an illustrious career. You could not have scripted his 81st-minute try any better if you had tried."

Writing in The Observer, Eddie Butler outlines who he thinks should get what role in the RFU shake-up.

"It is the unanimous opinion of the authors that the next chief executive officer of the Rugby Football Union shall be a woman. Having conducted probing analysis of the male contribution to rugby's governance, it is their conclusion that English men over 40 think clearly only when panting. The over-mature hunter-gatherer needs to feel the pang of hunger and the perspiration of pursuit before he functions effectively.

"Allow him to settle into an office-bound, sedentary lifestyle and he falls prey to indolence and inefficiency, where the only activity likely to stir him is the protection of his ticket allocation. English men need to be aerobically challenged, leaving English women to organise and lead. Attention to detail is their watchword. England are not called rugby's mother country for nothing.

"And who might this Boudicca be? Tempted by the need to stamp out treachery, there was initial interest in Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller and Dame Stella Rimington, presuming them to be two separate people (with heads of the intelligence service it is not always easy to tell)."

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Fran Cotton reaffirms his belief that Nick Mallett should be the next England coach.

"The worst is over. I firmly believe the storm that has been raging around England rugby has abated and now we are entering calmer waters the job of everybody concerned, on and off the field, is to get everything ship shape for the long haul ahead.

"...As for the main appointment, after the Six Nations but before the summer tour of South Africa, my golden ticket remains Nick Mallett in complete overall charge with Northampton’s Jim Mallinder and Dorian West working under him with the understanding that if that duo step up to the mark – and I would expect exactly that – they take over the moment the 2015 World Cup is over. I like ordered succession, look at the Germany football teams that year in, year out do so well in major competitions. The successor always seems to be known.

"The main man has to have complete control of the team in every way and select his own coaching team regardless of how England have gone in the Six Nations. My hope is that if Mallett were appointed to the main job he would chose Mallinder and West as his main lieutenants but that decision would be entirely his own and we would have to respect whatever he decided."

Will Shane Williams add to his impressive try tally in his last international appearance? © Getty Images

Wales' Shane Williams will bid a bittersweet farewell against Australia, according to the Daily Telegraph's Paul Hayward.

"Williams, who steps down on Saturday against Australia, at 34, has dodged many a monstrous foe while earning his 86 caps and 57 tries in Test rugby. Age, though, will not be sidestepped, however bright the new Welsh world around him.

“I’d love to be the same age as George North and these boys coming through,” he agrees. “I can’t complain about getting old, I’ve enjoyed my career. I wouldn’t change any of it. It would have been nice to take a couple of years off and play with these boys a bit longer but I’m excited about this Welsh squad. I’ll be one of the mad supporters who follow them everywhere. I expect big things from them.”

"No wonder Barry John reveres him. Williams turns the film back to the golden age of ingenuity, before academies, before wings built-like back-row forwards and, yes, before abstemiousness in matters of liquid refreshment."

Writing in the Irish Independent, Tony Ward pays tribute to Wales' Shane Williams ahead of his final international outing.

"Fifty-seven tries in 87 Test appearances represents a remarkable strike rate -- a phenomenal achievement by a phenomenal player. What I admired about him more than anything was his willingness to give it a go from anywhere.

"He is a role model for every aspiring wing, in terms of his ability and desire to sniff out ball. The great players are able to make time and space and attract the ball like a magnet. Williams will be remembered as just that: the magnetic winger supreme."

Rugby legend Shane Williams makes his international rugby swansong against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday - the Western Mail talks to the man himself.