It seems as though there is no end to Ian Madigan’s talents.

It was such an uplifting, outlandish tale, one which saw a figure who had once been derided and abused become nothing less than an instant national treasure, that Stephen Donald was told by his one of his teammates after they’d won the World Cup: “Beaver, mate, there’s gotta be a film in your story.”

Ronan O’Gara suggests it is not so much the no 10 who is pivotal to Rugby World Cup success, but the goal-kicker. 

Filling in for one of the best out-halves the game has ever seen must be daunting. Yet injuries to Dan Carter have offered up stupendous opportunities for his understudies in recent years.

There has been no shortage of photo ops for the few dozen fans lingering around the lobby of the All Blacks’ hotel in West Dublin this week but none left happy unless they came away with a snapshot or signature from Dan Carter.

Gentleman, that he is, Beaumont whispers to Moss “may the best team win”.

Jimmy Gopperth may never have made it as an All Black but that doesn’t make him a sub-standard out-half.

Fifty-cap England fly-half Toby Flood has been warned that he may have to accept a job-share arrangement with rising star George Ford when Leicester’s Aviva Premiership campaign opens on Sunday.

First the good news. New Zealand are in disarray or at least they should be.

Wales 30 Barbarians 21

EVERYTHING in the Leinster garden looks rosy following a superb Heineken Cup victory over one of England’s finest on a night when 46,000 came to the Aviva Stadium to boost the balance sheet.

LEINSTER’S drawing power grows bigger and bigger, as evidenced by a crowd of 46,365 who braved the elements on a freezing Saturday night in Dublin.

Leinster 52 Bath 27

JOE SCHMIDT takes his Leinster team back to the Aviva Stadium tonight looking for a similar return against pool rivals Bath (6pm) as they achieved at the same stage last season against Clermont Auvergne.

THIS should be easy for Leinster.

I NCONSISTENCY surrounding the issuing of yellow cards is fast becoming an issue in the Heineken Cup and impacting on the performance and results of teams across the board.

JOE SCHMIDT may have been frustrated by Leinster’s missed opportunities but at least he left Bath with a valuable Heineken Cup victory. His opposite number, Ian McGeechan, was equally vexed and had nothing but a losing bonus point to show for his developing side’s efforts on home soil.

THE European champions can win these games the hard way too, you know.

HAD Leinster somehow contrived to lose this one then they need blame nobody but themselves.

JOE SCHMIDT has expressed his confidence in Sean O’Brien, whose form this season has been steady rather than spectacular.

Bath flanker Lewis Moody will be out of action for 10 to 12 weeks after undergoing shoulder surgery.

SEAN O’BRIEN has dismissed the relevance of Bath’s poor domestic form ahead of their back-to-back Heineken Cup fixtures against Joe Schmidt’s reigning champions.

TWO out-halves with very contrasting memories of the World Cup come face to face at Bath’s Recreation Ground on Sunday afternoon and Jonathan Sexton will be hoping for a reversal in fortunes.

Stephen Donald is hooked on the Heineken Cup after just two appearances in European club rugby’s blue riband competition.

IAN McGeechan believes the English RFU should take its time in appointing Martin Johnson’s successor as England manager.

RICHIE GRAY was thrilled to score the match-winning try in Glasgow’s Heineken Cup Pool 3 defeat of Bath at the end of a week in which he announced he is to leave the Warriors.

Glasgow Warriors 26 Bath 21

IAN McGEECHAN believes Leinster are the team to beat in this season’s Heineken Cup and says Jonny Sexton now has the ideal mix of talent and experience to take Europe by storm once again.

MUNSTER training might have had a stellar appearance to it yesterday but look a little closer and the creases on coach Tony McGahan’s furrowed brow were all too evident.

THE mother of surprise All Blacks hero Stephen Donald clamed her son had proven his critics wrong with a Rugby World Cup-winning performance.

Israel Dagg has revealed New Zealand’s sense of “great relief” at ending a 24-year wait to be crowned world champions.

WITH a perfect sense of timing, today is a bank holiday in New Zealand.

MARC LIEVREMONT admitted he could not have asked for any more from his players after they went agonisingly close to destroying New Zealand’s World Cup dream.

UNLIKELY hero Stephen Donald has started taking stock of his World Cup final-winning exploits, and admitted: “It is an unreal experience.”

NEW ZEALAND captain Richie McCaw hailed his team’s courage and desire after they ended 24 years of hurt by winning the closest final in World Cup history.

THE All Blacks never forgave Stephen Donald for the missed touch kick which ultimately condemned them to defeat by Australia in Hong Kong this time last year.

SITTING in the grandstand at Eden Park watching New Zealand win the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, I never imagined it would take 24 years for the All Blacks to repeat the feat.

Marc Lievremont admitted he could not have asked for any more from his players after they went agonisingly close to destroying New Zealand’s World Cup dream.

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw hailed his team’s courage and desire after they ended 24 years of hurt by winning the closest final in World Cup history.

France 7 New Zealand 8

France 0 New Zealand 5

JUST in case New Zealand were lacking a bit of inspiration ahead of their World Cup semi-final meeting with Australia, Quade Cooper provided it.

Injured New Zealand backs Colin Slade and Mils Muliaina have been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup.