Before we put RWC 2011 to bed...

I AM now officially parking RWC 2011.

After three months of previews, warm-up matches, speculation, analysis, excitement, disappointment, emotion and, for eventual winners New Zealand, elation, it is time to put another World Cup odyssey to bed.

I am penning this somewhere over the Indian Ocean flying from Sydney to Bangkok. After an amazing seven weeks spent traversing the north and south islands of New Zealand, it is only right that due credit is paid to the hosts for staging what has been a very enjoyable, rewarding and at times inspirational tournament.