Final thoughts on World Cup 2015

The end is near. It is six weeks ago today since England opened the Rugby World Cup with a win at Fiji’s expense at Twickenham, but the hosts will be nowhere to be seen tomorrow as New Zealand and Australia bring the final curtain down on the latest chase for the Webb Ellis Cup, writes Brendan O’Brien

Ireland, ultimately, lasted just one week longer before being escorted off the premises by Argentina and, though it all amounted to yet another quarter-final exit, it would be untrue to say that we have learned little as a result of our latest thwarted attempt at global domination.

This column spent 33 days covering some of the stories that added up to such an engaging tournament, most of them being spent in London or Cardiff, though there were exotic trips to destinations as far flung as Slough and Swansea.