Winners and losers of RWC 2011

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.

Graham Henry notified Donald four months ago that he would not be required for the World Cup but the old fellow had the sense to stop the unwanted fly-half making too early an exit to Bath just in case.

Donald, a long way down the pecking order behind Dan Carter, Colin Slade and Aaron Cruden when the tournament began, would have been fifth-choice had Luke McAlister not decamped for Toulouse. The outcast was casting off for whitebait on the banks of the Waikato river near home-town Hamilton when Henry fished him back into the pool.