Dan Carter’s moment in the real deal

The great and the good of this wonderful game will gather in London this weekend for a gala event that will bring down the curtain on a wonderful six weeks of intrigue and excitement that has showcased its finest exponents at the peak of their powers.

Yet, while the 2015 World Rugby Awards taking place at Battersea Evolution tomorrow night offer us a holistic perspective on the state of the game with nominees from all over the world, you can bet the eventual winners for the men’s awards will come from the protagonists of this evening’s less genteel proceedings at Twickenham.

Today’s World Cup final is the real deal. The greatest players in the tournament’s best-equipped teams, both of which have reached the deciding game the hard way and now have the chance to duke it out on the biggest stage for the most glittering prize.