Boks, the shot-clock and Zombie: Mick Cleary's RWC hits and misses

Was this the greatest edition of the tournament ever? 

TALISMAN: South Africa’s Siya Kolisi celebrates in Paris on Saturday night. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

1 - South Africa Deserving Champions?

If Siya Kolisi alone were the gauge for acclaim, then South Africa deserve every accolade in the trophy cabinet. For his statesmanship, his humility, his holistic vision of life, there was no finer sight than seeing him on the Stade de France podium with the Webb Ellis Cup (again). As to the merit of the Springboks as champions, there can be few quibbles either. Knockout rugby is about knocking out the opposition. QED. It doesn’t really matter if it is by one point or a dozen points. South Africa deserved this 2023 gong as they came through all sorts of tight situations and endured in the toughest of pools as well. They have genuine all-time talent in their ranks in the likes of Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Cheslin Kolbe. Their management team were brilliant but bonkers, a compelling double-act with Jacques Nienaber heading Leinster’s way. This Springbok vintage, though, does not eclipse other past winners such as New Zealand of 2015 or England of 2003 or maybe the inaugural winners, David Kirk’s 1987 All Blacks. The 1995 Springboks were memorable for all sorts of reasons. One thing is for sure. Kolisi is the modern-day Pienaar, a man of his times.