The Mike Tindall Affair:Footage released by a nightclub bouncer of the England centre cavorting with a blonde women.
The incident took place at the Altitude Bar (the venue for a boozy night out for the England players). A security guard uploaded footage from inside the bar that showed Tindall holding hands and being kissed by a woman. The video came a day after British tabloid
The Sunclaimed the husband of Zara Phillips was caught with his face buried in a woman's chest in the bar.
Inappropriate remarks: England internationals Chris Ashton, James Haskell and Dylan Hartley were forced to apologise to a female hotel worker in Dunedin for lecherous comments.
Ship to shore:England centre Manu Tuilagi was then fined £3,000 (€3,444) by the English RFU for diving off a ferry into Auckland Harbour as the squad's disappointing stay in New Zealand drew to a close.
Mouth guard-gate:Samoa wing Alesana Tuilagi was fined NZ$10,000 (€5,784) for wearing a branded mouth-guard and then soon after his little brother, England centre Manu, was also out of pocket for the same offence.
Racism rant:Gloucester and Samoa centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu received a six-month suspended ban after misconduct charges against him were upheld. The 30-year-old Samoa international accused Welsh referee Nigel Owens of bias after Samoa's tournament-ending pool defeat against South Africa, venting his feelings on Twitter.
"I can understand the hate!! Haha good luck u racist biased p****," he tweeted. Get s.a (South Africa) into next round. The plan was obvious. Can't wait 2 meet irb (International Rugby Board) members in public." The hearing was postponed twice before Sapolu finally attended.
Smoking and Drinking:New Zealand wing Cory Jane had been caught with injured team-mate Israel Dagg, in Mac's Brewbar near the team's hotel in Takapuna on the Thursday before the quarter-final against Argentina, apparently swaying and slurring their words, according to onlookers in the pub.
Jane reportedly lit up a cigarette, illegal in pubs, and when police turned up for a regulation check, the players were spirited away into the bar's kitchen. He subsequently apologised to his team-mates and the public.
Matchless: Four games to savour
Ireland 15 Australia 6
It might appear slightly biased but there is no doubt that Ireland’s victory over Australia threw the tournament wide open and invited the Irish population to dream the dream. Although those aspirations went unfulfilled, there is little doubt that this match was a high point of not alone Ireland’s involvement but as a spectacle, would have appealed to a far wider remit.
South Africa 13 Samoa 5
The Springboks led 13-0 courtesy of a Bryan Habana try, his 40th in Test rugby, a penalty and conversion from Morne Steyn and another from Francois Steyn but Samoa rattled South Africa to their back teeth from that point on in the match. George Stowers crossed for a try and when fullback Paul Williams was sent off, Samoa continued to throw caution to the wind and could have snatched victory.
Wales 22 Ireland 10
The Welsh thoroughly deserved their victory on the day, executing a clearly-defined game plan to telling effect. They countered Ireland’s preferred patterns and took their opportunities when they arose. The Irish clawed their way back to 10-10 after the interval but the Jonathan Davies try ensured Wales would progress to the semi-finals.
New Zealand 8 France 7
What it lacked in scintillating, flowing, fluent expansive rugby it made up for with ferocious collisions that highlighted the more earthy nature of proceedings. This game was in doubt until the final whistle as New Zealand clung on for dear life and France just made one or two errors too many. If the French had managed to nudge in front, it was difficult to escape the suspicion the All Blacks would have folded.
