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Team captain John Smit
Heard the one about seven South Africans, three Frenchmen, two Argentinians, two Englishmen and a Wallaby? Then we've got one for you!
A total of 48 matches were played in this World Cup, with the luckiest players involved in seven of them.
We've picked off the cream of the crop for a definitive 'team of the tournament' with nine of finalists making up the backbone of the team, bolstered by the choicest titbits from Friday night's leftovers match, and one star turn whose exit came far too early.
It's a cracking team on paper, but maybe you'd have make a couple of tweaks. Send us your views!
15 Percy Montgomery - Difficult at full-back, for Jason Robinson's chances were equal at least before he departed to injury, and Ignacio Corleto put himself in the frame with a terrific performance in Argentina's second win over France. But when it came to the crunch, under a barrage of high balls and with pressure goal and touch-kicking at its most intense, Montgomery stepped up to the mark and passed the test every time.
14 Vincent Clerc - Faded a little towards the end of the tournament, but that had far more to do with the French tactics than his own effort. Clerc weighed in with so many line and tackle breaks, belying his size, and his twinkle-toed running was a joy to watch at times. The second try he scored against Ireland showed his strength on the ball.
13 Stirling Mortlock - The only player from a team that did not make it past the quarter-finals, but Mortlock shouldered so much of the responsibility in Australia's team and broke the line so many times in attack. A dab boot from the tee too.
12 Felipe Contempomi - Delivered it all for Argentina: handling, running, goal-kicking, and even a little needle of the opposition. But most importantly, he shepherded Juan Martín Hernández through his first steps as a fully fledged fly-half. His 19-point haul in the final game was a fitting end - although his silly yellow-card was not.
11 Bryan Habana - The tournament's top try-scorer couldn't find the gaps in the Final to make a new World Cup record his own, but England's close attentions to him in defence were reminiscent of South Africa's to a certain Jonah Lomu some a dozen years ago - a compliment indeed. The semi-final, however, was all Habana's own...
10 Jonny Wilkinson - Possibly the first time since the last World Cup that he has been fit for more than a month, Wilkinson bailed England out supremely. But, by his own high standards, he might not have been as good as 2003 - but he was still the steering column that guided England's shaky axles time and time again over the roughest ground.
9 Fourie du Preez - When Jake White took over, Fourie du Preez was a fringe player, working hard on his game and concentrating on getting the decision-making right. Being stuck behind anyone in White's loyal order is a tough task, but Du Preez's gradual accession to the Bok number nine shirt has been born of some incredible work and irresistible displays from the Bulls scrum-half, and this tournament confirmed his position as a rival to the fabled Joost in the historical pecking order, as well as arguably the finest player in the world on current form.
8 Gonzalo Longo - Maybe hasn't got the unique gliding running skills of team-mate Juan Manuel Leguizamon or the busting strength of Finau Maka, or the handling skills of Danie Roussouw, but Longo has huge heart, a beaverish attitude to work, and an inexhaustible supply of strength and courage in his running and tackling. Time and time again he queued up to be Argentina's man of the match, and ended up a real unsung hero of the Pumas' campaign.
7 Thierry Dusautoir - A star arrived out of the left field at this World Cup! Dusautoir had been on the fringes, at best, of Bernard Laporte's ridiculously rich selection of loose forwards. But he was magnificent in France's triumph over New Zealand, and proved that was no fluke in the semi-final against England.
6 Juan Smith* - Has been at the heart of so much that has been good about South Africa, including an excellent cameo role when Jake White needed the old heads to steer his team past Tonga. Tries, runs, tackles - all have been his forte at all times.
5 Victor Matfield - The king of the line-out, his title undisputed, Matfield's depature to France is a massive blow to South African rugby, but his man of the match performance in the Final was a fitting end to a superb Test career.
4 Simon Shaw - The most controversial omission from Sir Clive Woodward's 2003 title-winning squad, Shaw rolled back the years to recoup his form nd finally got the chance to show the world his class.
3 Pieter de Villiers - French he may be by allegiance, but the Stellenbosch-born prop takes his place in a front-row populated by fellow South Africans. De Villiers held Andrew Sheridan into anonymity in the semi-final when all thought Sheridan was indestructible, a week after doing the same to Tony Woodcock. An unsung hero of France's cause.
2 John Smit (captain) - Smit has continually been up there with nominations for Team of the Week, many times only losing by the odd vote, winning a couple of times. Matfield and Botha make his job easy for him in the line-out, and he is the centrepiece of a superb pack, but he has gone through this tournament with barely a blot to his copybook, and with his leadership skills carrying a nation to victory. Australia had John Eales, England had Martin Johnson, and now Smit continues the tradition of legendary World Cup-winning captains.
1 Os du Randt - Props all over the world will be crying into their fry-ups this morning as Os calls time on his career. The Free State farmer has achieved icon status in the front-row community, and his display in the Final - a rarity, for it was all 80 minutes - showed why. Sheridan is strong but can go missing in action, Woodcock appears to be slowing down a tad, but at 35 years old, Os is the world's finest loosehead.
*In South Africa, 6 is openside, and 7 is blindside, thus Smith plays at 7 for South Africa but is named at 6 here.
Team of the final weekend: 15 Ignacio Corleto, 14 Federico Martin Aramburu, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Felipe Contempomi, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Roussouw, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Omar Hasan, 2 John Smit, 1 Os du Randt.
Individual picks for the final weekend:
Andy Jackson XV: 15 Ignacio Corleto, 14 Federico Martin Aramburu, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Omar Hasan, 2 John Smit, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Gonzalo Longo, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Martin Corry, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Adam Kyriacou XV: 15 Ignacio Corleto, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Felipe Contepomi, 9 Agustin Pichot, 8 Danie Roussouw, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit, 1 Os du Randt.
Marcus Leach XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Gonzalo Longo Elía, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Omar Hasan, 2 John Smit, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Dave Morris XV: 15 Ignacio Corleto, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Butch James, 9 Agustín Pichot, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Omar Hasan, 2 John Smit, 1 Os du Randt.
Danny Stephens XV: 15 Ignacio Corleto, 14 Federico Martin Aramburu, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Felipe Contempomi, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Gonzalo Longo, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Omar Hasan, 2 John Smit, 1 Os du Randt.
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit, 1 Os du Randt.
Previous teams of the week:
Team of the semi-finals: 15 Jason Robinson, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Juan Martin Scelzo, 2 Mark Regan, 1 Os du Randt.
Team of the quarter-finals: 15 Damien Traille, 14 Vilimoni Delasau, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Cédric Heymans, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Mosese Rauluni, 8 Gonzalo Longo, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Juan Smith, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Pieter de Villiers, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Team of Week Four: 15 Ignacio Corleto, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Seru Rabeni, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Christophe Dominici, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Agustín Pichot, 8 Gonzalo Longo, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Hale T Pole, 5 Jérôme Thion, 4 Carlos Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Martin Scelzo, 2 John Smit, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Team of Week Three: 15 Clément Poitrenaud, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Sukanaivalu Hufanga, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 8 Juan Manuel Legiuzamón, 7 Nili Latu, 6 Serge Betsen, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Ali Williams, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Raphaël Ibañez, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Team of Week Two: 15 Jason Robinson, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Giorgi Shkinin, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Finau Maka, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Sébastian Chabal, 3 Pieter de Villiers, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Team of Week One: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Felipe Contempomi, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Agustin Pichot, 8 Vasco Uva, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
