Widely renowned as one of the most naturally talented fly halves of his time, Carlos Spencer did nothing to dispel the notion with a moment of off the cuff magnificence in the 2003 Rugby World Cup Quarter Final.

Upon receiving the ball, Spencer splintered the South African defence by passing the ball between his legs and releasing Joe Rokocoko for a routine run in try.

And you thought BOD patented that pass, eh?

Youtube Credit: World Rugby

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Number 18- Brian O’Driscoll celebrates in his final Irish appearance as a 6 Nations winner

Number 17-  Fans get creative with their fancy dress at the NZ7s

Number 16-  Spectacular scenes from the Millennium Stadium for Wales’ 6 Nations opener.

Number 15- A brilliant action shot from the Leinster Senior Cup in awul conditions 

Number 14- Beer & Rugby in harmony

Number 13- The answer behind Germany’s success at this years World Cup in Brazil?

Number 12- Brad Barritt shows no sign of pain after bruising performance against the Wallabies

Number 11-  Two legends meet each other for the final time

Number 10- The Kiwis celebrate winning the Hong Kong 7s by performing the haka in the rain.

Number 9- Bryan Habana & Toulon continue the selfie trend 

Number 8 – Sam Burgess takes no prisoners with his first carry in his Bath debut

Number 7 – Ireland celebrate an unbeaten November Series after beating Australia 

Number 6 – Samoa & England link arms on the Twickenham pitch after a physical game

Number 5 – The Honey Badger & Alastair Cook enjoy a can after the Babas & Leicester game

Number 4 – Sonny Bill makes his return to union in the ITM Cup

Number 3 – South Africa end the All Blacks unbeaten run in thriller

Number 2- We say goodbye to one of the legends of the game

Number 1 – And to another…

A special late edition from a fan, great suggesion

Let us know which was your favourite or feel free to send in ones to our Facebook or Twitter!

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Legendary New Zealand fly half Dan Carter has agreed to join fly giants Racing Metro on a lucrative three year deal-rumoured to be in excess of a million euro per year- following the completion of next year’s World Cup, it has been announced.

Carter, 32, will hope that his stint with Racing proves to be more successful than his injury plagued spell at the Basque side Perpignan during a sabbatical from the All Blacks.

“It’s going to be an awesome adventure for me and my family,” he said. “Having visited France many times, including my time with Perpignan, I know what the French culture and their rugby culture is like and it’s something I really love.

“Having said that, it’s the immediate future that is exciting me at the moment. 2015 is going to be a big year and I’m looking forward to getting into it, firstly with the Crusaders and then hopefully with the All Blacks. My body is feeling really good, I’m training really hard and getting some good conditioning in so I can hit the ground running next year”, said an excited Carter.

All Blacks coach, Steve Hansen, went on the record to thank Carter for his service to the National Team.

“On behalf of the All Blacks, I want to congratulate Dan on his decision and also on his career to date. He is still in the midst of a wonderful career, both as a provincial and Super Rugby player and an All Black, and will leave us as the greatest first five-eighth ever.

“Whilst he hasn’t finished yet in New Zealand, he has already set the benchmark for first five play, and we look forward to seeing him out on the paddock in 2015″, said the former Wales coach.

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As most years are in the rich tapestry of history that is New Zealand Rugby, 2014 proved to be a successful one.

The All Blacks retained their Rugby Championship crown and-at the time of writing- are unbeaten on the Spring Tour to the Northern Hemisphere.

Despite one of their franchises not being victorious in Super Rugby competition, the Kiwi teams still provided the entertainment and quality associated with the Rugby mad nation.

In their list, Sky include all facets of New Zealand Rugby including Ladies Rugby, ITM Cup, Super Rugby and, of course, the All Blacks.

Picking a winner proved difficult for us here at RBP, so we decided to just sit back and enjoy some quality tries.

Youtube Credit: SKY Sport NZ

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Your international debut is a seminal moment in any player’s career and, on Saturday, Augustine Pulu made his All Blacks bow in their clash with the USA in Chicago’s Soldier Field.

Even though the game was well over as a contest when Pulu, The Chiefs scrum half, was introduced, but, in typical Kiwi fashion, the tempo and physical intensity of New Zealand’s remained high until the very end, something which Tom Coolican can attest to.

Like the proverbial torpedo, Pulu fired himself at Coolican, knocking the back row into touch with aplomb. Latterly, due to the impact of the hit, Coolican had to receive medial attention.

Youtube Credit: NZAUTVRUGBYINTERNATIONALS

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When your team get’s whitewashed, a fate the US Eagles met on Saturday against New Zealand, any moment of personal victory, no matter how small, should be celebrated.

Despite being on the receiving end of a tonking, America’s lock Samu Manoa will doubtlessly be proud of his massive dump on New Zealand’s prodigious winger, Julian Savea.

Such is Savea’s pace, power and elusiveness, any player who lays a finger on the Hurricances winger should be proud of themselves.

Youtube Credit: Tavita Saluni

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In the most All Blacks-esque try, Springbok scrum-half Francois Hougaard dotted down a bmagnificent team try which started South Africa on the road to their defeat of New Zealand; the All Blacks first reversal in 22 outings.

Countless times, the All Blacks have profited from an incisive grubber kick-usually from Ma’a Nonu, that pried open the oppositions defence. However, last Saturday, the Springboks turned the proverbial tables and the move which eventually saw South Africa score had it’s genesis in a deft grubber kick from the extremely impressive Handre Pollard.

The ball bounced favorably for Conrell Hendricks who offloaded to Jan Serfontein who, in turn-after being tackled- passed to the onrushing Francois Hougaard to canter over the line.

Surely, given the opposition and the skill involved in it’s manufacturing, this was the best team try of 2014?

Youtube Credit: Ally Phint

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You know your hit is good if you manage to knock the immortal Kieran Read out of his stride and, during New Zealand’s Rugby Championship clinching victory over Argentina last night, that’s exactly what Juan Martin Hernandez done.

In a typically bloodyminded New Zealand move, Kieran Read, as he so often does, found himself in the wide channel but, before he could execute a pass wide, Juan Martin Hernandez hit the number eight with a well timed tackle that forced him to skew his attempted pass.

Youtube Credit: Yoe91

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With two rounds of action remaining Steve Hansen’s All Blacks boast a six-point cushion over Australia and South Africa in second and third respectively.

Such a margin means a bonus-point win over the Pumas will see New Zealand extend their Rugby Championship hegemony, having won both titles since the inaugural competition began with the introduction of Argentina in 2012.

Skipper Richie McCaw will equal a 43-year record Saturday, matching legendary lock Colin Meads who made 133 appearances for the All Blacks — 55 Tests and 78 other matches — before his 1971 retirement.

Flanker McCaw has worn the famous black jersey 132 times to date with all but one match against the Barbarians being Tests.

In a 15-year international career, the sheep farmer became an iconic figure, adored by his rugby-loving countrymen and respected by all opponents.

McCaw has developed into a modern rugby colossus, who led hosts New Zealand to the 2011 World Cup title.

While the All Blacks have dominated the Rugby Championship with 15 wins and a draw, Argentina have found life among the elite extremely difficult with one draw and 15 losses.

But New Zealand coach Hansen was quick to praise Argentina, who have lost three of four Championship games this season by seven or fewer points to earn a losing bonus point.

Physicality

A 28-9 defeat in soggy New Zealand was the only Test in which the Agustin Creevy-skippered South Americans failed to collect a losing bonus point.

“To beat the Pumas we must deliver a quality performance, full of excitement, energy, physicality and accuracy,” stressed the coach.

“The Pumas have been playing very well and are a much improved side since last season. Expectations of a home win among supporters will be high.”

Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade hopes a team lacking injured back-row star Juan Manuel Leguizamon can recover from a “shameful” 32-25 loss in Australia.

“It was our worst performance of the season as we spent most of the time defending,” he said. “The only consolation was that we still came close to a draw.”

Injuries and ill-discipline forced Hansen to change five of the team that started against the Springboks in a 14-10 Wellington win a fortnight ago.

In come centre Malakai Fekitoa, fly-half Beauden Barrett, hooker Keven Mealamu, lock Sam Whitelock while flanker Jerome Kaino, with the injured Ma’a Nonu, suspended Aaron Cruden, father-to-be Dane Cole as well as the dropped Jeremy Thrush and Steven Luatua making way.

Meanwhile, Pumas coach Hourcade has made three changes to his side following their 32-25 reverse against the Wallabies; Tomas Cubelli coming in at scrum-half, Thomas Lavanini returning at lock and Benjamin Macome replacing the injured Juan Manuel Leguizamon.

Keys

The weather will be crucial. It’s been a wet week in the Bay and more rain is predicted on Saturday night. It could denude the All Blacks of some of their attacking weapons and kicking will be crucial. Have they learned from their mistakes in Sydney? The Pumas’ scrum is a beast and the All Blacks’ pack need to stick to their task or they could be backpedalling at a rate of knots.

Prediction

While the Puma’s have performed stronger than anyone predicted in this year’s quad-country competition, beating the All Blacks at home or away, is a tough ask for anyone, let alone a team – somewhat unjustly, ranked outside the top 10.

For the Puma’s to have any chance, they’ll need to force the All Blacks into many, many scrums. But even then, the All Blacks looks too strong across the field.  Even with the off-field distraction of Aaron Cruden, the Kiwi’s should walk it in. I’m tipping New Zealand by 18.

Teams

All Blacks: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett

Bench: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Joe Moody, Jeremy Thrush, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Colin Slade, Malakai Fekitoa

Argentina: Joaquin Tuculet, Horacio Agulla, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Martin Hernandez, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo, Leonardo Senatore, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Tomas Lavanini, Mariano Galarza, Ramiro Herrera, Agustin Creevy (capt), Marcos Ayerza

Bench: Matas Cortese, Lucas Noguera Paz, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Matas Alemanno, Rodrigo Baez, Tomas Cubelli, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Juan Imhoff

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With an All Black try ratio better than the iconic Jonah Lomu’s-26 tries in 26 test games-, Julian Savea is well on his way to becoming one of the best wingers in Rugby history.

In an interview with Sky Sport New Zealand, the Hurricane reminisces on his so far fruitful Kiwi career and gives us a glimpse of what drives the man known as the bus.

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Youtube Credit: Sky Sport New Zealand

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