It was the best and the worst of times

Magnanimous quote of 1999: Serge Simon (Stade Francais prop after defeat to Ulster in the European Cup semi-final): "For the first time in my life I can say that the winner on this day was rugby. The conditions were marvellous and the public support was extraordinary, and I'm very happy for these people because we have been able to understand how much this victory meant for all the people."

Scoring-a-try-is-better-than-sex contender of 1999: David Humphreys on that try against Stade Francais - "I can't put it in words."

Even Ulster barmen say no: "I can't serve you, you've got a big match next week," - to Ulster players before the European Cup final.

Sports' fickle from-hero-to-zero story of 1999: David Humphreys, captain of European Cup winners Ulster one week, failed match-winner a week later for Ireland against France. "It underlined to me how seven days is a long time in sport, from 4.0 on Saturday afternoon at Lansdowne to the same time the following week, from sheer elation to the depths of despair."

Breath-of-fresh-air of 1999 and no-one-likes-us-but-we-don't-care award of 1999: Buccaneers. "We've been called a one-dimensional side and if people keep thinking that way, we'll be happy." Their erstwhile coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

Irish Player of 1999: Keith Wood. For his enduring excellence, for his side-step around Scott Gibbs and try at Wembley, for his record haul against the US, for his icon status, for his individual property rights, and because the kids love him.

Biggest upset of 1999: Blackrock winning the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup. Not.

Understatement of 1999: "I wasn't happy," Warren Gatland, during the interval, with the score Ireland 11, Italy 23.

Exposing-the-myth award of 1999: Trevor Brennan. "Money was never a problem. I always, always had money. It's actually something that I would like to point out. Everybody makes out Trevor Brennan came from the Bronx, like Mike Tyson has no money, never had any money, do ye know what I mean?"

The Mike Tyson award: Toutai Kefu.

The red rag to a bull of 1999: "Yerragh you can stick your fitness reports where the sun doesn't shine," All of Munster. "If Craig White wants athletes fair enough. Down here we've rugby players." A prickly Packy Derham, before Cork Con went on to win the AIL, Munster went on to win the Interpros . . .

Failed forecast of 1999: That Ireland will boldly go where no Irish team has ever gone before in the World Cup. Erm, yours truly.

Provincial medium-sized white elephant of 1999: Leinster.

All-Ireland League great white elephant of 1999: Ballymena.

All is right with the world again, moment of 1999: A Constitution man, as IRFU president, giving a Constitution man, as winning captain, the AIL trophy, before another Con man, as Irish manager, went off to pick the Irish tour party for Australia.

Me-thinks-he-doth-protest-too-much, reluctant coach of 1999: Michael Bradley. "Winning as a player is different. I suppose because it's more individual. To a degree, even though you're in a team you're in total control of the events of the day on the pitch. As a coach, I would not recommend it as a career. I think it's fraught with danger, high blood pressure and guaranteed heart attacks by the age of 35-40. I think I'll take up squash." And this moments after Con had won the AIL in extra time.

Biggest white elephant of World Cup: Ireland (if you believed in them). The All Blacks (if you believed in them).

Team of 1999

15: Jeff Wilson. Lest we forget he was the World Cup's second highest try scorer with six. Sheer class, the best full back never to win a World Cup.

14: Of a non-vintage crop, the under-used Ben Tune's all-round work ethic, roving running and strike-rate set him apart.

13: In another unexceptional crop, for a willingness to run with the ball and put bums on the edge of seats, Fiji's Viliame Satala takes some beating.

12: The peerless Tim Horan; the most open and shut case of the lot.

11: Juggernaut Jonah's defence still has more holes than a soup-strainer, but no rugby side has ever had a better get-out-of-jail or try-out-of-nothing card.

10: The complete Christophe Lamaison revived his Brive and Grand Slam days by reviving France and ultimately played All Black Andrew Mehrtens off the park in that semi-final, and again couldn't be faulted in the final.

9: A good vintage (Mitu, Galthie, Howley, Armstrong, Pichot, Gregan and van der Westhuizen) and although humourless and zealous, rarely has there been a better one-man show in a losing cause than the proud South African.

1: Richard Harry never retreated an inch in the World Cup and was arguably the most prominent of all. Excellent hands for a prop too.

2: Uncle Fester from Garryowen.

3: Allowing for a couple of missed tackles in the World Cup final and most of all his darker side, Franck Tournaire was rock solid and hugely committed and, as a player, probably the kind of man you'd want in the trenches with you.

4: You couldn't not feel sympathy for the phenomenal Martin Johnson, who led England from the front as always, but ultimately all the other number fours were eclipsed by the great one, Abdelatif Benazzi.

5: Missed much of the year but when it mattered the incomparably athletic John Eales made a typically freakish return to his best in leading the Wallabies to glory and would complete a second row combination made in heaven.

6: For sheer work-rate and doing the work of two men (somebody had to make up for the unfit and ineffectual Bobby Skinstad) Rassie Erasmus was phenomenal.

8: Dan Lyle, for astonishingly natural athleticism, handling ability and unequalled restart work, not to mention enduringly world-class standards in a near hopeless cause.

7: The quicksilver Olivier Magne found an extra gear altogether in the World Cup. A thrilling sight in full flow, he's now inspiring European Cup dark horses Montferrand.

Bet of 1999: The Paddy Powers punter who had a £20 double on the Wallabies and the Springboks drawing their semi-final (over 80 minutes) at 12/1 and France beating the All Blacks at 16/1. That's a score at 220/1.

Couldn't-organise-a-game-of-marbles award of 1999: RWC '99. If you were an RWC '99 director, you totted up the lollies, but if you were a paying customer, you just might have felt taken advantage of.