Even Warburton has acknowledged his guilt after watching a replay of his tip tackle.
For all their fine football at the World Cup, Wales copped the same fate as France - they muffed games they should have won.
Wales should have won their semifinal against France even with their leader in the bin. Later, Les Tricolores should have beaten the All Blacks in the title fight, but neither knew how to administer the knockout blow.
"When I'm old and grey sitting in my rocking chair, I will look back and say 'yes we did well, but it was a missed opportunity not to come home with a gold medal'," Edwards mused.
Nice stuff Shaun, you are ideally suited to coaching in the valleys.
Henry calls it quits
One who did once coach there called it quits after this year's World Cup. Yep, Graham Henry, he of the 103-test coaching record with the All Blacks, three with the British and Irish Lions and 34 tests at the helm of Wales.
"I am stepping down as All Black coach, I have had enough," he said as he wandered away to a life of fishing over the summer.
More lasting quotes
Other quotes that will last? Samoan midfield back Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu delivered a sack of them during his twitterati outbursts and has got himself in trouble with his continued messages since returning to Britain.
"Get s.a [South Africa] into next round. The plan was obvious. Can't wait 2 meet irb [International Rugby Board] members in public," Fuimaono railed before he met the men and was handed a six-months suspended sentence.
P Divvy's fine form
P Divvy continued his fine form, knocking out the observations. When the Springboks found a way to lose their quarter-final against the Wallabies, Div said he felt "three notches lower than a funeral".
Our favourite though is hearing him announce he had unfinished business and wanted to coach the Boks again. Please SARFU, let it happen.
Not fine exits
Injury exits for Daniel Carter and Quade Cooper were chastening chapters in the damage list, another was the exit of the Pumas' fine captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe while Drew Mitchell must have wondered how he offended the rugby gods.
Momma's boy
Piri Weepu's mother, Kura, is a security guard at the Wellington Stadium in a role which allows her to "kiss and cuddle my boy straight after the game".
It's a draw
Canada and Japan played the tournament's only draw - finishing 23-all in Napier - as former All Blacks turned coach Kieran Crowley and John Kirwan gnawed their knuckles on the sideline.
England antics
England captain Lewis Moody lambasted his troops for their boozy nights which included the Royal Gargle and Fondle, dwarf throwing and the attempted cinematic capture of a Dunedin hotel worker. No one was surprised after England's social hijinks on their last visit in 2008 and their acceptance of Thomas Waldrom - aka Tank Engine - as a bona fide squad member.
Tonga's best footage
The best footage came from the Tongan front row, gesticulating and taunting their French opposites in the final moments of their shock 19-14 pool-game upset in Wellington.
Best try
Best try? How about Lucas Amorosino, of Argentina, who got the ball within a grassblade of the touchline, beat four Scottish tacklers and scored to allow Felipe Contepomi to kick the winning conversion.
Beaver fever
If the All Blacks' eventual 8-7 victory was a relief for a rugby nation deprived of any World Cup salvation since 1987, the blessing should go to Stephen Donald. While Jonny lamented his many misses for England, Donald was unerring.
Unwanted and unfashionable, he was levered from his whitebaiting holiday at Port Waikato into a jersey two sizes too small and nailed his solitary penalty attempt from 36m. It was the kick that saved the cup.
Beaver Fever should be mandatory each year on October 23. Here's looking forward to Beaver Day, 2012.
