Time for a debrief after Auckland City's wondrous club World Cup performances in Morocco.

The All Whites' much-celebrated victory over Bahrain in Wellington, their boarding pass to the 2010 Fifa World Cup finals, is the game Ivan Vicelich recalls most fondly from his long football....

Chris Rattue writes to dissatisfied women footballers: "If Fifa is the misogynist devil you portray it to be, set up your own world football organisation."

The annual sports awards you get without having to find a tie or wriggle into that favourite black skirt, according to NZ Herald sports columnist Chris Rattue.

Brendon "Baz" McCullum - you are a legend. Frustrating maybe, but a genuine legend, writes Chris Rattue.

Bouncers are aimed at the head and body. They are intimidatory, and they are designed to hurt. They are not designed to miss.

I'm among the Hansen doubters who have had to eat my words, writes Chris Rattue. He has emerged as a rare breed, possessing every quality in the book.

It's the word that screams out to some, yet rarely gets written when it comes to Jesse Ryder. Alcoholism.

The rise of NZers in the NRL has done the trick. Australia's long-held position as the kings of international league is well and truly over.

Looks like that poor little English rugby team is already running up the white flag or at least a distress signal. In other words, one con job over, and on to the next one.

It was more a relief than anything else watching Keven Mealamu zooming about against Argentina, turning the clock back far enough to remind everyone how good he has been, or still might be.

Tempting as it is to scream Free Aaron Cruden in the name of giving a bloke a break, it's difficult not to go along with All Black coach Steve Hansen's temporary sacking of the little playmaker.

Chris Rattue writes: It's that time again, a moment as good as any for paying homage to Richie McCaw.

The All Blacks have taken the first step towards treating Pacific Islands rugby with the respect it deserves and laying the groundwork for activating brilliant sporting rivalries laying dormant.

Rugby's Northern Hemisphere referees are copping a deserved bagging after a few awful decisions at the weekend.

Timing is everything, so it was strange to see our Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Steven Adams holding court in an Auckland sneaker store.

Chris Rattue writes: Sorry Michael Hooper but you are wrong -your Wallabies are broken all right because the forwards are as bad as they've ever been.

The aftermath of the drawn test must include concerns that the ABs' World Cup retention campaign is showing too many flaws, writes Chris Rattue.

Take another bow, Richie McCaw. Well, that's my position. There are others who may be hurling brickbats his way.

The sights and sounds of our national rugby teams struggling in defeat are rare but well worth the wait for those who like to study the innuendo style of excuse-making.

The Crusaders to win by about 12 points. That is this column's pick for the Super 15 final.

It's been another confusing and often boring Super 15 season but Saturday night's semifinal clash in Christchurch should be well worth the wait, writes Chris Rattue.

Ma'a Nonu's departure is just another slap to an egg-covered face for the Blues, and one that has got Sir John Kirwan's regime bouncing even closer to the rocks.

Don't laugh, especially on the league angle. But the weekend signalled that a New Zealand Super 15 and NRL double is on.

It's "What's wrong with the Blues?" time again. Two seasons under John Kirwan and nothing much has changed. Different animals, same zoo.

Yes, Brazil were bad. But far more importantly, the Germans were sensational, writes Chris Rattue.

He gets booed in stadiums and pilloried outside them.

Chris Rattue examines the Lou Vincent saga: "His twisted ideals at least partly reflect our society."