Domestically it has been a red tide, Munster finally fulfilled their destiny and claimed the Heineken Cup, while on the other side of the world the Crusaders claimed yet another Super rugby title.

Having watched endless games of varying quality, we have selected our Team of the Year for you. There have been some outstanding displays, many from payers who we come to expect it from, and a few from rising stars. We can only hope that 2007, the year of the World Cup, will provide us with as much excitement and entertainment.

2006 World XV

15. Chris Latham (Australia)
There was no debate here, Latham is by far the best full-back in the world. He has all the footballing skills a player could want and a cool temperament to boot. He is a rock in defence and you can count on him to produce at least one piece of attacking brilliance every time he steps foot on the pitch.

14. Shane Horgan (Ireland)
In all of Ireland's success Horgan often is the forgotten man, however he makes our team on merit. Not only is he a powerful ball carrier but has a deceptive turn of pace and is excellent in an one-on-one situation. He showed his versatility in the November Tests with a solid outing at inside centre.

13. Regan King (Llanelli Scarlets)
He may not have played international rugby this year but the New Zealander has been winning plaudits the world over for his performances, epitomised by his outstanding display for the Scarlets away to Toulouse. We would love to see him in the Super 14 proving he is good enough to add to his solitary All Black cap.

12. Yannick Jauzion (France)
France can be so frustrating, one moment they are sublime and the next the game seems foreign to them. However despite this Jauzion always manages to stand out in their backline and let his class shine through, expect him to do the same in 2007.

11. Lote Tuqiri (Australia)
For all the talk of a switch back to rugby league, Tuqiri has been a force to be reckoned with on the field. He has once again kept defences busy with his bruising style of play. The only blemish was a suspension for a nasty spear-tackle on Richie McCaw.

10. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
Hardly a surprise selection but Carter never fails to amaze us. Just as it seems he is nearing perfection he claims there is room for improvement, so look out the rugby world in 2007.

9. Matt Giteau (Australia)
Having never played international rugby at scrum-half before the Wallabies end-of-year tour, Giteau was something of a revelation. He offered the Wallabies a new lease of life and his selection there may just well spell the end for George Gregan.

8. Denis Leamy (Ireland)
The Munsterman has emerged as one of the stand out players for club and country. His performance against the Springboks in November showed his all round excellence and he has plenty of years in front of him to cement his place in Irish rugby history.

7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Need we say more than he is the best rugby player in the word at present, and he has the awards to prove it! No surprise then that he is also our captain.

6. Jerry Collins (New Zealand)
Collins has had an exemplary year, apart from one slight misdemeanour in the Tri-Nations, and has gone from strength to strength. Once renowned only for his hard hitting and direct ball carrying he is now more than comfortable off loading in contact as well as acting as a link man. This said he is still the biggest hitter in world rugby. 

5. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
When Munster were crowned Heineken Cup winners there was no bigger smile than that of Paul O'Connell's and rightly so. He has been an inspirational leader and is never far from the action playing more like an extra back row forward for most of the time. His ability to run the line out as well as disrupt the opposition's has been priceless for Munster and Ireland. Expect more of the same in 2007. 

4. Chris Jack (New Zealand)
To be a heralded as a great player in New Zealand you have to be special, you have to bring something extra to the game. This is exactly what Chris Jack does, not only does he perform the basics so well but he is equally comfortable with ball in hand, out wide on the wing, or kicking from hand.

3. Carl Hayman (New Zealand)
Hayman is a beast of a man, a nigh on unmovable object in the scrum and a fearsome ball carrier. He towers above most opposite props both physically and in his performances. New Zealand have the perfect platform to play from at set-piece and a lot of that credit must go to Hayman.

2. Raphael Ibanez (France)
Ibanez may be the wrong side of thirty but has once again proved his worth this year, leading France in characteristic fashion in November including an outstanding display against the All Blacks when the rest of his team froze in awe of their mighty opponents.

1. Os du Randt (South Africa)
Big Os, as he is affectionately known, seems to defy the years and keeps on producing the goods at the sharp end of the game. There may not be many years left in the tank but for now Os keeps on performing when it matters.