Respect.

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been looking at some of the best Rugby World Cup stories we’ve come across from over the years, as we get set for the 2019 showpiece event in Japan.

So far we’ve looked at Paul O’Connell’s infamous training ground bust-up from the 2007 World Cup in Japan, and Stephen Ferris’ brilliant night out with Sean O’Brien in New Zealand back in 2011.

Next up is an excellent story from legendary referee Nigel Owens, featuring a certain David Pocock, from the 2015 Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia.

“Probably my most favourite moment was that World Cup final when at the end of the game, Australia had just been beaten by New Zealand and (David) Pocock was not only a great player but a great man as well.” Owens said

They has just lost to New Zealand in that final and I blew the final whistle and he came up to shake my hand and put his arm around me and said ‘Thanks, thanks for a great match,’ and I thought this guy has just lost the World Cup final, has lost out on on winning a World Cup winner’s medal, may he get the chance again? Who knows?

And yet the first thing he did was after the whistle was come towards me and shake my hand and say that, and that epitomises, not only the greatness of players in the game, but the greatness of rugby as a sport as well.

Fantastic story from the Welshman that shows just how wonderful a sport rugby really is.