Rugby World Cup 2015 marks the year when the sport went global

The tournament has not been defined by England’s premature exit but will be remembered for the excellence of the gamesThe sport of rugby union has just unlocked the door to a brave new world. Hands up those who, six weeks ago, feared sides like Japan would be flattened by “proper” nations and envisaged a surfeit of dull, second-rate games in half-empty football stadia? How gloriously, thrillingly wrong those predictions proved to be, even before New Zealand defeated Australia in Saturday’s throbbing finale at Twickenham. Related: Rugby World Cup 2015: five reasons New Zealand won the Webb Elli…