England's Mark Cueto stretches for the line during his side's Rugby World Cup 2007 defeat © Getty Images

Pop Quiz: Who was in the TMO booth when TV technology made its debut on the international rugby stage? (answer to follow...)

Now, I'm not normally one for kicking a man when he is down but in this instance I am more than happy to wield our sport for a little Blatter-bashing.

Putting the real story to one side, that being England's astounding mediocrity, FIFA president Sepp Blatter's historical reluctance to embrace technology in the form of TV replays has always seemed nonsensical and two high profile errors - the decision not to award Frank Lampard a goal against Germany and the equally woeful call to allow an offside effort from Argentina's Carlos Tevez to stand - have made the sport look even more foolish.

How a sport with football's status can let itself be dragged into such a mire is beyond me. With the eyes of the world watching, football has scored an outrageous own goal that only BP chief executive Tony Hayward will have applauded as the media spotlight passed, if only briefly, onto another unfortunate individual.

Rugby can learn a great deal from football - especially as it continues to labour in its professional infancy - but in one respect, at least, rugby can teach its sporting cousin a valuable lesson. Rugby may not have been the first to embrace TV technology to aid with game management but they were quick to realise the benefits and the fact that those pros certainly outweighed the cons.

The 'Television Match Official', as he is now known, made his international bow back in 2000 after being trialled on the domestic stage within the southern hemisphere's Super 12 competition. English referee Steve Lander was the first to call on a TMO to pass judgement on whether a try had been scored during New Zealand's rout of Tonga in Albany - and Kiwi Steve Walsh subsequently awarded a try to All Blacks captain Todd Blackadder.

England fans may remember a more contentious TMO decision the same summer during the Springboks' narrow 18-13 win in Pretoria. England fullback Tim Stimpson appeared to be tackled without the ball by South Africa's Andre Vos as he looked to get a try-scoring touch to a loose ball but the TMO ruled a knock on.

On that occasion the officials may have got it wrong but that was not the case in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final when England's Mark Cueto saw a try ruled out by the TMO - funnily enough against the Springboks again. These examples show that the technology will not always provide a definitive answer and we must still rely on the interpretation of the images by a real person, and they are prone to the odd error, but in most cases TMO decisions provide the clarity that is sought and are controversy-free thanks to the superb tools available to broadcasters and the sport.

Some of the decisions are still hotly debated - and in some cases rightly so as there are still some dubious calls being made. But in the vast majority of instances, the input of the TMO is a welcome one and the delay - a few seconds at best and a few minutes at worst - is a small price to pay for the integrity of the sport. Original concerns about robbing the game of one of its key elements - continuity - have long since vanished and the International Rugby Board must be applauded for embracing technology all of those years ago and sticking with it as the marriage between the two worked through some difficult early years.

Sadly for football, the second World Cup on the trot is set to be remembered for all the wrong reasons - in 2006 it was Zinedine Zidane's shocking head-butting of Marco Materazzi whereas this time around the dark cloud of controversy stretches from Thierry Henry's handball in qualifying all the way to the officials' foul-up in Bloemfontein and Johannesburg.

Admittedly rugby has its issues - Bloodgate to name just one - but at least the IRB and the RFU talk a good game about addressing them. FIFA on the other hand appear happy to fly in the face of common sense on this issue and as a result will continue to be dogged by needless controversy until they join the 21st Century.

Springboks captain Francois Pienaar receives the Rugby World Cup trophy from South African President Nelson Mandela. © Getty Images

The Fifa World Cup currently dominating the sporting agenda was always going to struggle to generate the same kind of emotion that was so evident when rugby's finest descended on South Africa in 1995 due in part to the strides that the nation has taken together in the last 15 years under the lasting influence of Nelson Mandela.

Unlike the Springboks, Bafana Bafana have never been a major force in their sport - a fact that was underlined by their failure to progress from the group stages making them the first host nation to exit at the first hurdle. Despite the home side's shortcomings, the tournament has already been heralded as a success and will no doubt still go on to leave a significant mark in history but with the vuvuzelas silenced to a certain degree and African interest hanging by a thread there is little chance that it will resonate like its rugby equivalent.

The big screen attempt to capture the enthralling story behind rugby's third global showpiece, the Clint Eastwood-helmed Invictus, was released to mixed reviews earlier this year while ESPN's own The 16th Man took a documentary approach to the role of the tournament in post-apartheid South Africa. But you can re-live the tournament itself in another recent DVD release - 1995 Rugby World Cup - The Full Story.

The 'one nation, one team' philosophy inspired by Mandela brought the country together and the Springboks responded by claiming an historic victory that not only delighted the Rainbow Nation but was also a key factor in the development of the tournament itself and its current status as the world's third biggest sporting event owes a lot to that magical month in 1995. History demands that Mandela, Pienaar and the joy of a nation re-born will always be the big story but there were many more memorable moments played out in its shadow.

The narration of Eddie Butler and a somewhat interesting soundtrack will take you through the following rollercoaster of a ride:

+ The greatest tragedy in World Cup history. Ivory Coast winger Max Brito broke his neck in his side's pool clash with Tonga and was paralysed and has been confined to a wheelchair ever since. A sad reminder of how dangerous the game can be.

+ The emergence of Jonah Lomu as a star of the game. The giant Kiwi wing tore into Scotland, Ireland and most memorably England on his way to a tournament leading tally of 7 tries. "He touches the ball and things happen." exclaims one of many stunned commentators but he was shackled sufficiently by the Springboks in the Ellis Park finale.

+ A nasty-looking brawl between Canada and South Africa in the pool stages that saw suspensions handed down to amongst others the Canucks' Rod Snow and Gareth Rees and the Springboks' James Dalton with the latter crying in front of the cameras following the end of his World Cup dream.

+ Chester Williams returning from injury to take a starring role in the Springboks' run to the final - not just due to his skin colour but also his try-scoring feats including four against Samoa in the quarter-finals.

+ New Zealand racking up what was then the biggest win in Rugby World Cup history - a 145-17 mauling of Japan.

+ Several women with brooms desperately trying to sweep standing water from the Kings Park pitch in an effort to make the ground playable for the semi-final meeting between South Africa and France. It's questionable whether they succeeded but the game went ahead.

+ A final flourish from Scotland's Gavin Hastings in his last tournament before retiring. The dashing fullback racked up 44 points in one game against the Ivory Coast and 104 in total.

+ An outrageous drop goal from All Blacks No.8 Zinzan Brooke during his side's semi-final victory over England - his effort from almost half-way heaping woe on a side still reeling from the effects of a certain Mr Lomu.

+ A jumbo jet flying oh-so-low over Ellis Park in Johannesburg ahead of the final remains one of the sports' most dramatic experiences and images

+ And an un-named Japan lock head-butting a wall as part of his pre-match preparations ahead of facing the All Blacks.

Tragedy struck the Mandela family on the eve of this year's tournament and he was subsequently absent from the opening ceremony but we can only hope that the iconic former leader returns to centre stage for the final on July 11. The World Cup would not have been awarded to South Africa were it not for the great man and although there may not be the picture perfect moment as above - the adulation will have only intensified in the time that has lapsed since that day.

England's Danny Care, David Strettle, Chris Ashton, Shontayne Hape and Ugo Monye joke after diving with sharks at Ocean World in Sydney © Getty Images

Watch out world - former All Black Jonah Lomu has vowed to give "this Twitter thing a good run" and is set to steamroller all-comers in the manner in which England's Mike Catt was despatched at Newlands in 1995. Perhaps the sport's only global superstar, Lomu surfaced at the weekend and soon had the fans flocking to get a glimpse inside the big man's world.

For those not aware, he is currently plying his trade with Marseille in the south of France but remains a huge draw across the globe. Close on 2,000 followers in just a day or so - he has his sights set on Neemia Tialata's unofficial Twitter King crown (approx 4,000) but both have some way to go to eclipse the 10,000+ boasted by Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll (although his entries have a rather corporate feel) or the 30,000+ following the movements of former England captain Will Carling - my money is on Lomu returning to haunt old Bumface.

Anyway, here's our latest selection of what rugby's Twitterati have been saying in the last couple of weeks:

"Wasn't pretty, but winning is winning. Little one-per centers cost us some rhythm. Great thing about Rugga - next week we get another shot.."
The Springboks' Dewald Potgieter refuses to dwell on his side's laboured victory over Italy in Witbank and sets his sights on putting things right in next weekend's second Test.

" just hanging in rm with @QuadeCooper watching an old Wallbies v All blacks test, think sharpe still has hair:"
Wallabies fullback James O'Connor enjoys some downtime in the build up to his side's clash with England in Sydney - and can't help but have a dig at folically-challenged team-mate Nathan Sharpe.

"I'm shattered. 2 days of shopping in Manhattan has killed me."
England Saxons prop Duncan Bell was on Churchill Cup duty last week and mixed up his training with a bit of retail therapy.

"In the team room enjoying john fogarty getting abuse for having small unpleasant looking ears!!"
Ireland's Andrew Trimble enjoys a bit of tour banter during their stay in New Zealand.

"Thanx to the guys from SAA for getting me on my flight to East London even though I was very late!!"
South Africa's Bryan Habana offers an example of the power of celebrity.

"Had an amazing day today!! Went shark diving which was unbelievable and then played with koalas and kangaroos!! Absolutely loved it!!"
Who said touring was hard work? England's Danny Care appears to be having fun in Australia.

"Life hasn't been the same without the bok jersey .I am waiting for a breakthrough.I am not discouraged but faithful, Everyone is behind me."
South Africa's Tendai Mtawarira is desperate for an end to his eligibility row and a return to Springboks colours.

"Had a weird morning wrestling in Bondi with Mearsy, Worzel and Taity and was then treated to story time on the 389 by the Boosh. Pure gold!"
More tour fun and games - this time with England's Olly Barkley.

"@JonahLomu11 that's soo good! Haha you tube mike Catt poor fulla!!"
Australia's Quade Cooper welcomes Jonah Lomu to the Twitter world and cracks a joke at Mike Catt's expense.

"I'm coming for the crown bra @neyza3 lol. 2000 by the morning tweeters?"
Former All Black Jonah Lomu makes a play for Neemia Tialata's unofficial crown of rugby's Twitter King.

It was with great sadness that we reported the death of Andy Ripley on Thursday after the former England international back row forward finally lost his battle with cancer. A giant of a gent on and off the field, it was no surprise that his passing triggered a huge outpouring of sympathy from those who knew him and others that respected and admired the man.

Among them were some grizzled members of the rugby media who felt compelled to share their memories of Ripley. "Above and beyond all, he will be remembered as an outstanding member of the human race," wrote Peter Jackson in the Daily Mail. Similar heart-felt words were penned by Steve Downes of the Sports Journalists Association and the Daily Telegraph's Mick Cleary while Brendan Gallagher offered his own personal recollection in the same newspaper. Equally moving was Paul Kimmage's interview with Ripley in the Sunday Times last month when it was painfully obvious that his time was running short.

A powerful ball runner ahead of his time, Ripley was capped 24 times by England and was also a tourist with the British Lions in 1974 but found his path to the Test side blocked by Welshman Mervyn Davies. He later found further fame on the BBC TV show Superstars which proved to be the perfect showcase for his all round skills and he went on to claim that title in 1980. A brilliant athlete, he competed in the 400m at the UK athletics Championship, was world veteran indoor rowing champion (edging out his former England rival Roger Uttley) and was also a notable swimmer and sailor. Age was also no barrier to him with a 50-year-old Ripley narrowly missing out on a place in the Boat Race whilst completing a masters at Cambridge University.

His talents did not end their with his linguistic skills ensuring a stint as a commentator for French television while his after-dinner speaking was as powerful as it was moving according to those lucky enough to have borne witness to it. Add to this the title of prize-winning author - his 2007 account of his battle with cancer - The Rugby Icon’s Ultimate Victory Over Cancer - won him even more fans.

In the foreword to his book he wrote, “Dare we hope? We dare. Can we hope? We can. Should we hope? We must, because to do otherwise is to waste the most precious of gifts, given so freely by God to all of us. So when we do die, it will be with hope and it will be easy and our hearts will not be broken.”

Ripley's life story is Boy's Own Annual material, a maverick and a corinthian whose exploits will rank alongside those of the legendary C B Fry and others who have lit up the sporting world in more than one discipline. Sadly the demands of the professional sporting world mean we will never see his like again - or will we?

Karmichael Hunt is one multi-talented sportsman bucking the trend. The Kiwi-born 23-year-old made his name in rugby league before deciding his future would be in Aussie Rules - but before he switched codes he ventured into union and helped steer Biarritz to this season's Heineken Cup Final. Impressive stuff. He may have a long way to go before he warrants a place alongside Ripley but we can only applaud the attempts of those who hope to follow in his footsteps.

Another is Sonny Bill Williams who, like Hunt, launched himself onto the sporting stage rugby league before making a high-profile switch to rugby union with Toulon in France. The Kiwi-born centre spent two years in French rugby's top flight but he is now heading back to New Zealand in his latest quest for international honours having already represented his country in the 13-man code. There is little doubt that his future lies with the All Blacks - with his last appearance for Toulon in the European Challenge Cup Final a perfect advert for superb all-round game that mixes power, pace and flair - and he is set to force his way into Graham Henry's plans for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. However, he also has one professional boxing bout under his belt and another looming - but he may have to put that career on the backburner in the next few months.

By the way, if you want a little reminder of the kind of devastation Ripley could cause as a player - have a look at this: