New Zealand swept all before them in this year's Tri-Nations but how many of them made our Team of the Tournament? © Getty Images

As the dust settles on the latest battle for southern hemisphere supremacy, check out my Tri-Nations XV selection - do you agree?

15. Kurtley Beale (Australia)
The 21-year-old more than held his own in a talent-heavy Wallabies back division and his dancing feet carried him to two tries while his monster penalty to down the Boks in Bloemfontein will live long in the memory.

14. James O'Connor (Australia)
The 20-year-old's star continues to rise after a series of eye-catching displays. A fleet-footed threat destined for greatness.

13. Conrad Smith (New Zealand)
Always a consistent if not eye-catching performer. A constant presence in attack and reliable in defence. Grabbed two tries to boot.

12. Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand)
An ever-present for the All Blacks who notched two tries and produced his usual mix of defensive grit and creative flair.

11. Israel Dagg (New Zealand)
A bit-part player in this year's Tri-Nations but made the most of his opportunities by displaying his dazzling game-breaking best - grabbing two tries including a crucial match-winner against the Boks in Johannesburg.

10. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
He may have been outscored by Springboks counterpart Morne Steyn, but the All Blacks fly-half underlined his value to his side with 63 points in five appearances to close in on England's Jonny Wilkinson at the top of the all-time Test points list.

9. Will Genia (Australia)
A crucial link man in the Wallabies' backs division - may not have been at his game-breaking best but still helped set their impressive tempo.

1. Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)
A stabilising front row force, Woodcock became the All Blacks' most-capped prop on the back of some solid performances. Quietly effective.

2. Keven Mealamu (New Zealand)
The All Blacks hooker has benefitted from an extended run in the No.2 shirt and repaid that faith with a string of solid showings.

3. Owen Franks (New Zealand)
The younger Franks brother looks destined to be a pivotal player in the All Blacks' World Cup assault.

4. Brad Thorn (New Zealand)
The grizzled campaigner showed there is plenty of life in the old dog yet.

5. Victor Matfield (South Africa)
If the Springboks are to haul themselves off the canvas then their veteran lock will no doubt lead the way - and showed some sublime skill with a chip and collect against the Wallabies in Bloem.

6. Rocky Elsom (Australia)
The Wallabies skipper is so often the driving force behind his side and his efforts brought two tries if not the key victories he yearned for.

7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Love him or loathe him you cannot fail to be impressed by McCaw. He may play on the edge but his consistency and ability to inspire are outstanding.

8. Kieran Read (New Zealand)
The strong-running Read made the All Blacks' No.8 shirt his own - industrious in defence and attack and grabbed a match-winning try against the Wallabies in Sydney to cap an impressive campaign.

Springboks coach Peter de Villiers has cast himself adrift with another ill-advised outburst © Getty Images

Peter De Villiers' ability to spark controversy continues to astound.

The loose-lipped Boks coach, described memorably by Aussie journo Greg Growden this week as "the Richard Pryor of rugby", has hit the headlines again for all the wrong reasons. His latest outburst centres on the suggestion that his side's recent back-to-back defeats at the hands of the All Blacks were orchestrated by officials in a PR exercise designed to ensure the New Zealand public got behind next year's Rugby World Cup.

It is a sad reflection of De Villiers' reputation that his latest allegation is seen by many as a comical rant by a clown-like figure whose side were taught a rugby lesson by their old rivals. The same cannot be said for SANZAR or the International Rugby Board who are sure to demand that he explains his actions that may yet attract a misconduct charge for bringing the game into disrepute. South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins may have instructed his legal representative to investigate alleged bias against the Springboks but even he will struggle to argue against any sanction coming De Villiers' way on this occasion.

The veiled allegation, broadcast on Fox Sports' Rugby Club programme, is just the latest in a long list of gaffes from the outspoken coach, who has attracted controversy since his politically-motivated appointment in 2008. Since then he has done his best to help race relations ("What I've learned in South Africa is that if you take your car to a garage where the owner is a black man and he messes up then you'll never go back to that garage again. If the owner's a white man you say, 'ah, he made a mistake', and you go back"), infuriate the British & Irish Lions and his own union (Why don't we go to the nearest ballet shop, get some tutus and get a dancing shop going?), boost tourism in New Zealand ("There is nothing in Hamilton") and at the same time cultivate his own colourful image ("I'm a God-given talent, I'm the best I can ever be. So what you think doesn't bother me. I know what I am and I don't give a damn.")

The result is a must-see attraction within the realms of international rugby - a Peter De Villiers press conference. His volatile nature must have SARU's communications team on tenterhooks ahead of each media day and they probably celebrate each scandal-free outing like another Rugby World Cup triumph. Journalists jostle for position whenever De Villiers is served up to the media hoping for what our American friends call a 'brain fart' that will send their copy bouncing around the worldwide web. Despite his faults, he remains good copy and so his eccentric, if somewhat misguided, ways ensure life around the Boks is never full.

De Villiers' saving grace has been his side's results on the pitch. He inherited a side that had won the Rugby World Cup crown but breathed fresh life into the squad and steered them to Tri-Nations glory in 2009 and a hard-fought series victory over the Lions. Those successes have helped him weather the criticism that has come his way but the All Blacks' recent victories leave the Springboks and De Villiers himself looking a little more vulnerable.

De Villiers' concern over officiating stemmed from the performance of Irish referee Alain Rolland during the clash with the All Blacks in Wellington. The Boks cried foul at the yellow-card handed down somewhat harshly to lock Danie Rossouw and the ability of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw to avoid sanction despite repeated offences. Rolland was not at his consistent best and his handling of the game led to one SA journo to call for a merit-based referee set-up for the World Cup like the one which was recently implemented in Super Rugby.

It may have worked successfully in the Super 14 but would New Zealand really accept a South African referee for a World Cup Final showdown with the Springboks? Maybe. Last summer the Lions revealed that they would happily accept South African referee Jonathan Kaplan for the Test series with the Springboks due to their respect for him, although neutral referees finally got the nod.

Realistically the IRB are unlikely to entertain the idea and run the risk of controversy souring the tournament - they'll leave that to the coaches - but to that end they must ensure all the referees, from both hemispheres, are reading from the same hymn sheet by the time the eyes of the world fall on RWC'11.

	A class apart: Springboks skipper John Smit © Getty Images

15. Frans Steyn (South Africa)
We already knew he could kick the leather off the ball but with three successful kicks from inside his own half against the All Blacks in Hamilton he cemented his reputation as one of the most deadly boots in the game.

14. Cory Jane (New Zealand)
Jane may have only featured twice during this year's Tri-Nations but he did enough against the Wallabies in Wellington to claim a spot in our line-up. There may have been a general lack of top quality wing play but let us not detract from his superb try at the Westpac Stadium. One for the future.

13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Australia)
There were few bright spots for the Wallabies in this year's Tri-Nations but Ashley-Cooper's emergence as a genuine threat at outside centre was one of them. After stepping into the void left by injured captain Stirling Mortlock, he went on to play a starring role in his side's upset of the Springboks.

12. Jean de Villiers (South Africa)
A close run thing between the Springboks stalwart, Australia's Berrick Barnes and New Zealand's Ma'a Nonu with the latter making a late run at the spot. But it is Munster-bound De Villiers who gets the nod for largely dominating his counterparts with a tight defensive game and a trademark intercept score to wrap up the tournament in Hamilton.

11. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
The ever-impressive Habana took his try tally to 35 from 52 games with a brace against the Wallabies in Perth. Rellatively quiet but still a significant presence.

10. Morne Steyn (South Africa)
New Zealand's Dan Carter may have stolen some headlines with his return to the international stage but make no mistake Steyn was the star of the show. He made his Tri-Nations bow at half-time against the All Blacks in Bloemfontein and didn't look back. He finished with a record 95 points to his name including another record 31 point haul against New Zealand in Durban.

9. Fourie du Preez (South Africa)
Surely a shoe-in for the IRB Player of the Year and that is before the Springboks have even embarked on their end-of-season march through Europe. So often the Springboks' driving force, he is in the form of his life thanks largely to a deadly kicking game.

1. Benn Robinson (Australia)
The Wallabies' loose-head enhanced his growing reputation despite his side's erratic record. Most memorably got the better of Smit in the Wallabies' victory in Brisbane.

2. Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa)
Anchored a dominant Springboks pack and provided plenty of grunt in the loose. And while New Zealand's Andrew Hore and Australia's Tatafu Polota-Nau struggled at lineout time, Du Plessis had the twin towers of Matfield and Botha to rely upon.

3. John Smit (South Africa)
The Springboks skipper has his critics but he has also tasted success at the Rugby World Cup, against the Lions and now in the Tri-Nations. His scrummaging may have been questioned but he was never out of his depth as some would have you believe. A true statesman off the field, he finally shared in a victory on New Zealand soil and is still the best captain in the international game by a long way.

5. Victor Matfield (South Africa) & 4. Bakkies Botha (South Africa)
The Springboks duo are named together for they are such a formidable partnership, a team within a team. Widely regarded as the best second row pairing in the world before this year's Tri-Nations, they cemented that reputation with a physical and mental mauling of their southern hemisphere rivals.

6 (Openside). Heinrich Brussow (South Africa)
Brussow emerged as a world-class talent during the Springboks' series victory over the Lions earlier this year and kicked on again in the Tri-Nations. He continues to boss his more experienced rivals including the likes of All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw and his Wallabies counterpart George Smith.

7 (Blindside). Juan Smith (South Africa)
The silent efficiency of Smith has long been a key part of the Springboks arsenal and he was again at his best until injury brought an end to his campaign. He was unable to share in the delight of the title-clinching victory in Hamilton and will be sorely missed on their end of year tour having subsequently suffered a knee injury.

8. Keiran Read (New Zealand)
The strong-running Kiwi made the most of his opportunity after Rodney So'oialo was cast aside by coach Graham Henry. Expect the 23-year-old to go from strength to strength on the end of year tour.

	De Villiers has been urged to tone down his outspoken ways by his South African Rugby Union employers © Getty Images

I'm must admit I am not sure whether his performance review was scheduled for after the recent series with the British & Irish Lions - these things normally occur at the end of a season - but there was more than enough justification for a little chat with the outspoken Boks boss.

The flowery-speaking De Villiers has been no stranger to controversy since taking the Springboks' reins from Jake White following the side's triumph at Rugby World Cup 2007. Arguably that seed was sown by SA Rugby themselves with union president Oregan Hoskins admitting that, "the appointment was not entirely made for rugby reasons” in reference to the colour of his skin.

From that point on he has gobbled up the column inches with some amusing and bemusing sound bites such as these:

“I think I should walk away from this job and give it back to the whites.” - De Villiers reacts to allegations that he featured in a sex tape.

“If you want to run with the big dogs you’ve got to lift a leg.” - De Villiers talks up his side following their defeat to the All Blacks in Wellington during last year's Tri-Nations.

“If you look at the Bible and see how Joseph got out of the pit and ended up in the palace, but between the pit and the palace there was a moerse lot of kak.” - De Villiers explains away his side's form ahead of their defeat to New Zealand at Newlands during the 2008 Tri-Nations.

The pattern continued this year with the Lions tour offering him an even bigger stage from which to entertain and baffle.

"What I learned in South Africa is, if you take your car to a garage and the owner is black or a black man, and they mess it up, you never go back to that garage. If the owner is white, you say ag, sorry, they made a mistake and you go back again. This is how some people live their lives in this country." – De Villiers defends the presence of Ricky Januarie in his squad despite question marks about his form.

"I won't change my style, if I change my style I will change Peter de Villiers, and then I would have to tell God that he made a mistake when he made me." – De Villiers resorts to the third person under criticism for his outspoken nature.

"If we are going on like this, why don't we go to the nearest ballet shop, get some tutus and get a dancing shop going? There will be no eye-gouging, no tackling, no nothing and we will enjoy it." – De Villiers stokes the row following Schalk Burger’s eye-gouging of Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald.

The South African Rugby Union were reportedly pressured by the International Rugby Board to issue an apology for De Villiers’ initial outburst following the Burger-Fitzgerald incident but its sincerity was subsequently called into question as the Bok coach was soon drawn back into the row by the media.

Such was the furore that it over-shadowed the Springboks’ historic series triumph over the tourists which will have also infuriated his union bosses. As a result it was not surprising that they slapped him on the wrist at this week’s review.

"The assessment committee advised Peter to refrain from statements involving the Bible and to generally be more careful about what he says," Hoskins told local media.

"We explained where he could have used a different approach. One example was the statement about the mechanic when he tried to defend Ricky Januarie's selection. We made it clear the media wasn't there to fight with him and that they just report what they see and hear.”

This last point was highlighted in the wake of the second Test row - starting in the post-match press conference where De Villiers was immediately on the defensive as he was peppered by the British and Irish media. Perhaps his experiences with the South African media leave him cautious but with reports that he has shunned any media training you have little sympathy for him.

Although a little concerning, the religious themes that De Villiers favours are probably not the main concern for his employers. Biblical references are extremely common on the sporting stage be it T-shirts worn by the Confederations Cup-winning Brazil side or American golfer Stewart Cink thanking God for his recent Open Championship triumph. Faith has also long been a part of South African rugby.

It is the political dynamite he dishes up that causes sleepless nights with a country still wrestling with a troubled, race-divided past.

The timing of De Villiers’ dressing down, on the eve of a run of three home games in this year’s Tri-Nations, is also significant with Hoskins and co surely hoping for a trouble-free month.
Another key conclusion from this week’s meeting will see De Villiers speak in Afrikaans at press conferences and in interviews if he feels he can express himself better using a language more familiar to him. My South African colleagues have nothing but praise for the way he handles himself one-on-one but admit he is more at ease in Afrikaans.

De Villiers is currently blessed with a talented squad featuring many of those who shared in the recent Rugby World Cup glory and there is no doubt that the victory over the Lions gives him plenty of breathing space in the job. In fact his employers could not be happier with his coaching prowess although rumours remain that senior players are guiding the side.

But sources tell me that even a defeat in the recent series would not have hastened his departure partly due to the political bind the union have put themselves in - they have to be seen to give the country’s first black coach every opportunity to prove himself – and partly because of the lack of a potential replacement.

Time will tell if De Villiers changes his ways in light of this latest warning but let’s hope he doesn’t change completely. His forthright style is often refreshing in an otherwise bland, cliché-ridden world but if he could just think about what he is going to say before opening his mouth.