As we say goodbye to 2019 and welcome in 2020, it's a good time to catch up on the very best of the Herald columnists we enjoyed reading over the last 12 months. From politics to sport, from business to entertainment and lifestyle, these are the voices and views ouraudience loved the most. Today it's the top five from rugby writer Gregor Paul.
Magnificent Ireland v England rugby clash built on despicable lie
A February test match between England and Ireland in Dublin showed that the English side were genuine World Cup contenders. This prediction by Gregor Paul ultimately turned out to be correct, as the side won the tournament. "England didn't reveal they are a deadly attacking force — they confirmed it," he wrote.
Why world's best coaches are walking away from All Blacks
Who will be the All Blacks' 2019 Rugby World Cup bolters?
In February, Gregor Paul ruminated on who the next World Cup superstar could be. "Someone unexpected will re-shape the All Blacks' attacking possibilities and give them a degree of freshness and unpredictability that hasn't been there in the last couple of years," he wrote. Looking back on previous World Cups, it seemed sure to happen again in 2019.
Top All Blacks need to close lid on futures
With the once-in-a-lifetime scenario of playing two seasons in Japan in 2020 and just missing one SUper Rugby campaign seeming unlikely, Paul considered the career prospects of Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock. All three had hoped to have long term deals agreed by early 2019, to allow them to come into Super Rugby without their respective futures being a constant source of speculation.
