Best Games
1) Leinster v Clermont Auvergne, Bordeaux. Two fine sides at absolutely full tilt.
2) France v England, Stade de France. The first stirrings of an English renaissance.
3) Toulouse v Harlequins, Le Stadium. A classic smash-and-grab raid.
Club player of the season
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins). Never took a backward step for club or country.
Club coach of the season
Joe Schmidt (Leinster). The Lions should snap him up if they can.
International player of the season
Sam Warburton (Wales). Rugby World Cup semi-finalists, Six Nations grand slam … Warburton set the standard for his compatriots to follow.
International coach of the season
Graham Henry (New Zealand). He can rest easy now.
Best captain
Leo Cullen (Leinster). Three Heineken Cups in four years is no accident.
Best newcomers
1) Ben Morgan. An emerging English presence at No8.
2) Ashley Beck. Rising star in the Ospreys midfield.
3) Christian Wade. Seriously quick Wasps winger.
Try of the season
In terms of storybook timing, it is hard to beat Shane Williams's double against Leinster to help Ospreys win the Rabo Direct Pro12 final. A fitting end to a great career.
Most memorable quotes
1) "I told them what I thought of them, that they were selfish, disobedient and that for four years they have been on my case. But at the end of the day it won't stand in the way of the fact we are in the final." France's coach Marc Lièvremont tells it straight after his players stayed out late following their World Cup semi-final win over Wales.
2) "I don't think we understood the impact of Tinds being a member of the Royal Family in a Commonwealth country and the extra interest he would generate." An anonymous England player attempts to break the world record for understatement.
3) "I've never seen a Mexican Wave in Tijuana." Stuart Barnes scolds the distracted Twickenham crowd.
Headline of the season
'Manu Overboard!' Manu Tuilagi's ill-advised dive off a ferry in Auckland Harbour was a headline writer's dream.
Most inspirational performance
Richard Parks. The former Wales international made history in 2011 by becoming the first person to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents and walk to the North and South Poles in the same year.
Best matchday atmosphere
Mennaye Field, Penzance. Sun sinking over Mount's Bay, the Falmouth Marine Band in full cry, genuine supporters, proper rugby club.
Worst matchday atmosphere
Vicarage Road, Watford. Saracens' move to a new stadium cannot come soon enough.
The Horlicks award for embarrassment
England. Their New Zealand World Cup misadventures dwarfed all other contenders.
Most inspired management decision
Taking Harlequins to Abu Dhabi before a hot, energy-sapping Aviva Premiership final paid off handsomely for Conor O'Shea.
Room for improvement
1) The promotion/relegation issue in England.
2) The number of camera angles made available by certain host broadcasters when the local team concede a debatable try.
3) Refereeing standards.
Predictions for the next 12 months
1) The 2013 Lions tour of Australia will be a belter.
2) England will steadily improve.
3) The global profile of Sevens rugby will continue to grow.
Next year's British and Irish Lions Test XV?
R Kearney (Ireland); T Bowe (Ireland), B O'Driscoll (Ireland), J Roberts (Wales), G North (Wales); J Sexton (Ireland), M Phillips (Wales); G Jenkins (Wales), R Best (Ireland), A Jones (Wales), P O'Connell (Ireland), R Gray (Scotland), D Lydiate (Wales), S Warburton (Wales), S O'Brien (Ireland).
The end is nigh
This is my final regular weekly blog of the European season … thank you to all who have commented below the line and contributed to the lively and informative daily debate on this site. Let the summer tours commence.
