Biggest Winners and Losers in World Rugby for Weekend of December 19-21
The pressure to succeed at the pinnacle of rugby's food chain leads to a great deal of pressure on clubs, players and everyone in between; some cope with that burden well, others do not.
This weekend, we saw a certain Scarlets back forced to backtrack after making a questionable decision in his choice of Christmas party attire, while Northampton Saints captain Dylan Hartley is back in the bad books.
However, Toulon are back to making some superb choices in their pledge to build the most glittering of squads in Europe this week, with their fans receiving an early Christmas present in recent days.
New Zealand have also announced a fine addition of their own for 2015, and Wasps made a magnificent start to life in their newest setting. All that and more in this week's edition of the biggest winners and losers in world rugby.
Winner: Toulon Continue to Add Star Juggernauts
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As if Mourad Boudjellal hadn't given Toulon fans enough to be cheery about with a European and domestic double in 2014, the club's owner ended the calendar year by announcing some groundbreaking signings for next season.
According to ESPN Scrum, Samu Manoa and Salesi Ma'afu of Northampton Saints both agreed to join Toulon just a day after it was revealed Ma'a Nonu and Napolioni Nalaga would be coming into the team.
Np. 8 Manoa will pen a four-year contract at the Stade Mayol, and Boudjellal is quoted as speaking highly of the United States international:
"Samu Manoa is the first four-year contract that I have signed.
For me, he will become the star of the Top 14. He is a rugby phenomenon, made for Mayol. He is a player we spotted a few months ago. We contacted him and his agent said he had been approached by all the clubs in the Top 14 and England and that the only offer he could take was that of Toulon.
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Manoa's signing alone might be enough to cause excitement for supporters, but to also hear that Nonu and Nalaga will be reinforcing the back line with another infusion of southern-hemisphere grit is endearing, to say the least.
Any fears of the ranks being diluted in the face of contracts that are soon to expire will have been swiftly replaced by a new sense of optimism, with Boudjellal's motivation to dominate Europe clearly still boundless.
Loser: Dylan Hartley Showcases Ill Discipline Once Again
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Not for the first time in his career, Dylan Hartley has thrown his own name into disrepute after picking up a needless red card during Northampton Saints' 23-19 win over Leicester Tigers.
After seemingly being held at the breakdown by Leicester's Matt Smith, the England hooker proceeded to fling an elbow at the opposition centre.
Referee JP Doyle initially awarded a yellow for the offence, but on inspection by the television match official, a straight red was adjudged to be the right decision.
Per ESPN Scrum, Hartley's RFU hearing will likely take place on Tuesday, although it's mentioned his club are prepared to fight fiercely for their player's defence.
Irrespective of the outcome, Hartley must court some of the blame after this latest tantrum, reacting to an opponent's taunts precisely when his team doesn't need it in most un-captain-like manner.
Stuart Lancaster is sure to have taken note of what was another blip on the hooker's rap sheet, bound to examine his alternative options with a closer watch.
Winner: Andy Goode Stars in Wasps' Triumphant Start to Life at the Ricoh Arena
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A great man once insinuated that young players these days play with too much brawn and not enough brain. In fact, Andy Goode's timing in proclaiming as much, per the Telegraph's Daniel Schofield, couldn't be more apt right now.
The Wasps fly-half is fresh after grabbing 33 of his side's points in a mauling of London Irish on Sunday. This was the first game for Dai Young's side at their relocated Ricoh Arena home, and what a start their 48-16 drubbing provided.
The relocation from Adams Park has been met with controversy, but an Aviva Premiership record turnout of 28,254 showed there's certainly support to be found in Coventry.
Born and raised on these lands, Goode rolled back the years in reaching a record 33 points in front of such a huge audience, missing just one of his 11 attempted kicks and grabbing a try to round off the perfect outing.
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Loser: Liam Williams Caught Up in Unfortunate Dress-Up Drama
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It's difficult to be a professional athlete in the snap-happy era of social media, admittedly, but Liam Williams is nonetheless the latest to fall into that column of players who need better decision-making skills.
The Wales fullback-cum-winger was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this weekend after choosing to "black up" and impersonate Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony, per the Daily Mail's Sam Webb.
Indeed, it raises a debatable argument on where the line should be drawn in such instances and how severe must we really be when it comes to these cases. Is someone permitted to dress up only as characters of the same origin as their own?
Regardless, Williams took to Twitter once more, saying that he knows Bony personally and that the Ivorian gave him the green light for the outfit in any case.
Nonetheless, someone in Williams' position should perhaps know better than to poke such a contentious topic at all and go with a safer option next time. He later apologised for his costume.
Winner: All Blacks Turn Star Recruitment to the Coaching Staff
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Steve Hansen has just added a touch of yet more class to his ranks after 2011 Rugby World Cup-winning coach Wayne Smith was confirmed as a new recruit to his staff.
ESPN Scrum confirmed that Smith, who served under Sir Graham Henry from 2004 to 2011, will rejoin the team in 2015 as a defence coach specialist, further cementing a solid foundation for their title defence.
Having yet another figure who was present for the triumph three-and-a-half years ago will undoubtedly encourage even more in the dressing room to believe a second successive triumph is possible.
The All Blacks will be among the heavy favourites in England anyway, but Smith's return wisdom will be invaluable, shown during back-to-back Super Rugby championships with the Chiefs in 2012 and 2013.
Of the appointment, Hansen is quoted as saying:
"He is one of the most astute rugby coaches in world rugby and having worked with him in the past, we know just how valuable he is to any team he is involved in. 'Smithy' will add another dimension to what is already a strong coaching group in what will be a big year for us. We look forward to welcoming him back into the fold.
Smithy's role will be purely around defence, but as we do with all our coaches we will tap into his vast knowledge of other areas of the game.
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The rest of the World Cup contenders will look on with envy as New Zealand continue to strengthen, clinging onto the hope that this All Blacks machine can somehow be derailed at some point next year.
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