2011: A year in pictures - Part Two

Another year has passed us by and just before we call in the New Year, the rugby365.com team has compiled a collection of the images that defined the year. Today, we bring you Part Two in this series, as we look at the second half of 2011.

In the second part of our year-end galleries, we check out the action from the Tri-Nations, the Rugby World Cup, the Currie Cup and the mismatch that was the 2011 Barbarians game.

The Wallabies clinched the Tri-Nations title, the Lions roared in South Africa to claim the Currie Cup crown, while the All Blacks picked up the biggest prize of the all – the World Cup… and, with it, some fantastic images, too.

Check out the gallery for the second part of 2011:

The Wallabies ran away with the Tri-Nations title…

But there were a few ugly scraps along the way.

The Springboks were battered and bruised in the 2011 Tri-Nations.

However, there was still enough fight in the Boks to beat the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth.

The World Cup was a different story with something getting in the way of the Bok onslaught on Australia.

Wales had their own problems in the semifinals with a costly tip-tackle from skipper Sam Warburton.

The All Blacks, meanwhile, had lost their biggest star ahead of the knock-outs…

But under Richie McCaw they prevailed to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.

In the Currie Cup the big discovery was Cheetahs flyhalf Johan Goosen.

The Currie Cup also had a cameo or two from a French Shark.

But a big Lion emerged to lead the pride of Johannesburg…

And the Lions didn’t disappoint in the Currie Cup Final, with the master King Carlos proud of his star apprentice Elton Jantjies.

Wales said goodbye to their little Wizard on the Wing – Shane Williams.

South Africa bade farewell to the line-out legend Victor Matfield.

And finally… another Springbok legend, John Smit, set sail for his next adventure with Saracens.

* Check out our 2011 World Cup gallery HERE!