*Over in Montpellier, onlookers are astonished to see the Wallabies all suddenly grow an inch taller*

In agreement there, Patrick. That is very interesting about New Zealand. Given they’re hot favourites, this image comes to mind.

I also savoured the way Wayne Smith finished his wrap-up:

Everyone at this tournament knows the Wallabies are coming, it’s just that the radar isn’t picking them up. They are winning well but not wantonly, doing enough but no more. It’s the time-honoured Australian way of walking away with the World Cup.

Think of Fiji, Canada and whichever of Tonga and England progress as a good opportunity to run the reserves through some match-time and get the combinations ticking over. Playing Wales in our second match was really good for us, in fact – a game to get into it, a solid hit-out against a top-ten team, and now three games to get everything right and everyone pulling together for NZ or FRA.

Speaking of which, has anyone noticed that NZ have conceded more tries than RSA, AUS, FRA and ARG? I reckon France are a decent chance to repeat their 1999 heroics in the quarters (although it was the semis then). Ironically, that will see them, just like in 1999, fronting up to the Wallabies straight afterwards.

Here’s to history repeating :)

We shouldnt have many injuries against the Fijians. Really these days the Wallabies are actually more likely to injure the Fijians just because they are that much better conditioned.

I’m sure you’re right there, Patrick. It’s just tournament jitters, thinking of the Fijian’s hard, loose style at this point in the progression. For a while there against Wales, the Australians rode that commanding rhythm that we used to know of them under Macqueen. We can conquer the world with that play, and it was brilliant to see it back again, albeit for I guess twenty minutes or so. The trajectory for us overall is that we are getting into the right space to win this, notwithstanding the loss of command during Wales in the second half, and injuries are a major stoppage to that continuing. Jitters aside, the Fijian match will be a good hit out before the biggie.

And didn’t our guts champion captain provide the perfect reply for his team, and the young Barnes, against the Thomas’ shot. Shower time.

When exactly did he get slow, btw? I assume it must have been in the last four years only – cause four years ago he outran half the all blacks, although that was probably not interesting enough a match for one of such refined tastes as yourself.

We shouldn’t have many injuries against the Fijians. Really these days the Wallabies are actually more likely to injure the Fijians just because they are that much better conditioned.

The young bloke won’t leave himself so open (re Thomas) next time.

Lote must be going apeshit. The plays must be building up in his head..! I’d put him in the centres for a move or two.

A valuable match to win, good take out for the guys, yet they’d know now how much they have to lift – and hold that – for the All Blacks. The earlier parts of the first half showed we have what it takes to win this Cup, which I think is the main thing from the match.

Being pummelled by the Fijians won’t be fun, with injuries the danger. It’s a bit concerning.

I would have given Gits man of the match, especially for recovering Tuqiri’s ball for his pass to Mitchell that led to Latham’s first try, but he had a big hand in all the first three.

Anyway, that’s the first Cup half over for us. Provided we can lift our approach to the third quarter, things look good for the Wallabies. Morts is only out for Fiji, and Bernie is talking about the possibility of being back for Canada, and certainly for the quarter-final – which is almost certainly going to be against Samoa. With Robinson gone, I reckon the Poms will struggle to beat Tonga.

This means our sequence is likely to be Samoa/All Blacks/Springboks – with the last depending on whether the French turn up. So far, so OK.

NOt that he stopped Barnes kicking that drop-goal just minutes later – what a star Barnes is!

Ultimately that match highlighted the unfairness of playing in Wales – on a French ground (ie harder and dry) we would have put daylight between us and them in 30 minutes. And if the touch-judge didn’t see the knock-on for Wales second try then he probably shouldn’t be touch-judge (you wouldn’t believe who it was!).

I hope Mortlock’s all right – I reckon he is even more important than Larkham. Certainly, judging by the second half, we need at least one of them.

Finally, congratulations to Portugal and Georgia! Well done!

For some preliminary mood:

Here’s Gareth Thomas in 1988 vs Boks, for comparison tonight.

Here is Wales during their peak, to my mind the greatest team in the world at the time, and ranking there of all time. No doubt Latham of Socks Down modelled himself, visually at least, on the master custodian, JPR Williams.

vs England 1977

vs England a year earlier. Check out Gareth Edward’s pass – a short one for him.

a quickie from 72.

And a compilation of Welsh tries, nine minutes of the very stuff the crowd will be remembering and feeling – as though yesterday – and wanting that spirit to descend on the park again, against the Australian Wallabies tonight our time.

That’s a neat piece by Wayne Smith, Robert. Mark Ella is also worth a read, with a warning about Gareth Thomas and opening up the Tuqiri question.

By contrast, after a blessed Growden-free week, I bought the SMH today, Saturday being the sole exception to the rule. This column, one of Growden’s less exciteable, is still a sackable offence to all sports journalism. I mean, the lead is now as stale as old vomit, but check out the conclusion. What is wrong with this reasoning?

… Giteau at inside-centre is under-utilised as an alternative attacking option to Stirling Mortlock. There is no point cutting him out of the play.

This is an abomination by someone who describes himself as a “Chief Rugby Correspondent”. Growden is a complete idiot, as if we didn’t know that already. Gits gets cut out to get the ball more quickly to Mortlock, and potentially the wingers. That’s the “point”. It’s bleeding obvious. We all know what the “point” is, except poor Greg, who thinks that “there is no point”. It’s not flaming rocket-science, for godsakes. It’s bloody elementary.

When Growden grows up and begins to understand the game, he might try to discuss strategies, plays and tactics. He might then even work up to mounting an argument about the strengths and weaknesses of, say, the cut-out to Morts, and we might then even all have a useful discussion. First, however, Growden has to learn that there is in fact a “point” to the cut-out.

Someone have mercy and take the pen off this clown.

For those who haven’t caught it, an enjoyable read here about playing Wales in Cardiff.

Bad news for the Wallabies, with Bernie only rated a 50-50 chance of starting due to a knee injury at training. Can’t see Knuckles risking Barnes with a start in a big one like this. If Bernie doesn’t make it, I expect Boy Wonder to move to 10, and Staniforth to start at 12.

Update: Bernie looks a good chance. But if he doesn’t start, Knuckles is going with young Barnes. Hold on to your hats! Full story here.