Could Christian Lealiifano's injury open the door for a new star to emerge? © Getty Images

Writing the Sydney Morning Herald, former Wallabies skipper John Eales belives one of Australia's biggest weaknesses has been its greatest strength.

"Geniuses and freaks aside, often the only difference between a very good provincial – and even test player – and a very good club player is opportunity. In the past, one of Australia's biggest weaknesses has also been our greatest strength. We rarely had the depth of other nations, but what talent we enjoyed thrived in either the Waratahs or the Reds, and later the Brumbies, so they became weapons on the international stage.

"Front-rowers Ewen McKenzie, Phil Kearns and Tony Daly played years together with the Waratahs and Wallabies, Tim Horan and Jason Little forged a memorable pairing in the centres for the Reds, as did George Gregan and Stephen Larkham for the Brumbies.

"Once the top test team is established this season, it is possible there will be very few combinations that have regularly played together at provincial level. This means we must look to the positives of the current environment, while solving the problems it presents.

"The goal must be to exploit the broader talent pool that has been given the gift of greater exposure."

Writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, Matt Burke takes some inspiration from the book and film Moneyball.

"During the week I finally got around to watching the movie Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt. If you haven't seen it, the premise of the movie is that baseballers should not be judged on reputation, history or influence but formulating a statistical profile that will show via percentages and averages their true value on the park. Basically, they became statistics men.

"I thought a little deeper about this scenario and wondered if you could adapt that Moneyball theory to rugby. I am not going to go as far as Jonah Hill's character did with regards to stats; my thinking is could you choose a Wallabies team without prejudice or influence playing a factor? Perhaps this could be a mid-term grade for the players on show at the moment in this year's Super Rugby competition."

Michael Lynagh has been released from hospital © Getty Images

The Sydney Morning Herald's Phil Lutton attends Michal Lynagh's press conference where the Australian great spoke of his stroke and just how lucky he was.

"Michael Lynagh was having a quiet drink with school friends in Brisbane when he laughed at an old war story and choked innocuously into his beer. When he opened his eyes, he couldn't see.

That innocent moment was the start of a life-or-death sequence of events for the Wallaby great, who has been released from hospital after suffering a rare stroke that stood a very real chance of claiming his life.

The 48-year-old was erudite and showing few signs of his ordeal as he spoke to the media this morning at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. But he has lost almost half of the sight in his left eye and faces a long recovery after his brush with death."

Greg Growden, writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, claims that the Force are now facing a battle to keep hold of star openside David Pocock after Will Genia's U-turn.

"While the Queensland Reds are delighted Will Genia has agreed to a $200,000 salary haircut to remain in Brisbane, the Force have been destabilised by his about-face, adding more pressure on them to retain their captain and prime lure David Pocock.

Genia was attracted to the Force through his close relationship with Pocock and an exorbitant $600,000-a-season offer, which would have made him easily Australian rugby's top earner. It is understood the highest-paid Australian Super Rugby performers are Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor, who both command around $350,000 each from the Melbourne Rebels.

And that is before the Australian Rugby Union top-ups and Test match payments. So if Genia took the $600,000 Force offer, he had the potential of commanding about $1 million a season by making $180,000 in Test match payments (15 Tests at $12,000 per international), and an ARU top-up likely to be at least $200,000. Genia's love of singing the Reds team song must be worth around $200,000 a year as the Reds' offer was near the $400,000 mark."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Adam Frier urges players and coaches to be more to promote the game.

"I love rugby union, but sometimes I feel like we are the reality TV show The Voice, singing our hearts out, yet it seems the louder we sing the less likely Delta, Seal and Keith Urban are to turn around.

"Rugby has a voice, it's just yet to be heard. By a voice, I mean rugby has a story. It has characters, a plot and even narky critics who will say if it is worth going to see.

"Yet where can we see our game on stage, apart from one night a week on the Fox Sports' Rugby Club?

"I can understand a great deal was spent on broadcasting at last year's Rugby World Cup, but what is happening at present has me on edge.

"The saturation coverage of AFL is a strategic move to entice AFL tragics away from free-to-air to a better insight into their game.

"I am a novice AFL fan, yet I found myself on the edge of my seat watching the Anzac Day thriller mainly because, by the time I'd watched all the lead-up shows, I felt as though I almost knew what the players were thinking."

Writing in the < Ahref="http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/is-rugby-just-a-job-or-do-players-still-have-passion-for-their-state-20120421-1xdle.html" target="new">Sydney Morning Herald, Matt Burke questions the mindset of players who sign for a rival side midway through a season.

" Perhaps there needs to be a window of opportunity where player managers can go to the market and shop their players around. I would find the process of negotiating a contract mid-season a little distracting. In the process of playing well, the offers should flow in, while a poor on-field showing diminishes your stocks. It is cutthroat, and a player needs to get the best deal possible. Perhaps the scenario should be to open the transfer window at the end of the season when players go back to club or country. You already know the value of the player from viewing a full season of Super Rugby.

"I say this in refection of James O'Connor's drawn-out process of negotiation last year. This highlighted the need to have some kind of procedures in place that will give the franchise certainty as to when this process should occur. No doubt the deliberation had an effect on the Force and the way they performed last year. The great cliche of "we not me" was not observed in this instance."

Reds boss Ewen McKenzie insists the recruitment of Western Force coach Richard Graham does not signal the end of his involvement with the side. Check out his latest column in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"You often don't get the time to make considered and long-term decisions as the pressure of the moment gets in the way. We're blessed we have an organisation that has the forward-thinking to make this a reality.

"For the Reds, I will remain the head of the rugby program while Richard will transition into the role of head coach.

"It's a process that may seem bizarre to some but which is common place within rugby, especially in Europe. There is barely a European club that does not have a multi-level structure to their rugby department. This is done so organisations get the best out of their investments both on and off the field. Clubs are constantly adapting their structures and titles to maximise their skill sets and to overcome new challenges."

Reds and Wallabies star Will Genia is just another member of the clan back at the family home in Port Moresby, writes the Sydney Morning Herald's Georgina Robinson.

"The 2011 Super Rugby Player of the Year is a four-hour flight and a million miles from rugby right now. He has taken an opportunity presented by the Reds' round eight bye to nip home for a few days to see family and help launch an Australian Rugby Union program using the game to teach life skills to school children.

"This mid-season visit is a rare treat. Genia usually comes back for a month-long stint at Christmas, when the whole family drives three hours east to their village, Lalaura. But in the back of his brother's ute on a languid Easter Monday afternoon in Papua New Guinea's wild and bustling capital, the 24-year-old is relishing the break.

''It's good to be home,'' he says. ''I always feel really free when I get back home, away from everything. All the troubles you leave behind and elsewhere, you come back and it's just so laid back, you can do whatever you want, sit in the back of utes, drive around town. It's just carefree and that's the best thing about it.''

Michael O'Connor, Australia's Sevens coach, reflects on their victory in Tokyo and the kicking exploits of youngster Matt Lucas in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"MIchael O'Connor knows plenty about pressure goal kicks - with his sideline conversion in teeming rain to win the match for NSW in 1991 among the most memorable State of Origin league moments.

"But even O'Connor, now the Australian Sevens rugby coach, was astounded when he witnessed something almost as spectacular on Sunday, when the 20-year-old newcomer Matt Lucas enabled his team to win the Tokyo Sevens tournament with a last-minute conversion, again from the sideline."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden looks at the change to the Wallabies' coaching set-up.

"Tony McGahan will this week be confirmed as the Wallabies' new coaching co-ordinator, but Robbie Deans remains the top dog.

The Herald has been told that McGahan, who has just finished with the Irish province Munster, has accepted a senior position with the revamped Wallabies coaching panel and an official announcement is imminent.

In the Wallabies coaching pecking order, McGahan will be No.2 to Deans, who has been in charge of the Test team since 2008.

After McGahan's contract has been finalised, the Australian Rugby Union will appoint a scrum and lineout coach, and a skills coach. The most likely candidates to fill those roles are former Test prop Andrew Blades and former Edinburgh and Scotland A coach Nick Scrivener respectively."

In the Syndey Morning Herald, Greg Growden reports on the Waratahs' attempts to finalise their squad for next season's Super Rugby tournament.

"The Waratahs are treating the re-signing of Wycliff Palu as a top priority amid concerns lucrative offers could force the Wallabies No.8 to head overseas - probably to Japan - next season.

This is one of many dilemmas facing the Waratahs coaching staff, who want to finalise their squad for next year but admit to being ''in a holding pattern'' as they are uncertain how much money they can spend on players because of speculation that the provincial salary cap applied by the Australian Rugby Union could be cut back next season.

The Waratahs have about 20 players contracted for 2013 and are confident several leading performers will re-sign in coming weeks. But there are vacant spots - both in the forwards and backs - to be filled in a 30-man contingent."

Munster coach Tony McGahan talks to the Irish Times John Fallon about his forthcoming role within the Wallabies' set-up.

"McGahan has been appointed coaching co-ordinator with the Australian management team headed up by Robbie Deans and he admitted that it was the sort of job “you would chase down or apply for”.

McGahan will bring over seven seasons with Munster to an end at the end of the current campaign. McGahan was defensive coach when Munster won the Heineken Cup in 2006 and doubled up as backs coach when they retained the title two years later.

He took over as head coach when Declan Kidney was appointed Ireland boss in 2008 and since then has guided them to two Magners League titles.

“I was asked to consider the position and I certainly wouldn’t have considered going back as a specialised unit coach, whether it be defence or attack, so it’s a coaching co-ordinator’s role.

“I’ll run the whole training programme while the national side is in Test-match mode from June to December and also run the programme and the players back in their provinces from January through to June.

“So I’ll be dealing with the totality of the strength and conditioning, the medical, the rugby side of things, strategy, the review, preview of the game itself and also the individuals."

James O'Connor tells the Sydney Morning Herald that he is ready, willing and able to fill the fly-half role for the Wallabies if required.

"If that opportunity comes up, I'll definitely put my hand up for it," O'Connor said.

"It all depends - I don't know how far away Quade is. I saw him on the weekend and he's in pretty high spirits.

"I love to be involved (with the added action at five-eighth). I love that spot."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden looks at a key weekend of Super Rugby.

"On Australia's Super Rugby Saturday, several fringe Wallabies candidates have the chance to convince the selectors they are ready for top-level football.

For six hours straight, Robbie Deans and co will observe more than 60 potential or established Wallabies, with the Brumbies, Waratahs, Reds and Rebels involved in three matches, including a derby.

The match most likely to result in new faces in the Wallabies training squad when the Super Rugby season breaks in June for Tests against Scotland and Wales will be played in Brisbane, where Reds five-eighth Mike Harris and openside breakaway Liam Gill confront the Rebels."

Greg Growden, writing for Sydney Morning Herald, writes that Robbie Deans will have a new coaching set-up behind him next season.

"Robbie Deans will be surrounded by different faces in the Wallabies coaching box this season, including at least three new assistant coaches.

Former Brumbies assistant coach, Edinburgh and Scotland A coach Nick Scrivener is in contention for one position, focusing on skills, and is expected to work alongside Deans. Former Test prop Andrew Blades and Munster coach Tony McGahan are also expected to be appointed as back-up coaches."

Georgina Robinson reports on the prolonged rift between former Australia fly-half Matt Giteau and current Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Matt Giteau may have started a new life tens of thousands of kilometres away in France but it appears he can't let go of being left out of Australia's Rugby World Cup squad.

"The former Wallaby and Brumby, who now plays for French Top 14 side Toulon, made another reference to his strained - or non-existent - relationship with Australian coach Robbie Deans overnight.

"The 29-year-old posted on Twitter "I'm starting to lose the faith but after waiting all day I don't think I'm going to get a valentines card from Robbie Deans ha"."

Wallabies star Berrick Barnes, talking to the Sydney Morning Herald's Adrian Warren, believes he is back to his best after a lengthy injury lay-off.

"Resurgent Wallabies back Berrick Barnes is convinced he is almost back to his best after producing two strong performances at the end of a tough year.

Sidelined for the latter stages of the Super Rugby tournament following issues with footballer's migraine, Barnes just squeezed into the Wallabies' World Cup squad.

He then formed an exciting new midfield combination with James O'Connor on Australia's two-match tour of Britain, playing primarily at inside centre with the latter calling the shots from five-eighth."

Greg Gowden, appearing in the Dominion Post, speaks to a bullish Wallabies captain James Horwill who is eyeing the world number one spot.

"The Wallabies stumbled well short of winning a World Cup trophy but have set their sights on being the world's top team by this time next year.

After defeating Wales on Saturday, Wallabies captain James Horwill said Australia's goal for next year was to take the No.1 ranking from the All Blacks. And he pointed to the calm professionalism his team had shown against Wales as a sign the Wallabies were again on the up.

It was an emotional night for the Welsh, as they farewelled one of their most celebrated wingers, Shane Williams, but the Wallabies managed to keep their heads and showed a ruthless streak in the second half to put away quality opponents who have the potential to win the Six Nations in a few months' time."

Australia's clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium has a lot to do with money, but the year's final game has merit according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"After a mixed season involving frugal moments and windfalls, it all ends for the Wallabies with a blatant money-spinner.

"The reason for the Wales-Wallabies Test at Millennium Stadium and the Barbarians fixture in London last weekend is primarily to improve the coffers of the respective bodies, in particular the Australian Rugby Union which is trying to recoup some of the $16 million in revenue lost this year due to a shortened Tri Nations and inbound calendar due to the World Cup.

"Getting the Wallabies to pick themselves up after the frustrations of a failed World Cup campaign and leave the sun and sand for several weeks of gloomy weather in the United Kingdom was asking a lot, but to the players' credit they have embraced it. Their attitude in London and Cardiff has been first-rate, as shown by their belligerent attitude when putting away a talented but clearly wasted Barbarians line-up.

"It has a lot to do with the squad knowing this is a tour where they can win a lot of brownie points with the Wallabies selectors. Test careers can be enhanced or revitalised if they again produce against a quality Welsh opposition, who will certainly be more motivated than the Good Time Charlies they trounced at Twickenham seven days ago. The intense local frenzy over Shane Williams's last Test match will see to that."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden previews Australia's clash with Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

"Appearing in the Test front row is probably not the best spot for someone with a dicky ticker, but Scott Andrews's past heart problems are not daunting him as he prepares for his first international start when he plays the Wallabies at Millennium Stadium tomorrow night.

"Two years ago, the tight-head prop was hospitalised for treatment when a routine Wales Rugby Union health test revealed that he had an irregular heartbeat.

"Andrews admitted when he discovered the abnormality that it was ''scary'', but medication has enabled him to continue playing, with the 22-year-old Cardiff representative being promoted to the Test front row this weekend, due to several other props either being injured or unavailable."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden repors as Australia prepare to tackle Wales in Cardiff.

"Wales coach Warren Gatland arrived wearing a Shane Williams mask and then tore it off to put James O'Connor and David Pocock on notice, explaining that stifling these two key Wallabies is critical if the home team wanted to win at Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

"Gatland, a strong candidate to be the British and Irish Lions coach for their 2013 Australian tour, was at his mischievous best when announcing the Wales Test line-up on a day that had been officially renamed at their team camp as ''Shane Williams day''.

"To honour the celebrated Welsh winger's final Test this weekend, the players wore Williams masks all day. Williams was allowed to announce the Test team to the players, while he took over as coach at their training session. There was also fun and games in the team room."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Georgina Robinson reports as English Test cricketer Monty Panesar links up with the Waratahs for a bit of training.

"Believe it or not, Monty Panesar sledges with the best of them.

"The English Test cricketer was at it again today but this time he was doing it in the company of 110-kilogram rugby players and the sledge was of the physical, fitness-training sort.

"Panesar, 29, was hauling a 40kg weight loaded on to a "sledge" and strapped around his waist at training with the NSW Waratahs in Sydney this morning.

"The left-arm orthodox spinner, who is playing with Randwick-Petersham Cricket Club, has started doing the odd midweek training session with the Super Rugby franchise in an effort to improve his fitness and strength."

James O'Connor contributed 20 points to Australia's 60-11 victory over the Barbarians © Getty Images

"James O'Connor says he is ready, willing and able to play his first Test at No.10, after excelling in the pivotal role for the Wallabies against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

"In his first major appearance at five-eighth, O'Connor had a memorable afternoon on Saturday, guiding the Wallabies to a breezy eight-tries-to-one victory with an assured midfield performance, in which he continually troubled the Barbarians with his front-foot play and willingness to attack the gain line. The extra responsibilities did not affect his kicking either, and he finished with 20 points from seven conversions, a penalty goal and field goal."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reports from Australia's crushing victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham.

"James O'Connor revelled in his first international appearance at five-eighth when he guided the Wallabies to an impressive 60-11 win over the Barbarians at Twickenham this morning.

"It appears certain that O'Connor will be the Test No.10 against Wales in Cardiff next Saturday after Berrick Barnes was forced off the field just before halftime with what appeared to be a back complaint.

"In the absence of Quade Cooper, who has missed the short Great Britain tour because of injury, O'Connor stood up to the mark as the chief playmaker, mixing his options well and showing courage against a Barbarians side which included numerous international rugby greats."

Australia are being looked upon to provide some light relief against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"The Wallabies are accustomed to heading to Twickenham at this time of the year to be ridiculed by the locals. Sledging of the Australian scrum is the usual November fare in London.

"However, this time around, the Wallabies are being looked upon to provide some necessary light relief at a time when England rugby is seeking any diversion to take their minds away from their own failings.

"When the Wallabies meet the Barbarians at Twickenham early tomorrow morning Sydney time, it is hoped this supposed festive affair will remind all of the fun of playing rugby because, elsewhere at the headquarters of English rugby, there is hardly any joy associated with the 15-man game.

"The Wallabies have been left alone by the British media, who have instead been delving into the latest revelation that has come out of a shambolic review of England's disastrous World Cup campaign."

The Irish Times' Gerry Thornley believes Australia's David Pocock is proving to be far more than just a great rugby player.

"As the catchline on the heroesboots website says, “more than just another rugby player”, and talking with David Pocock makes for more than just another interview. It’s actually as humbling as it is interesting.

"A beast of a man, the 23-year-old has been shortlisted for the IRB’s world player of the year in each of the last two years. Pocock’s performance in the Wallabies’ quarter-final win over South Africa was assuredly the individual performance of the tournament and today he captains his country for the first time against the Barbarians.

"As someone reared in Zimbabwe until his family’s farm was confiscated by the government and the family uprooted to Australia when he was 14, his African roots very much continue to shape him."

Jamie Pandaram, writing for the Courier Mail, looks at who may step into the void left by David Pocock if the unthinkable happens to the star openside.

"The depth of David Pocock's influence on the Wallabies' performance was captured comprehensively during his absence against Ireland, and presence against South Africa, during the World Cup.

And with the busiest schedule in history facing the Australian players next year, it is of utmost importance that a clear back-up for Pocock emerges.

Confusion surrounds the preferred choice, and this uncertainty bodes well for generation next.

Michael Hooper, who won this year's John Eales medal as under-20s player of the year, could be the man."

The Courier Mail's Jamie Pandaram writes that Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is still weighing up who he will opt for at fly-half in the forthcoming tour of Great Britain.

"Berrick Barnes and James O'Connor will form the five-eighth/centre combination for the Wallabies' tour but the order has to be finalised.

Coach Robbie Deans confirmed today that O'Connor remains a genuine chance to wear the No.10 jersey in Quade Cooper's absence for the games against the Barbarians and Wales.

While it was expected that O'Connor would move from the wing to inside centre, and Barnes to five-eighth, Deans does not want to commit just yet."

Australia's Quade Cooper is helped from the field after injuring his knee during the Rugby World Cup © Getty Images

Wallaby great Tim Horan believes Quade Cooper should use his injury-enforced lay-off to reflect on his disappointing World Cup performance and try to understand how to play Test rugby. The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"Horan, who was part of Australia's 1991 and 1999 World Cup-winning sides, said Cooper needed to learn that Super Rugby and Test matches demand two very different styles of play.

"For Quade Cooper, I think he needs to understand how to play Test match rugby," Horan said at a Melbourne Rebels function on Thursday.

"It's totally different to Super Rugby. In Super Rugby you can make a couple of mistakes and get away with it. In Test matches you can't and in World Cups when you get to knock-out stages, sometimes you have to play boring rugby to win the match."

"Horan hopes that Cooper, who has been linked to a switch to rugby league, wouldn't be lost to the game and would get another chance for World Cup success."

The Australian's Bret Harris is looking for the forthcoming tour of Britain to answer some age old questions about Australia's rugby mentality.

"The Wallabies' upcoming two-game tour of Britain could be easily dismissed as a mere footnote in the history of Australian rugby.

The matches against the Barbarians and Wales have been tagged at the end of a World Cup campaign, partly to raise revenue following the Wallabies' shortened domestic international program this year.

But this tour is much more relevant than that, which is reflected in the composition of the 26-man touring party that will be announced today.

A number of Wallabies have been ruled out of the tour because of injuries, including Rocky Elsom, Quade Cooper, Wycliff Palu, Drew Mitchell, Pat McCabe and Sekope Kepu."

Wallabies boss Robbie Deans needs to sort out his backroom staff, writes Bret Harris in The Australian.

"When Robbie Deans was appointed Wallabies head coach in 2008, the national team moved towards a leaner and meaner coaching staff.

"The previous head coach John Connolly had three assistants - Michael Foley (forwards), Scott Johnson (attack) and John Muggleton (defence).

"Deans inherited Foley and added former Wallabies backrower Jim Williams as his second assistant. But over the past three years, Deans' coaching staff has increased to five assistants - Williams, Patricio Noriega (scrum), Phil Blake (skills and defence), David Nucifora (coaching co-ordinator) and Bram van Straaten (goal-kicking).

"Even though van Straaten is a consultant, rather than a full-time member of the staff, the coaching crew has clearly grown, albeit incrementally."

Greg Growden evaluates a costly evening for Australia, despite their bronze medals, in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"It's the old story. When the Wallabies have their backs to the wall, they produce. But again, it was a bit too late, and it came at a considerable cost.

"The Wallabies last night succeeded in winning at Eden Park for the first time since 1986 and, even though it wasn't the All Blacks they overwhelmed, they will at least return to Sydney this afternoon as winners, after showing they can overcome losing two of their main game breakers early on and still achieve their objective.

"Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper were gone by the 20th minute of the bronze medal game, and while that could have derailed the Wallabies, they kept their composure and, with Berrick Barnes taking the helm in midfield, achieved a spirited three-point victory."

Will Genia has had a terrific seaso for the Wallabies © Getty Images

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Paul Gregor says that Australia's Will Genia would be a worthy recipient of the International Rugby Board's player of the year gong.

This year the nominations are: Will Genia, David Pocock, Thierry Dusautoir, Ma'a Nonu, Piri Weepu and Jerome Kaino. That's going to be tough. Is there an obvious stand out from those six?

Well, there probably is... Genia. Just ahead of Kaino, Nonu, Pocock, Dusautoir and Weepu in that order.

Genia has reached that special place where every team he encounters will have spent most of their analysis working out ways to diffuse his explosive influence.

In the Sydney Morning Herald Greg Growden finds beauty in the Wallabies rearguard action against South Africa.

"Thousands of jubilant Australian supporters joined in a rousing rendition of Waltzing Matilda that echoed around the Wellington Regional Stadium last night as the Wallabies desperately held on to beat the Springboks and ensure a World Cup semi-final encounter with the All Blacks next Sunday.

"The green and gold army's excitement was justified as this was the most courageous of Wallabies victories, as they were forced to defend virtually all night because they were unable to command any territory or possession.

"The defending World Cup champions, who were fielding their most experienced line-up, came close on countless occasions to score, but the Wallabies defence somehow held firm."

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mark Reason questions Australia's ambitions of reaching the World Cup final

"Boring, boring Australia. For the previous four years the Wallabies have been prancing about in their green and gold outfits like contestants on Strictly Come Dancing.

"But when it came to a match that really mattered, the Aussies played with the ambition and imagination of wombats. Is that all they have got?"

Tony Robson finds Australia coaching co-ordinator David Nucifora in defiant mood over his side's creaking scrum in the Sydney Morning Herald.

'No I don't think so, our scrum's gone well this year," he said today when asked if the wobbles of the past had returned. "We put the All Blacks and Springboks under pressure and dominated them in recent matches, so that's not an issue for us.

"The Irish scrummed well the other night, we scrummed inconsistently the other night. What we have to fix is our consistency and our application to that. But we don't have issues with our scrum."

In the Daily Telegraph Mark Reason looks into the fued between Quade Cooper and the whole of New Zealand

"Quade Cooper is as popular in New Zealand as a possum. People drive hundreds of miles to Australia games just to boo him. The talk radio switchboards jam whenever Cooper is discussed. The Australian fly-half is the man who unites New Zealand.

"All of which is rather curious because, unlike the possum, Quade Cooper is an indigenous New Zealand mammal. He grew up in Tokoroa, a nondescript timber town on the New Zealand North Island. Not a lot seems to happen there other than the breeding of extraordinary rugby players."

Writing in the The Australian, Wayne Smith pays tribute to the late Terry Doyle, a man who has left an indelible mark on the game of rugby.

"When Richard Kahui scored the All Blacks' fourth try last Friday to register the first bonus point of the World Cup, virtually no one was aware of the vital input into that moment from the rugby visionary who passed in Brisbane three days later, Terry Doyle.

"The idea of awarding a bonus competition point to teams scoring four tries and to those sides beaten by seven or less was not strictly speaking Doyle's.

"It was raised by former Queensland prop Greg Dux, a delegate to a brainstorming conference, Breakthrough '82, called by Doyle nearly three decades ago to revitalise rugby in Queensland.

"But it was Doyle who saw the merit in the idea and pushed for its introduction at every level. Initially, it was used only in the Brisbane club premiership but when Doyle's other masterstroke idea, Super Rugby, kicked off with the Super Six in 1993, the bonus point system was adopted."

Australia scrum-half Will Genia talks to Georgina Robinson in the Sydney Morning Herald

"Perception is reality. Do the simple things well. Get to the breakdown quickly. Play on instinct. The four pillars of Will Genia's world. The last three are self-explanatory, the hallmarks of a playing style that has the 23-year-old lauded as the best halfback in the world today.

"But ''perception is reality'' hails from darker days, when few around Genia predicted the scale of brilliance to come. It was a Queensland Reds training session at Ballymore in March 2008. The then-20-year-old had just been told he had not made the squad to tour South Africa."

Australia must front up to the power of the Italian front five in the Rugby World Cup Pool C opener on Sunday, according to former Wallaby Matt Burke in the Sydney Morning Herald.

So what is in this game for the Wallabies? Well, they need to continue where they left off in Brisbane, when they beat the All Blacks to claim the Tri Nations trophy. The defining moment in that game was the stand-and-deliver mentality they showed even before the game started. The way the Wallabies held their ground after the haka showed us a side to this team we hadn't seen for a long time - they have a hard edge. The players are going to need all that hard edge and physicality because they take on an Italian pack renowned for towelling up opposition scrums. In a way, the scrum, led by Martin Castrogiovanni, Salvatore Perugini and Andrea Lo Cicero, has defined this Italian team during the past few seasons.

Will Australia's Quade Cooper prove to be a star of this year's Rugby World Cup? © Getty Images

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, David Sygall looks at the eight main players who can give their side something special in the World Cup.

"Most teams in this month's World Cup field at least one player who could be regarded as outstanding. A player around whom the team is galvanised and to whom the team can turn to in tight moments to produce something to change the course of a game. In Robbie Deans's side, many would regard James O'Connor as that man. But Macqueen thinks these Wallabies have the luxury of more than one such player.

''I think there's a few in the current Wallabies team. Quade Cooper's another one. He's shown already that he can do some of those special things that can turn a match. You can talk about those things but, at the end of the day, it's a good team that ends up winning it. Those things like the X-factor and good leadership all add to the fact that it becomes a good team,'' he said. ''I really think that this Australian team has players with those skills and is a good team who look capable of winning the World Cup. The timing's been perfect for them and they've got all the ingredients there.''

Jim Morton, of the Dominion Post, believes the Wallabies are hitting peak form at just the right time.

"With Wallabies' tails finally up, the World Cup couldn't be better timed for Australia.

After 10 barren years dominated by inconsistency, near misses and abject failures, the Wallabies enter the 2011 tournament in New Zealand as newly-crowned Tri-Nations champions, with their confidence sky high.

A thrilling, last-start, 25-20 triumph over the All Blacks, who are carrying a World Cup monkey and the weight of a nation on their back, showed coach Robbie Deans' men are credible challengers to the tournament hosts and favourites.

The momentum started by the Queensland Reds' breakthrough Super Rugby triumph at Suncorp Stadium in July, followed by ending a decade-long Tri-Nations title drought at the same Brisbane ground is priceless."

The evergreen Radiki Samo, talking to the Sydney Morning Herald's Josh Rakic, eulogises about his World Cup dream.

"Four days after inspiring the Wallabies to their drought-breaking Tri Nations defeat of the All Blacks and installing himself as the new cult figure of Australian rugby, back-rower Radike Samo has declared his best is still ahead of him.

Having just signed a new two-year contract with the Reds that will see him through until his 37th birthday, the bro with the 'fro said he felt fresher than ever after scoring his first Test try last Saturday night - beating All Blacks speedsters Cory Jane and Mils Muliaina to do so.

''That's probably one of [my] best tries since I turned professional,'' Samo said. ''I didn't know that they were chasing me. I just did my best to get to the try line and I did that. I was looking around for supporters to pass the ball but looked left and right and saw two black jerseys, so I just kept going.'"

Australian legend Nick Farr-Jones, in the New Zealand Herald, lauds the Wallabies' Tri-Nations win.

"The Wallabies are going into the Rugby World Cup on the back of their finest performance in more than a decade, says Australian great Nick Farr-Jones.

Australia's first World Cup winning skipper, Farr-Jones could hardly have been more impressed by the way James Horwill's men went about beating the All Blacks 25-20 in Saturday's Tri Nations decider.

The former champion halfback is also tipping Wallabies No.9 Will Genia to ultimately rank alongside the legendary Ken Catchpole as Australia's greatest-ever No.9."

Jim Tucker, writing for the Courier Mail, looks at the spat between Quade Cooper and Richie McCaw.

"A relieved Quade Cooper has escaped suspension for kneeing Richie McCaw in the head but their 10-month niggle-fest will fester all the way to a potential World Cup final blow-up.

The Wallabies camp held real fears that Cooper would be rubbed out for the World Cup opener against Italy on September 11 when he fronted a SANZAR judiciary yesterday.

His right knee clearly came in contact with the All Blacks skipper's head in the 55th minute of Saturday night's pulsating 25-20 victory at Suncorp Stadium."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reflects on the Wallabies' Tri-Nations triumph.

"The Wallabies, delighted to at last have the measure of the All Blacks, want to use what they learnt at Suncorp Stadium, in particular the importance of being arrogant, to push them to greater heights at the World Cup.

Although the Wallabies' team management are stressing that what occurred in Saturday night's Tri Nations series victory is irrelevant in regards to the World Cup, the players are not so wary, realising the victory gives them a psychological edge just days before the start of their Webb Ellis trophy campaign.

While all of New Zealand is again suffering its traditional pre-World Cup nerves following successive Test losses in Port Elizabeth and Brisbane, the Wallabies are again delighted that after a decade of being trans-Tasman also-rans they have some important silverware to show for all their hard work."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, former Wallaby Matt Burke previews the Tri-Nations decider between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane on Saturday.

"The expectations this weekend against the All Blacks are again incredibly high. Playing at Suncorp Stadium - fast becoming the spiritual home of rugby in Australia - with a full house and a new captain will give this game blockbuster proportions.

"The Wallabies would like a win, but how they get there is more important. Last time the Wallabies played, they were denied time and space with the ball. You could see the frustrations on players' faces.

"This week, Quade Cooper must not be the only point of attack. Whether it's No.9 sniping or No.15 using the short side, a varying attack will keep the opposition guessing. The area where the Wallabies were exposed the most was in the physicality department. This is easily rectified and comes down to adopting a mindset of ''no one in a black shirt is going to get over the top of me''.

"I like the introduction of Anthony Faingaa in the centres. It gives an opportunity to someone who brings buckets of courage and desire to hit the opposition. The goal from the 12-13 combination is to halt the progress of the attacking runners that will turn up outside Dan Carter. In Bledisloe I, the All Blacks found this way too easy."

Greg Growden believes the Wallabies will be wary of Australia's aging rooke in the back-row Radike Samo in the Sydney Morning Herald

"He hasn't started a Test in seven years. He's well past the wrong side of 30. Less than two years ago, virtually every Australian province thought he was too slow, too old for Super Rugby. But that doesn't mean the All Blacks aren't scared of him.

"Radike Samo's last Test start was Graham Henry's first Tri Nations international as All Blacks coach in 2004, and New Zealand certainly haven't forgotten the wild No.8 to the extent that, despite the long international absence, they believe he will be among the Wallabies' most dangerous weapons during Saturday night's Tri Nations decider in Brisbane.

"As All Blacks No.8 Kieran Read said yesterday: ''Radike is certainly someone who brings a bit of difference to the Wallaby back row, which they haven't had for a while.''

Australia's renaissance man Dan Vickerman, talking to David Sygall of the Sydney Morning Herald, admits the excitement is brewing after being named in the Australian World Cup squad.

"Dan Vickerman relinquishing his hard-won place in the Wallabies team in 2008 was surprising. Completing an honours degree at one of the world's great universities was exceptional. Regaining his place for the World Cup in New Zealand next month is astonishing.

It's a rare breed that is prepared to risk a career in international rugby to spend three years buried in books. But what Vickerman might lack in overt exuberance, he makes up for in single-mindedness. His reward is a third World Cup, another time around with his second-row partner and good friend Nathan Sharpe in the Wallaby scrum and a chance to repay Australian rugby for welcoming back the Cape Town-born 32-year-old after he realised his academic goals.

''I don't show a lot of emotion at the best of times but, for me, this is something really very special,'' Vickerman says. ''On the inside I'm really bubbling."

Spiro Zavos of the Sydney Morning Herald commends Australia head coach Robbie Deans on his decision to take the captain's armband away from Rocky Elsom and hand it to James Horwill.

"The Wallabies' lacklustre run into the World Cup tournament has been electrified with the appointment of James Horwill as the captain. There had been a disconnect between the brilliant play of the Reds in winning this year's Super Rugby tournament and the Wallabies' World Cup campaign.

"Now this disconnect has been fixed. The new captain will bring the Reds' enthusiasm and flair to the national side. As Will Genia points out, Horwill's leadership is of the inspirational kind. He leaves the back play decisions to Genia and Quade Cooper, the two playmakers who guided the Reds and now the Wallabies.

"Put into this context, the elevation of Horwill could well be a master stroke. This season's results, a loss to Samoa, two victories over South Africa and a comprehensive loss to New Zealand, were not good enough going into the World Cup tournament. The Wallabies were outmuscled in the contact areas, especially in the middle of the field. And the fizz and esprit that marked the Reds' game seemed to be missing from the Wallabies."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans chats to Matt Giteau during a training sessioni Christchurch last year © Getty Images

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden believes Matt Giteau's omission from the Wallabes' World Cup squad was predictable.

"Ultimately, it came down to the Wallabies management - and not just coach Robbie Deans - having concerns that apart from opposing teams having ''worked Giteau out'', the Test midfielder had fallen short of the mark on several occasions when on-field pressure was applied.

"The first real clue Deans and Giteau were not bosom buddies came in 2009, when the coach overlooked him for the vice-captaincy. Although the pair insisted they got on well, the reality was different.

"Deans had his problems relating to Giteau, while the player believed that, considering his seniority in the Wallabies squad, that he deserved more responsibility within the group. That he was not considered for major leadership roles hurt him."

Rocky Elsom has been stripped of the Wallabies' captaincy in favour of James Horwill © Getty Images

Rocky Elsom had to go as skipper once his position in the Wallabies' team came under threat according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"Despite the stunned looks at today's Wallabies announcement when James Horwill was presented as the new Australian captain, for those close to the team the change was not a major surprise.

Making Horwill captain is a good move. He is a natural leader, as shown by him skippering the Reds to the Super Rugby title in May, while it also frees up the Australian selectors should they feel the need to replace Elsom from the Wallabies backrow.

Elsom's blindside flanker position has been under threat and it would have been a major embarrassment if the selectors were forced to drop their skipper during the World Cup, which starts in New Zealand on September 9."

Wallabies legend Tim Horan, writing for the New Zealand Herald, reflects on the victorious 1999 World Cup side.

"Trust. That was the vital ingredient which made the Wallaby side tick so well in the 1999 World Cup.

We had total confidence and belief in each other, from the quality of the management and analysis to knowing that the guy next to us on the field would always make that vital tackle or deliver that important pass and that we could rely upon the guys on our bench.

In some ways, we may have been ahead of our time. In particular, our coach, Rod Macqueen, actively coached us only half the time, leaving the rest to his assistants. This is more in line with how things are done these days rather than what was standard practice then."

The Dominion Post's Greg Growden casts his eye across the Australian scrum and believes it has been the stand out facet of their game.

"In a topsy-turvy Wallabies season, one element of their game has remained firm: their scrum.

Even in the Wallabies' two losses this year - against Samoa in Sydney and the All Blacks in Auckland - the forward pack was not the reason for Test disappointment. Unlike other years where the Australian scrum has struggled under overwhelming pressure and been lampooned by the international media, especially in the northern hemisphere, the Wallabies management is, this year, relieved their set piece is solid again.

It can even win Tests, as was the case against the Springboks at Kings Park on Saturday, when the Wallabies' pack gradually took control and, in the final quarter, knocked the South Africans off the mark several times. A crucial moment occurred in the 73rd minute when the Wallabies, against the head, succeeded in wheeling the Springboks scrum. From their own feed, they put enough pressure on for the home team to be penalised for collapsing the scrum."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reflects on Australia's Tri-Nations victory over South Africa in Durban.

"The Wallabies have always been good defenders. But they really pushed it up a level at Kings Park, tackling with tenacity and stopping an always direct opposition who were as intent as the Wallabies on ignoring every safety warning. It was head down, bum up, and stuff the circumstances if you knock yourself out. As Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom said: ''The Springboks came absolutely charging at us … so it was all or nothing.''

Advertisement: Story continues below At the ground, you could hear the collisions as the bodies of the Wallabies and Springboks hurtled at each other, and you shuddered. This was Test football at its most physical and most engrossing. And often in the past, the Wallabies have been distracted, even overwhelmed by such intensity.

Not this time. There were countless great tackles, with replacement centre Anthony Faingaa's charge to smash Springbok winger JP Pietersen in the 65th minute the turning point of the match, as it resulted in the penalty that put the Wallabies in front."

Wallabies legend Matt Burke, in his column for the Sydney Morning Herald, calls for the Australians to silence the South African home crowd on Saturday.

"Those five Ps are the basis of getting things right off the field so that it all goes to plan on the field. Yet, sometimes, all the work before the kick-off can't prepare you for the onslaught when you run out in cauldron-type atmospheres.

Tomorrow is no different. Kings Park in Durban is one of the greatest theatres in which to play and getting a win there means silence, not rapturous applause, for opposition teams.

This week, as I look at the teams the Wallabies are preparing to take on - South Africa and New Zealand (and then the world next month), I ask whether we are putting too much pressure on these young men. Yes, they have incredible skill and drive, but do they lack game strategy and do they know how to win tight games? My father recently asked me how old I was when we won the Rugby World Cup in 1999. I was 26. I was experienced but, more important, I was surrounded by legendary names so, if we were to get into a hole, we could work our way out of it."

Wallabies No.8 Scott Higginbotham, talking to Greg Growden of the Dominion Post, admits he will tread carefully before Saturday's Tri-Nations Test with South Africa.

"If the new Wallabies No 8 Scott Higginbotham is a bit dubious about getting heavily involved in the on-field warm-ups before the test against the Springboks at Kings Park on Sunday morning (NZT) he has good reason.

It's because he doesn't want to suffer any more game-day turmoil on South African soil.

After some excellent performances off the bench, Higginbotham has been promoted to the starting XV for the first time at the expense of No 8 Ben McCalman, while second-rower Nathan Sharpe replaces Rob Simmons, who has been rested due to shoulder concerns.

When Higginbotham was last in South Africa with the Wallabies a year ago, he was scheduled to make his test debut at Loftus Versfeld."

Greg Growden, in his weekly column for the Sydney Morning Herald, picks over Australia's recent game against New Zealand and looks ahead to Saturday's Test with South Africa.

"No wonder Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has been looking a bit weary. His sleep patterns were affected by the lengthy trip from Auckland to Durban, followed by nightmares when he had to endure a replay of the Wallabies' loss to the All Blacks in Auckland. Deans also had to get his head around who will be available for World Cup selection, as several key players are still recuperating in Australia."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Jamie Pandaram believes the Waratahs have an outside shot of signing All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams.

"The Waratahs have emerged as shock contenders for the signature of Sonny Bill Williams next year, as the Kiwi superstar considers walking away from the All Blacks after the World Cup.

While Williams has verbally agreed to stay in New Zealand for another 12 months, he has yet to sign with the New Zealand Rugby Union and there is no contractual obligation blocking a defection to NSW, where he could become the face of the game in Sydney.

The NZRU yesterday said Williams had signed with them, but the Herald understands he has given them only a verbal guarantee.

The Waratahs approached Williams' management about a deal last month. At that time they were told he was tied up for next year, but things seem to have changed dramatically given he has failed to sign with a Kiwi Super Rugby team."

Former All Blacks legend Justin Marshall, talking to Iain Payten of the Courier Mail, has called on Robbie Deans to recall Matt Giteau to the Wallabies fold.

"Former All Black Justin Marshall says Quade Cooper "totally lost the plot" at Eden Park and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans must recall Matt Giteau as an insurance policy.

Hours after Giteau turned out for Randwick at Coogee Oval at the weekend, Cooper struggled against the intense pressure of the All Blacks defence in the Wallabies' 30-14 defeat on Saturday.

Marshall said Cooper was "astounded, bewildered, blown away, confused, shocked and stupefied", and his old Crusaders mentor Deans now faces big questions ahead of naming his World Cup squad next week.

"Like what the hell do I do now? Do I dump Cooper? Was I too hasty in shelving Matt Giteau? And do I swallow my pride and bring him back? I think he has to now," Marshall wrote on a New Zealand website."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Jamie Pandaram expresses his concern over the inability of the Wallabies' ability to break down New Zealand.

"If there was any lack of respect in the Bledisloe Cup, it was the All Blacks' blatant disregard for Australia's attack. Far from fearing the magic tricks of Quade Cooper and co, the Kiwis gave them the ball in prime field position and said ''Do your best'' before smashing them.

How's this for disrespect - with the first five possessions New Zealand had in their own half in Saturday's match, they opted for short kicks or midfield bombs every time. No clearing kicks necessary, no concern of turning over possession in dangerous territory."

Robbie Deans is yet to secure a Tri-Nations title for Australia and the pressure is on the Kiwi ahead of the World Cup © Getty Images

Wallabies legend Tim Horan, writing for the Courier Mail, believes it is time for Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to start delivering.

"In any business or organisation, when a new CEO or managing director takes over, they are usually given three to four years to turn it around.

Robbie Deans is in his fourth season as coach of the Wallabies and, as far as supporters are concerned, it is time for him to deliver results.

It's fair to say he is not under pressure for his job from the ARU but there is certainly a huge expectation from the Australian rugby community for the Wallabies to start producing big results and to start seeing the big trophies.

I am a big admirer of Deans. I believe he is the best man for the job, and has done amazing things for Australian rugby at many levels."

Australia will waste little time worrying about a 25-year Eden Park drought ahead of their Tri-Nations clash with the All Blacks on Saturday - the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reports.

"They don't care about hoodoos or horrible history. They just get on with it.

That's the opinion of Wallabies coaching coordinator and Test selector David Nucifora, who yesterday argued that the new players who are at the core of the Australian team are not intimidated or even distracted by the fact that so many before them have collapsed at the feet of the All Blacks on New Zealand soil.

On top of their Eden Park record, the Wallabies haven't won anywhere in New Zealand for a decade. But Nucifora says this All Blacks domination fails to inhibit the youthful Australian team, especially as many of them were involved in beating New Zealand in Hong Kong late last year.

''Having so many youthful players in our team is a real positive,'' Nucifora said. ''They don't worry about things like hoodoos or not having won there for a long time. The attitude they've got and the way they play the game in such a positive manner gives us confidence, because we know they will just get on with it. They will get on with their preparation and they will go out there and give it a real crack.''

Former Australian international Owen Finnegan, talking to David Sygall of the Sydney Morning Herald, believes David Pocock is the world's premier openside flanker.

"The notion that Richie McCaw is the best open-side breakaway in the world is as much a myth as the so-called Eden Park hoodoo, according to 1999 World Cup-winning back rower Owen Finegan, who has rated David Pocock a superior breakaway than the New Zealand captain.

As the Wallabies prepare to take on the All Blacks in Auckland next Saturday - where they haven't won since 1986 - Finegan paid Pocock the ultimate honour, judging him the best No.7 in the recent Super Rugby season and a better player than the 2010 IRB international player of the year.

Asked if he felt, as many believe, McCaw was still the world's premier fetcher, Finegan, the 1995-2005 Wallabies team of the decade player, said: ''No. I probably rate David Pocock above him. George Smith was the best No.7 I ever played with or against, and that included McCaw. And Pocock, towards the end of George's career, was the one who put George on notice.''

David Pocock has long been considered a Wallaby skipper in the making © Getty Images

In his column in The Australian, Mark Ella talks up the significance of Wallabies flanker David Pocock being handed the captain's armband during last weekend's win over South Africa.

"After a faltering start against Samoa, the Wallabies bounced back last Saturday with a very convincing 39-20 win over a second-rate Springboks side.

"The Australian players' enthusiasm was overflowing and they again showed just how damaging they can be given open space and half a chance.

"After watching the Queensland Reds dismantle most of the Super Rugby teams this year, it wasn't surprising to see the young Wallabies, led by Quade Cooper and Will Genia, show the world what to expect in September when the best compete for the World Cup.

"But what was surprising was coach Robbie Deans's choice as captain when he replaced Rocky Elsom 15 minutes into the second half with young David Pocock."

Rocky Elsom's leadership will be essential if the Wallabies are to prevail at Eden Park next weekend © Getty Images

Wallabies legend Nick Farr-Jones, talking to Greg Growden of the Sydney Morning Herald, believes a win next week in New Zealand is essential for the Wallabies if they are to take the World Cup later in the year.

"Nick Farr-Jones, a member of the last Australian team to win at Eden Park 25 years ago, believes it is crucial that the Wallabies break the Auckland drought next weekend if they are to seriously consider themselves a World Cup threat.

The 1991 World Cup-winning captain said the Wallabies scrum, and in particular the power of the Test front-row, was the key to their chances of becoming the No.1 team in world rugby.

Since Farr-Jones and his 1986 Wallabies team won the Bledisloe Cup series, Australia have suffered 11 straight defeats at Eden Park, the venue of this year's World Cup final. The Wallabies have also not won on New Zealand soil since 2001.

Despite the trauma caused by endless defeats in Auckland, Farr-Jones is convinced this year's team has the ingredients to be victorious at Eden Park tomorrow week."

Greg Growden, writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, provides his weekly take on southern hemisphere rugby.

"From a distance, the former Wallabies back-rower George Smith appears a quiet, uncontroversial soul. But there have been several volatile moments during his football life, and they are revealed in his just-released biography, written by the Herald's Mr Pedals, Rupert Guinness.

One lesser-known story revolves around the Brumbies' taxi affair in Cape Town in 2000, when several of Smith's teammates got in trouble following an altercation with a cabbie."

Australian flanker David Pocock talks to Iain Payten of the Courier Mail about who he idolised when he was growing up.

"As far as a young David Pocock was concerned, the poster on the wall was more than justified.

Growing up in Zimbabwe, the fact that Robert Brian "Bobby" Skinstad had also been born in Zimbabwe was a major tick.

The fact he was playing for Pocock's then-favourite team the Springboks. Tick.

The number Skinstad was wearing on his back was his spot as well - No.8. Tick.

But despite all the evidence he was a rugby-styled Zimbabwe Idol, there was at least one cross on Skinstad in the household."

Scott Higginbotham is hoping to nail down a place in Australia's starting line-up for this year's World Cup © Getty Images

Queensland's Scott Higginbotham is striving to define his role within the Australia squad, writes Phil Lutton of the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Anyone who ever suspected Scott Higginbotham might actually be a dashing back-line magician trapped in a hulking loose forward's body might be on to something. The thundering breakaway laughs about his occasional cameo on the wing, but the truth is it's only half a joke as he strives to define his place in the Wallabies' rotation.

"In damaging form but parked behind captain Rocky Elsom for his preferred No.6 jumper, Higginbotham's impressive versatility, as much as his destructive ball running, shapes as one of his most attractive qualities as the World Cup looms.

"And it's not just the 24-year-old's ability to cover six and eight that is helping Higginbotham establish himself as a key part of the Wallabies machine. Coach Robbie Deans threw him on the wing for the final 10 minutes against South Africa, and the only thing that really looked out of the ordinary was his bulk."

Wayne Smith of The Australian talks to Anthony Faingaa about playing alongside the maverick that is Quade Cooper.

"Anthony Faingaa is not the type to offer unsolicited advice but if any of his non-Reds Wallabies teammates need help in deciphering five-eighth Quade Cooper's play, he is more than happy to assist.

"Of all the players in the Australian team, Faingaa knows Cooper's game better than anyone, having played alongside him as a centre at club level for Souths, in the Super Rugby-winning Queensland side and, on five occasions, in the Test side.

"Brumbies battering ram Pat McCabe admitted after playing outside Cooper for the first time against the Springboks on Saturday that he was, if not exactly confused, at times unsure of what the mesmerising Wallabies playmaker was up to. On one occasion, Cooper ended up throwing a ball clean into touch when McCabe zigged when his five-eighth clearly expected him to zag.

"When queried yesterday on whether he had spoken to McCabe about the art of playing straight man to Cooper, Faingaa was conscious not to be seen to be proffering advice before he is asked for it."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald former Wallabies captain John Eales takes a detailed look at Australia's revival of fortunes against South Africa.

"The most useful prospection must carefully consider which metrics are meaningful and which superfluous as not all that is calculable is critical. Invariably it is not simply about the macro of winning and losing; the answer usually reveals itself in the micro, in the detail.

"So to what detail, then, do we turn? The Wallabies' first try was instructive. The break was initiated by Quade Cooper from deep in the Wallabies' half. He offloaded to Kurtley Beale, who made important ground before passing on. From the ensuing ruck the ball was distributed along a back line awash with forwards and, through the astute handling of captain Rocky Elsom and finishing of prop Ben Alexander, the five-pointer was secured.

"The flair was self-evident but the detail most important. One piece of detail was Beale's contribution – not as a runner but at the breakdown, where his clean-out was instrumental in delivering the quick possession from which Alexander eventually capitalised. The accuracy of his clean-out typified the Wallabies' improvement."

The Australian's Wayne Smith believes that Quade Cooper and Will Genia are fast becoming as important and influential to Australia as Dan Carter and Richie McCaw are to the All Blacks.

"It is often said on this side of the Tasman that we'll only know how good the All Blacks are when they have to play without Dan Carter and Richie McCaw.

"Still bloody good, would be my response, but it is a pertinent observation nonetheless, especially so in the case of Carter. At a pinch, the All Blacks could cover the loss of McCaw who, having passed the dreaded 30 barrier, is starting to show the first signs of all the punishment his body has absorbed over the years. But against a major rival, there is no way Graham Henry would willingly send his team out without Carter.

"It's now time to pose the question of how good the Wallabies would be without halves Will Genia and Quade Cooper. It has now become almost obligatory to preface any description of them as "world class" and it is to be hoped that repetition doesn't dilute the impact of those words because they truly are the best 9-10 combination in the game at present."

The Wallabies celebrate victory over South Africa in the opening Tri-Nations bout © Getty Images

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Greg Growden hails Australia’s victory over South Africa in the opening Tri-Nations clash but warns that the All Blacks will be several steps up next weekend.

"The ''A'' team were back for the Wallabies, and so too was their A game, enabling them to eradicate all the horrors of the Samoan smashathon by overwhelming the Springboks with a five-tries-to-two victory at ANZ Stadium last night.

"With all their key performers back, in particular five-eighth Quade Cooper, openside flanker David Pocock, second-rower James Horwill and winger James O'Connor, Australia were a revitalised team.

"Gone were the indecision and powder-puff play that saw them suffer the ignominy of being belted by Samoa last Sunday. Instead, they were back to their exciting and physical best, having the Test won after an hour by being effective in all areas of the game. After witnessing this substantial performance, the All Blacks know that in two weeks' time they will encounter something formidable in Auckland. But as Pocock warned last night: ''It will go up a notch against the Kiwis.''

In the Sunday Mail Jim Tucker lauds another spell-binding display by Quade Cooper and says the fly-half wizard has a particular feeling for flooring South African sides.

"Quade Cooper could happily tease and topple South African sides every week for the rest of the year because his ad-lib brilliance seems to mesmerise the men from the republic more than any other side.

"Last night's decisive display in the clearcut 39-20 victory over the Springboks in Sydney followed his sparkling showings in the eight wins from nine starts that Queensland have racked up against South African opponents in 2010-11.

"The way Cooper plays the game can never be charted on paper as predictable patterns. He doesn't know what is coming next, so how can South African players?

"It was not the perfect night from Cooper. There was a knock-on and a pass into touch but his upbeat return to the Wallabies jersey doubled the potency of the attack."

In the Sydney Morning Herald, David Sygall meets former Wallabies flanker George Smith ahead of his move to Japan.

"It's not all about money for the Japan-bound former Wallaby, who says the game has helped him rise from humble beginnings.

"He played 110 Tests over nearly a decade, captained the Wallabies, featured in 122 Super Rugby matches and is heading overseas this week to begin a deal that will make him Australia's highest paid rugby player.

"Yet George Smith says the highlight of his career was having his face put on the cover of a rugby-based video game, which he plans to have framed and mounted when he returns from his three-year stint with Suntory in Japan."

Spiro Zavos, writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, provides his view on what the Wallabies need to achieve in this year's Tri-Nations.

"After Samoa's sensational first-time victory over the Wallabies, their captain explained the result with a cliche: ''We wanted to win more than the Wallabies''.

This explanation is nonsense. What lost the Test for the Wallabies was a failure to understand the psychology of Samoan rugby players. This failure was compounded by poor tactics on the field. As the Wallabies could meet Samoa in the World Cup quarter-finals, it is important this hard lesson is learnt.

Samoans believe Samoa is the centre of the universe. They are incredibly strong, mentally and physically. They believe that on their day they can defeat any team. In the 1991 World Cup, Western Samoa defeated Wales at Cardiff, a feat beyond most of the other Five Nations teams in the previous decade."

Australia's David Pocock puts his foot down during training © Getty Images

Matt Burke picks through the wreckage of Australia's loss to Samoa and offers some pointers for the Tri-Nations in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Wallabies are again favourites to win in Sydney against an under-strength - or perceived under-strength - team, this time the Springboks. Let's hope they have learnt the lesson of taking the points when they are on offer and playing field position to build pressure.

"It's interesting to hear the calls of ''run it'' from the crowd when you are at the ground. This is fool's gold. Sometimes it is easier to play without the ball to build pressure. I am not advocating kicking aimlessly, but if you are getting knocked back phase after phase, the better option might be kicking strategically."

Tim Horan lends his support to dropped Wallabies fly-half Matt Giteau in The Courier Mail.

"Some Wallabies may have played themselves out of a World Cup spot last weekend against Samoa, but Matt Giteau certainly wasn't one of them.

There's been plenty of speculation about Giteau's World Cup future after being left out of the Wallabies' 22-man squad to play South Africa this week.

For a number of reasons I would not only have selected him in this weekend's 22, but I would have him on the plane to New Zealand as well.

Giteau is a talented player who can cover three spots in the Wallabies: five-eighth, centre and halfback.

Robbie Deans has gone with a five forwards-two backs bench to play the Springboks and if you are carrying only two back reserves, they need to be as versatile as possible."

Peter Bills, of the Independent, looks back at a memorable weekend for Samoa.

"A single rugby result last weekend will have caused something close to panic in a lot of major rugby unions around the world. For sure, eyebrows will have been raised inside the Welsh and Springbok camps.

Samoa’s 32-23 victory over the Australians in Sydney sent a shockwave through the world’s leading teams with the Rugby World Cup now less than two months away.

No wonder Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom looked shell shocked after the defeat at ANZ Stadium on Sunday. No wonder he kept shaking his head and repeating himself, saying “I am not happy about it.” It was as if Elsom was in a daze, unable to comprehend the magnitude of what had happened."

Former Australia coaches Eddie Jones and John Connolly throw their weight behind the campaign to support under-fire Wallabies fly-half Matt Giteau in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"The past two coaches to take Australia to a World Cup have criticised Robbie Deans's decision to axe Matt Giteau and are adamant he should be the starting inside centre at this year's tournament.

Eddie Jones and John Connolly jumped to Giteau's defence after the departing Brumby was left out of the 22-man Test squad to play South Africa on Saturday night.

Jones said Deans had ''pulled the wrong rope'' by dropping Giteau, while Connolly rated the 28-year-old as one of the mentally toughest players he had seen."

Matt Giteau is delicately poised on 92 caps for the Wallabies © Getty Images

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden ponders whether Matt Giteau will ever reach a centurion of caps for the Wallabies.

"Matt Giteau will have to rely on injuries in the back line to realise his dream of playing 100 Tests for Australia before he leaves for France after being dropped from the 22-man squad to play the Springboks in Sydney on Saturday night.

Selectors delivered the clear message yesterday they are now looking beyond Giteau by picking Pat McCabe at inside-centre and having midfielder Anthony Faingaa on the bench for the Tri Nations opener.

Team management also made it obvious that as there was now such versatility in the starting XV back line, there was no need to have Giteau even on the bench.

It is premature to say Giteau's international days are over because of a shortage in experience in the five-eighth and centre ranks, but it will be difficult for the 92-Test capped player to force his way back into a fully fit line-up."

Wallaby James O'Connor, speaking to the Courier Mail, believes he stole a march on team-mate Quade Cooper during training after the utility back was awarded the kicking duties for Saturday's Tri-Nations opener against the Springboks.

"James O'Connor reckons he only got the nod to be the Wallabies' first-choice goal-kicker after he upstaged teammate Quade Cooper at a recent training session.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is spoilt for choice in the goal-kicking department ahead of Saturday's clash with South Africa, with O'Connor, Cooper and Kurtley Beale all handy sharpshooters.

Beale slotted the winning goal from beyond halfway to beat the Springboks last year in Bloemfontein.

Cooper had a 67.27 per cent success rate for the Queensland Reds during the Super Rugby season, and O'Connor is the incumbent kicker."

Robbie Deans' selection policy has been slammed by a former Wallaby © Getty Images

Former Wallaby Sam Scott-Young, talking to the Courier Mail, has voiced his displeasure at Robbie Deans' selection policy in the aftermath of Sunday's Test against Samoa.

"Robbie Deans has been slammed for cheapening the Australian jersey by resting stars in a "brain fade" that has compromised the aura of the Wallabies eight weeks out from a World Cup.

That Is the forthright view of former Wallaby Sam Scott-Young, who plans to voice his displeasure when he mingles with the Australian coach at a function in Sydney tomorrow night.

Scott-Young, a fiery backrower during his Test days, is still boiling over Australia's needless 32-23 Test humiliation by a superb Samoan team in Sydney last Sunday."

Samoa's Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu celebrates his side's victory over Australia in Sydney © Getty Images

In his column for the Sydney Morning Herald, John Eales reflects on a recent reunion for the 1991 Rugby World Cup-winning Wallabies and offers a few tips for their 2011 counterparts.

"One: Respect every opposition. In the opening minutes yesterday, when the Wallabies kicked to touch rather than taking the three points on offer for a penalty goal, they played into Samoa's hands.

Subconsciously they sent the message that this was a game they expected to win. So when they didn't leave with points it was a huge fillip for the Samoans. Similarly, in attack they too often moved sideways rather than forward to confront their bustling opposition. There are no short cuts to victory, and there is no victory if at first you do not respect the basics.

Two: Age, experience and reputation don't matter as much as form. It's nice to have a mix of youth and experience and big names can be comforting, but it's more important to have players in form.

Ewen McKenzie, current Reds coach and tight-head prop from the class of '91, followed this policy through to the Super Rugby title and it has always been a mantra of Wallabies coach Robbie Deans. With most of the in-form Reds rested after their campaign, the Wallabies were left fielding players who had limited success this season."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Peter FitzSimons reflects on Australia's shock defeat to Samoa.

"Six years ago, in the same game, the Wallabies won 74-7 and were expected to double the dose this time. For how could a side from a nation of only 180,000 people, with only 7000 senior players to pick from, who've lost five of their last six Tests, possibly compete against a two-time world champion team of Australians, in Australia, la creme de la creme of 40,000 players?

An easy victory beckoned. Instead, of course, our blokes were reduced to a bloodied and muddied bunch of Goliaths as a courageous and wonderful bunch of Davids in blue jerseys cut them down to size, ran them ragged and then danced on their rugby graves.

And it was no fluke. From the moment the enormous Samoan winger Alesana Tuilagi scored the opening try, the Wallabies were reeling as blue wave after blue wave kept crashing on them and three more tries followed. The Wallabies' two tries in reply were well constructed but in terms of bridging the gap were no more effective than throwing a couple of rocks into the Grand Canyon. As the Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom said after the match: "They played better than us, and won."

Australia struggled to cope with Samoa's physicality in Sydney on Sunday © Getty Images

Peter Fitzsimons of WA Today reflects on Samoa's remarkable 32-23 victory over the Wallabies on Sunday and argues that it might prove a blessing in disguise for Robbie Deans' men.

"Nobody told them there'd be days like this! In terms of stunning upsets in sport, the 32-23 victory of the Samoan Test side over the Wallabies at the Olympic Stadium yesterday was absolutely stunning.

"Six years ago, in the same game, the Wallabies won 74-7 and were expected to double the dose this time. For how could a side from a nation of only 180,000 people, with only 7000 senior players to pick from, who've lost five of their last six Tests, possibly compete against a two-time world champion team of Australians, in Australia, la creme de la creme of 40,000 players?

"An easy victory beckoned. Instead, of course, our blokes were reduced to a bloodied and muddied bunch of Goliaths as a courageous and wonderful bunch of Davids in blue jerseys cut them down to size, ran them ragged and then danced on their rugby graves."

Following the success of the Reds in Super Rugby, the pressure is on the Wallabies and Robbie Deans to deliver on the international stage © Getty Images

The Sydney Morning Herald's Spiro Zavos analyses Australia head coach Robbie Deans' task of transferring the nation's success in Super Rugby across to the Wallabies.

"The long march for World Cup glory for the Wallabies reaches its first staging point tomorrow afternoon with the Test against Samoa.

The Wallabies will play four more Tests, with home and away matches against New Zealand and South Africa, as the march continues, then Robbie Deans will name his 30 players for the World Cup.

They will carry high hopes, no matter what happens in the Tri Nations tournament. It is a truism that the Wallabies have played above their weight, in terms of world rankings, in previous World Cups. With two titles out of six tournaments, the Wallabies are the second most successful World Cup team, behind the Springboks, with two titles in four."

Matt Burke, writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, previews Australia's clash with Samoa.

"The Wallabies have a rare afternoon Test match on Sunday and the players would enjoy looking forward to playing an expansive game, but as I look into the crystal ball of weather predictions it may be a little wet.

Perhaps this is a good starting point for the World Cup campaign as there is the possibility they will be facing indifferent conditions in New Zealand. Understanding how to play and adapt to conditions you are not too familiar with is important to a team's success.

However, what needs to be at the forefront during the next couple of weeks is not to worry about the conditions but the influence of strong leadership. This week hails the welcome return of captain Rocky Elsom after his frustrating Super Rugby season where he spent most of his time observing from the sidelines."

Greg Growden, of the Sydney Morning Herald, looks at the situation at the Waratahs, the Reds win and rugby fashion in his weekly take on rugby.

"Perfect timing. The rising Wallabies have it, Kiwis have the jitters because their All Blacks never do and the uncertain Springboks may just be three years beyond their peak.

"In a twinkling, the rugby universe has spun from a Reds-tinted craze of fist-pumping, delirious trophy lifting and victory parades into a countdown to the World Cup.

"Those rugby fans who always considered the showpiece tournament as a distant horizon will have it flooding their senses from now until Cup kick-off in 56 days.

"In the same fortnight that the Reds were celebrating a record Super Rugby crowd of 52,113, organisers saluted the sale of the 1,000,000th ticket to New Zealand's World Cup."

Jim Tucker, of the Courier Mail, believes the Wallabies are peaking at the right time ahead of Sunday's clash against Samoa.

"Perfect timing. The rising Wallabies have it, Kiwis have the jitters because their All Blacks never do and the uncertain Springboks may just be three years beyond their peak.

"In a twinkling, the rugby universe has spun from a Reds-tinted craze of fist-pumping, delirious trophy lifting and victory parades into a countdown to the World Cup.

"Those rugby fans who always considered the showpiece tournament as a distant horizon will have it flooding their senses from now until Cup kick-off in 56 days.

"In the same fortnight that the Reds were celebrating a record Super Rugby crowd of 52,113, organisers saluted the sale of the 1,000,000th ticket to New Zealand's World Cup."

Greg Growden, of the Sydney Morning Herald , casts his eye over Robbie Deans' Wallaby XV which will face Samoa.

"Meet the Wallabies' ''holding pattern'' Test XV.

No one should start believing the Wallabies have taken a radical detour down a back alley by including so many new names to play Samoa at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, because it has more to do with resting numerous overworked Super Rugby champions and experimenting in several positions while they can.

Normal transmission will resume next week when Will Genia, Quade Cooper, David Pocock, Kurtley Beale and James Horwill return to the Test starting line-up, when the season steps up a gear with the first round of the Tri Nations against the Springboks in Sydney."

Greg Growden, of the Sydney Morning Herald , looks at Australia's front row options following Benn Alexander's season ending injury.

"The Wallabies front-row stocks have already been exposed after loose-head prop Benn Robinson limped off the training paddock with a knee injury yesterday, placing him in serious doubt for Sunday's Test against Samoa.

"As many of the Reds players and key Wallabies such as Rocky Elsom and David Pocock were allowed to sit out training, it was difficult to work out what exactly will be the Australian Test line-up before it is announced this morning.

"The only certainty appeared to be that the Test front-row would be Robinson, Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander at tighthead. But this all changed when Robinson was hurt during an attacking drill and hobbled off Coogee Oval feeling his right knee."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Marc Hinton says the Reds' Quade Cooper and Will Genia have got the All Blacks running scared.

"This is how grave things have got. Even the All Blacks hooker is worrying about those influential Aussies Quade Cooper and Will Genia.

Seriously. It may not be exactly consuming Keven Mealamu but the veteran Auckland hooker doesn't mind admitting that after suffering twice at the hands of Queensland's dynamic duo this year, then watching them pick apart the Crusaders in Saturday's Super Rugby final, he's more than a trifle concerned about their growing influence extending to an improving Wallabies outfit.
Many experts believe the Wallabies will present the final, and most significant, hurdle for the All Blacks in their quest to end their 24-year wait for World Cup glory."

The Reds proved any doubters wrong under the guidance of head coach Ewen McKenzie © Getty Images

The Courier Mail's Andrew Slack looks at the greatest day in the Reds' history.

"To this point, it had been the greatest day in Queensland's rugby history. Somewhere in Fiji presumably, Mrs Samo was heavily pregnant with Radike when the then "Maroons" smashed New South Wales 42-4 at Ballymore in late May, 1976.

"The resurgence of the game in this state had a starting point.

"The code now has a new greatest day and a new starting point. A barren 15 years of professional rugby matters no more.

"Not only have the 2011 Reds exorcised a decade and a half of disappointment, they've done it in a manner that has the game back in the good books."

The Courier Mail's Robert Craddock revels in the Reds Super Rugby win.

"THIS is our time!" thunders the Reds' new catchcry and after all the years of frustration, heartbreak and broken dreams, it finally is. The jinx is broken. The witch is dead.

"After 16 years without a title, the magnificent Queensland Reds are Super Rugby champions. Who would have thought it could happen?

"From being the franchise which could not keep their own players, they have suddenly become the best provincial side in the world.”

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie, in his column for WA Today, talks about his previous experience of finals and what he will change before this weekend's Super Rugby showpiece.

"It's my last blog of the Super season so it is now appropriate to talk about the final. Enjoyably, the Reds are in it, so it makes for a bit more fodder for discussion.

"Many people subscribe to the theory that you must lose a final before you can win one. I am not one of those people.

"Saturday is far from my first final and I understand you certainly don't win them all. But you have a 50/50 opportunity and that is a lot better than it was at the start of the year.

"Many can play a career and never get in a final. Luckily for me, rugby has been kind and that has taught me a number of valuable lessons along the way."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden chats to Australia's Sekope Kepu as he launches his comeback from injury.

"The Waratahs front-rower was the standout tight-head prop of the five Australian provinces during the Super Rugby tournament before damaging his medial ligaments against the Sharks. The injury has sidelined him for the past six weeks.

"Despite earlier concerns that Kepu would miss the early part of the international season, he was at Wallabies scrum training at a windswept Coogee Oval yesterday, with his knee heavily strapped, but still believing he will be available for Test selection next weekend.

"While there is a push for Kepu to move into the Test No.3 jersey, due to the absence of James Slipper, the most likely scenario is that selectors will play it safe and pick him on the bench, as back-up for Ben Alexander and Benn Robinson.

"It will all depend on how Kepu fares for Randwick against Eastwood at Coogee Oval on Saturday, where he is expected to play for at least 40 minutes. Nonetheless, he is a certainty to be chosen in the Wallabies' 40-man training squad, to be announced on Sunday."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Greg Gowden backs Reds winger Rod Davies to gate-crash the Wallaby backline.

"Rod Davies could not have picked a better time to become the first Queensland Reds player to score a hat-trick of Super Rugby tries, with his form sure to spark a major rethink about the make-up of the Wallabies backline for their opening Test against Samoa in Sydney on July 17.

Davies's ability to blitz through the Blues' defensive structure in the 12th, 50th and 57th minutes of Saturday's semi-final has put him in strong contention for a Test wing spot - as long as he can back up and handle the pressure of the Super Rugby final against the Crusaders in Brisbane on Saturday."

David Pocock has admitted to being nervous at taking over as Australia's first-choice No.7 from George Smith. The Sun-Herald's Josh Rakic reports.

"Speaking with The Sun-Herald from Perth, where he is in a training program devised by Wallabies coaching staff before the team's assembly next week, Pocock said he was excited at the prospect of wearing the No.7.

''I've really enjoyed progressing through and learning from guys like George Smith,'' he said. ''But when he retired last year, I guess I was pretty nervous. He's obviously been such a big part of the Wallabies for so long and whoever played No.7, there were massive shoes to fill.

''But I've tried to use that as motivation to become more consistent and really worked on trying to make a big contribution to the team's performance every week."

Injured Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom is set to make a shock return to the playing field and lead Australia in their first Test against Samoa in a fortnight. The Sun-Herald reports.

"The star flanker revealed to The Sun-Herald he has all but overcome the ankle injury he suffered a month ago in his successful return match for the Brumbies against the Force and expects to join the Wallabies camp in Coogee next Tuesday at full fitness.

"After being caught in a terrible position at the breakdown midway through the Force match, Elsom looked as though he would be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. However the 28-year-old recovered well and resumed training last week. He expects to finish rehab over the weekend before arriving in Sydney this week in preparation for the biggest Wallabies camp of his career.

''I can't see any reason why I wouldn't be fit for the Samoan Test,'' Elsom told The Sun-Herald. ''It's almost been five weeks now and, for once, everything has gone to plan. I've had no complaints with it at all, other than the standard ones."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Gowden looks at the future of club rugby in Sydney.

"The push for a new Sydney first-grade premiership competition is gaining momentum, with several clubs eager to organise a new format, due to a difference of opinion with those in charge at NSW Rugby. Already several clubs are working on a competition model that is markedly different to the Shute Shield structure. The new competition's sponsorship is expected to come from an intriguing source - a cashed-up rugby identity with close links to the club structure who has good ideas on how Sydney club rugby can be improved."

Writing in his column for The Sydney Morning Herald, Matt Burke analyses how the Reds will respond after their week off in their Super Rugby semi-final showdown with the Blues.

"Will the week off be good for us or will it be a hindrance? This is the question that haunts teams around finals time - in all codes.

Finishing one or two in Super Rugby means teams get the week off, and more time to prepare for a high-impact, high-speed semi-final.

The amount of on- and off-field work has to balance. The Reds approached the first week of the finals series as if it had been a bye week, putting in place a plan that will get them the best result."

Writing in The Sydney Morning Herald, Greg Gowden analyses the role of Reds prop Greg Holmes in Saturday's Super Rugby semi-final against the Blues.

"Greg Holmes hasn't been part of the Wallabies fraternity since the 2007 World Cup but the former Test prop will be transformed into one of Queensland Rugby's most vital assets in tomorrow night's semi-final against the Blues in Brisbane.

Holmes, who played 13 Tests between 2005-07, was yesterday selected ahead of Guy Shepherdson at tighthead prop to anchor the Reds scrum in place of the injured Wallabies front-rower James Slipper.

Holmes is among Test rugby's recent overlooked front-rowers but as far as Reds coach Ewen McKenzie is concerned, he is an invaluable force to the extent that despite Holmes being better known as a loose-head, he was chosen ahead of a tight-head specialist."

Writing in The Dominion Post, Chris Barclay looks at Radike Samo's remarkable transformation.

"Appearances are not always deceiving - Radike Samo might be sporting an afro hairstyle these days now but he is still the same devastating ball player who trampled rivals as the Brumbies won the Super 14 rugby crown in 2004.

The Fijian-born lock-cum-loose forward was at the peak of his powers when an Australian side last won a Super Rugby title and, fittingly, he will play a leading role as the Queensland Reds try and relive their own past glories.

Like the Brisbane-based franchise, Samo has also undergone a remarkable transformation this season, a reawakening after spending three virtually anonymous years in Yokohama.

Visions of a rampaging Samo, short back and sides and the ball clamped like a limpet in one palm, faded from the consciousness when he left Australia in 2006 for Stade Francais and then Japan. "

Writing in his column for The Sydney Morning Herald, Reds coach Ewen McKenzie looks at the differing responses to feedback.

"Some players love feedback. Others avoid it.

In the world of service provision and entertainment, you would expect that feedback might be one of the most important day-to-day functions.

Earlier this week I was striding past a very large group of kids enjoying the Reds Fan Banner at a Queensland Rugby coaching clinic and I was approached by a well-meaning father who offered his best wishes for the weekend.
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I could have nodded and kept striding but I chose to stop and extend the discussion around how the clinic was going. Despite not my exact department or my area of responsibility, sometimes it's worth soliciting information and passing it back to help others.

The conversation was interesting on a couple of levels."

Writing in The Sydney Morning Herald, Marc Hinton looks at the Twitter banter between Stephen Brett and his opposite number Quade Cooper ahead of the Reds v Blues showdown this weekend.

"As is the way these days, Stephen Brett has already engaged his opposite number in Saturday's Super Rugby semi-final via Twitter. Nothing like a bit of verbal jousting ahead of the main event, even if you are restricted to 140 characters or less.

But the Blues five-eighth is well aware the real statements will be made at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane when he goes head-to-head against Reds playmaker Quade Cooper in what shapes as the pivotal matchup of the night.

Brett will be a crucial figure for the Blues in what is likely to be much more user-friendly conditions than they've become used to. As the Blues look to unleash their backline, decision-making and execution in the playmaker role will be vital."

Following Dan Vickerman's inclusion in the Waratahs' 22, there is a growing demand for the Aussie lock to be recalled to the national set-up © Getty Images

Greg Gowden looks at the growing demand for Dan Vickerman to be included in Robbie Deans' Wallaby World Cup squad in The Sydney Morning Herald

"The drive to get Dan Vickerman back in the green and gold is rapidly gaining momentum.

Just two weeks after returning from a three-year stint studying at Cambridge University, Vickerman has already played for the Waratahs and Sydney University - and, yesterday, was an integral part of the Wallabies' scrummaging camp.

Although Vickerman, 32, has not appeared for the Wallabies since 2008, many senior officials want him to be part of the Australian pack for the Tri Nations and World Cup."

John Eales, in The Sydney Morning Herald, looks at the game's losses on and off the field in recent times.

"A cursory scan of the crowd at David Brockhoff's memorial service at St Andrew's College, Sydney University, on Friday revealed why the Waratahs were always going to struggle against the Blues.

"Berrick Barnes, Al Baxter, Daniel Halangahu, Wycliff Palu, Dan Vickermann, et al. A full list of this casualty ward would represent a handy Super Rugby team.

"Watching their makeshift team hold their own later, however, demonstrated why the Waratahs have been Australia's most consistent team for most of the last decade – they play on the potent combination of guts and pride."

Greg Gowden asks in The Sydney Morning Herald who will draw the fans to the Waratahs' stadium next season due to their lack of a marquee player.

"When Wendell Sailor crossed codes and walked through the Ballymore turnstiles for the first time as a Queensland Reds player, he quipped: ''When Dell sells, watch these babies spin.'' Dell was half-joking, but spin they did. The same thing happened when Sailor joined the Waratahs. Home crowds grew.

And it also happened when other big drawcards, such as Lote Tuqiri and Mat Rogers, wore the Waratahs' colours. People came just to see them play. So, too, when Mark Ella, David Campese, Willie Ofahengaue and even the current Wallabies team manager Rob Egerton turned out for NSW. It's because they were different, exciting, unpredictable. Most importantly, they were entertaining. Even Matt Dunning, when he was going through his field-goal kicking phase, sucked them in because he appealed to those on the terraces. He was one of them."

Robbie Deans talks to Josh Rakic in The Sydney Morning Herald about his plans for the Tri-Nations.

"SH: The Wallabies scrum was heavily scrutinised last year. Have you seen signs of improvement and are you confident we can be competitive in that area come the World Cup?

RD: We believe so, particularly once everyone returns to full fitness. We'll be holding a couple of scrum camps because it's going to be an area of emphasis for us. We're much better placed than we were a while back. But to have everyone back and fit would be a good start."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Jamie Pandaram reflects on the Waratahs gutsy display in defeat to the Blues on Friday night.

"Waugh fired up the troops in a huddle, watched young Blues winger Lachie Munro slot a sideline conversion that put them beyond reach of the Waratahs, and lumbered off after 64 minutes at Eden Park. His time had come.

"The broad nugget filling the Waratah-patched jersey sat on the bench for the last time, watching the future fight to ensure the 23-8 scoreline did not blow out to spoil what was a valiant effort. They showed the spirit Waugh has become legendary for, crossing for a late try before the Blues advanced to the semi-final by 26-13.

"The Blues were more capable with ball in hand and relished the fast pace of an absorbing spectacle featuring some brutal hits, long-range breaks and continual recycling that often defied the slippery conditions."

Greg Somerville has been one of the most consistent Rebels in their debut year © Getty Images

Adam Freier writes for The Sydney Morning Herald and tells of the impact the three Kiwi's have had at the Rebels.

"A sausage dog, dairy farmer and Jedi sit at a bar. Yesterday, I looked over our three Kiwi brothers following our after-awards lunch and tried not to laugh!

They share many things in common - country of birth, the search for a better value feed, and the imprint they have left on our young Rebels club."

Despite him still chomping at the bit, Matt Burke writes in The Sydney Morning Herald why he was not holding his breath for a last minute call-up to the Waratahs side.

"'Hey, Chris, I am ready to go if you need me.'' Those are the words that I have often said to Waratahs coach Chris Hickey this year during a season that seems to be going from bad to worse in the injuries department.

Each time I say those words, I hear Chris laugh. If he did ask, the response would be an emphatic ''No'', and I'd remind him that he has some great talent coming through.

I heard someone mention that had the Waratahs been bundled out last weekend against the Brumbies, it their season would have been forgiveable considering the injuries they have had this year. I disagreed. Never would a player be content with mediocrity. It wouldn't be in the make-up of a professional rugby player to throw in the towel."

The Reds have gone from Super Rugby whipping boys to title favourites © Getty Images

Phil Lutton charts the remarkable rise of the Queensland Reds over the past four years in The Sydney Morning Herald

"When the Reds met the imposing Bulls in the final round of the 2007 season at Loftus Versfeld, the home side faced the unlikely prospect of needing a 72-point victory to secure a home final. But they did it with change to spare, destroying the Reds in a record 92-3 romp that sent the Ballymore franchise to perhaps the lowest point in its history. The Reds won just two games that season and, for the first time, the wooden spoon. Coach Eddie Jones left soon after and the mountain to recovery would start being climbed."

Chris Hickey talks to Jamie Pandaram in The Sydney Morning Herald and argues that the ARU must expand the number of contracted players allowed in a Super Rugby squad.

"The Australian Rugby Union must expand the contracted squad limit of each province due to the worst injury crisis in the competition's history, believes Waratahs coach Chris Hickey.

The longer Super Rugby season, which this year expanded from 14 to 18 weeks plus finals, has seen a number of high-profile stars fall victim to injuries, including Wallabies Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu, Luke Burgess, Al Baxter, Ryan Cross, Digby Ioane, James Slipper, Beau Robinson, Nathan Sharpe, and All Blacks Richie McCaw, Sonny Bill Williams and Rene Ranger."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden is not getting carried away by the Reds and the Waratahs qualifying for the Super Rugby Finals.

"Having three teams in the bottom four is not a great advertisement for Australian rugby, nor is the fact that a province that was once the powerhouse of the local game has lost its way. Of the also-rans, the Brumbies are the most worrying. The Brumbies are the only Australian team to have won a Super title, being victorious in 2001 and 2004, in the process nurturing and cultivating numerous important Wallabies. But they are an embarrassing shell of their former selves.

"Former Brumbies must have cringed at what occurred at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night, having to endure what was close to the province's most inept Super Rugby performance. The Brumbies were once renowned for their systems, purpose and exceptional ensemble play. On Saturday night, they were clueless, played one-out football, lacked a genuine game plan, and missed so many first-up tackles you had to wonder if they were actually interested in the contest.

"The Waratahs played well and deserved their 34-point win. But you knew that a province at the top of their game - such as the Crusaders a few years ago - would have crucified the Brumbies. Maybe not as bad as the 96-19 belting the Waratahs suffered in 2002 in Christchurch but it would have been close."

Australian rugby will not be the same following the death of one of its most loved and brilliant characters, David Brockhoff, according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"There is so much more to Brockhoff than dry rugby statistics. Probably no other person in Australian rugby can boast being at the core of so many hilarious stories, and can rightfully claim as many friends from the game.

"Hailing from a high-profile Sydney flour-milling family he became a master of biscuit making and was flamboyant, as a player and a teacher. His boundless energy won him Test selection, and his extroverted behaviour put him immediately alongside Bill Cerutti and Aub Hodgson as unforgettable Wallabies. In New Zealand, he was known as ''Offside Brockhoff'' because he could always be found on the advantage line, causing trouble.

"But it was as a coach that ''Brock'' really made his mark. He was a winner, initially with Sydney University where his unusual, often bombastic methods brought success. With a bath towel around his neck, or even a tartan scarf, he would stride around the training paddock, explaining his concise philosophy, inspired primarily by New Zealand provincial coach Vic Cavanagh - get a fierce, dominant pack, make them brutal at the ruck and scrum, ensure they were intimate with something called the ''famous Vickers machine-gun tripod defence'', and make certain you had a kicking five-eighth."

Former Wallabies player and coach Dave Brockhoff has died aged 83 © Getty Images

Australian Rugby is today mourning the death of one of the greats of the game former Wallaby and Test coach David Brockhoff. The Australian's Peter Kogoy reports.

"Brockhoff, 83, was elected a life member of the Australian Rugby Union in 2004, and remained enthusiastically involved in the game almost up until the time of his death, being a regular at both Wallabies and NSW Waratahs training sessions, as well as a familiar face at the airport when either side was either departing for, or returning from, an overseas tour. His contribution to the game was again recognised last year when he was anointed as one of the game's statesmen.

"Geoff Shaw, who took over as captain from an injured John Hipwell on the Wallabies' 1975-76 tour of the British Isles, said Brockhoff would be remembered as one of the truly great coaches. "As a kid from the bush he became a great mentor in my time as as a player and captain and it helped forge a lifetime relationship," Shaw said.

"Former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer said Brock would be remembered as one of the great men of rugby. "The thing that will stay with me forever is Brock's feeling, knowledge and especially affinity for rugby," Dwyer said. "He never lost the fundamental enjoyment of the game and that rubbed off on everyone who had the pleasure to meet him and to get to know him."

In the The Sydney Morning Herald, Greg Gowden eagerly anticipates the match up between Wallaby props Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander.

"Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander were ''kings of the kids'' yesterday, but their close relationship will dramatically change this weekend when they try some one-upmanship on each other.

The Test front-rowers returned to their old schools as part of the Wallabies Town promotion. The first stop was Alexander's primary school, Dural Public, where some of his junior teachers were at the assembly. Alexander, the Brumbies' tight-head prop, and Robinson, the Waratahs' loose-head prop, fielded questions, with the former pupil having to explain the logic behind a Sydneysider now playing for the ACT. '"

Berrick Barnes is to take an extended break from the game because of ongoing fears over his health © Getty Images

Speaking to The Australian, former Wallaby Elton Flatley offers Berrick Barnes some advice on a difficult situation that he is all too familiar with.

"Elton Flatley believes Berrick Barnes will know deep down whether he should retire because of constant headaches which have plagued him this year.

"Flatley, the former Queensland Reds and Australia inside back who retired prematurely in 2006 because of concussion, understands more than anyone what Barnes is going through. While Barnes is receiving the best possible medical treatment, only he will know whether he can continue to put his body on the line in such a physical game.

"'You've got to be careful,' Flatley said. 'I'm glad to see they are taking it seriously with Berrick. Deep down Berrick will know how he is feeling. He will be guided by doctors, but he is the only one who will know what's happening.

"'He will be receiving excellent medical advice and he will be guided by their opinions, but deep down Berrick will know his own health and he has to be true to that. Berrick is a smart boy. He'll know what to do.'"

Writing in the The Sydney Morning Herald, Justin Harrison tells David Polkinghorne that the Brumbies will not go easy on the Waratahs.

"The Brumbies aren't motivated by the chance to wreck the Waratahs' finals hopes, but they certainly won't be helping to ease their rivals' passage into the top six.

Brumbies forwards coach Justin Harrison yesterday rejected any notion Australian solidarity might play a role in Saturday's clash at ANZ Stadium. While the Brumbies are playing only for pride, the Waratahs' finals hopes rest on the outcome of the match."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Stuart Barnes applauds Kurtley Beale

"Had Kurtley Beale not been quite so brilliant, had the Highlanders not been quite as naive to the point of being remedial in their rugby thinking, the scoreboard could have relayed a startlingly different scoreline to the suggested rout of 33-7.

Beale took it upon himself to answer all the questions regarding the Waratahs' attacking game. He didn't so much have a hand in three tries; he conceived, created and handed them to his grateful teammates on a platter. Nineteen points were effectively the sole property of the wondrous Wallaby. As losing coach, Jamie Joseph, stated matter of factly post-match, "Beale was pretty much responsible for the game."

In the Sydney Morning Herald, Rod Macqueen is tipped to step down from the Rebels

"Rod Macqueen is expected to confirm he will stand down next week as Melbourne Rebels head coach.

Macqueen was saying little on Monday on what his Super Rugby future held.

But he confirmed there would be an announcement on his future next week - just days after he coaches the Rebels in their final match this season against the Western Force on Friday night in Melbourne."

A new program is placing the Wallabies' future in the hands of graduates such as Quade Cooper and James O'Connor, writes the Sydney Morning Herald's Josh Rakic.

"Quade Cooper playing for the Brisbane Broncos and James O'Connor running around for the Parramatta Eels? If the ARU had not intervened, two of the Wallabies' best young stars could have been lost to the game before they became household names.

"As Australian rugby prepares to wave goodbye to the likes of Al Baxter, Luke Burgess and Matt Giteau, the future of the Wallabies is being secured by Ben Whitaker and the national development program.

"Since its inception in 2004, the Gold Squad program has helped to shape 14 Wallabies, including O'Connor, Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Will Genia and David Pocock.

"National development manager Whitaker said the future looked just as bright, with more than 750 junior footballers between 14 and 18 taking part in a range of daily, weekly and programs to prepare them for Super Rugby and international duty.

"It's a construction line of our next-generation Wallabies."

Scott Higginbotham makes some yards against the Blues © Getty Images

Wayne Smith proposes something radical for the Reds, namely switching back-rower Scott Higginbotham to midfield for their meeting with the Force, in The Australian.

"The Reds lost half their backline in their brutal 22-14 loss to the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, with strike winger Digby Ioane, defensive linchpin Anthony Faingaa and rising fullback Ben Lucas all badly injured.

"A stunned hush fell over the stadium when Ioane was knocked out cold by a head-high tackle by Ita Vaea in the 49th minute -- a moment of carelessness that earned the Brumbies number eight a one-week suspension yesterday -- but for all the drama surrounding the incident it appears he will spend less time on the sidelines that his two other injured teammates."

Former Australia internationals Nick Farr-Jones and John Eales are confident the Wallabies can win a third World Cup in New Zealand later this year, reports Wynne Gray in the New Zealand Herald.

"A hub of World Cup-winning knowledge lives in Sydney.

"David Kirk, the first skipper to hold aloft the Webb Ellis Cup, has worked there for some time, Nick Farr-Jones was raised in the city while John Eales has shifted south from Brisbane.

"The Wallaby winners like the way Robbie Deans' management and style is flowing through the side, they can see a third Webb Ellis Cup in the ARU's trophy room later this season."

Former Australia coach Bob Dwyer, in the Sydney Morning Herald, is adamant that Western Force wonderkid James O'Connor should take centre stage for the Wallabies

"James O'Connor would be a sure-fire hit for Australia at No.12, according to former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer. He says the combination of best mates O'Connor and Quade Cooper in the Australian playmaking roles would form one of the deadliest attacking pairings in world rugby.

"Incumbent Wallabies coach Robbie Deans revealed to The Sun-Herald this month that the Force star and Wallabies winger was seriously being considered as an option at inside-centre. And Dwyer said national selectors would be mad not to give O'Connor his chance ahead of Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes.

''James O'Connor is a fantastic player. He'd kill them at No.12 for the Wallabies,'' Dwyer said.
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''With Quade Cooper and O'Connor together, as long as Cooper continues his improvement in using other people, I think they'll be extremely dangerous together. Cooper is a much, much better player than he was and O'Connor is a very good player. They'll have great confidence in each other, too.'

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans believes there is no point even contemplating about an alternative Test captain as he is adamant Rocky Elsom will play in the opening international against Samoa in Sydney on July 17. The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reports.

"Speculation that David Pocock, James Horwill or Will Genia will be handed the Test skipper's reins has intensified after Elsom discovered this week his ankle injury sustained during the Brumbies match against the Force in Perth last Saturday night was serious. After playing his first match for the Brumbies this season, Elsom underwent an MRI scan that revealed he was suffering from syndesmosis, or a high ankle sprain.

"Deans said yesterday that although Elsom was likely to be sidelined for six weeks, he anticipated his skipper would be part of the Wallabies squad for the start of their long international season, which culminates with the World Cup in September-October.

"'It's syndesmosis but it is not as sinister as they often are, which is evident from the fact that Rocky finished the game,'' Deans said.

"Deans said there was no point discussing an alternative captain but at least conceded that among the Wallabies leadership group there were several options."

Should Rocky Elsom still be Wallabies skipper? © Getty Images

Paul Cully advises against counting Rocky Elsom out prior to the Rugby World Cup in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Those prematurely writing the obituaries for Rocky Elsom's Wallabies captaincy - and perhaps his place in the team - after his latest injury setback had better be careful what they wish for.

"The big No.6 will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season after sustaining an ankle injury in his comeback game against the Force on Saturday night, raising concerns about his place in World Cup considerations.
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"But it wasn't just his remarkably effective return - grouchy, combative - from a long-term hamstring injury that highlighted his worth, but its timing. As the Super season moves to the business end - and the weather closes in - we're getting a much better indication of what the coming international campaigns will bring - and the trend is moving towards tough, uncompromising and defence-dominated rugby."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald David Sygall says that the Waratahs' free-scoring victory over the Lions in Super Rugby has placated their fans for now.

"The last time the Waratahs played a South African team at the foot of the table, just over two months ago, they hit rock bottom, thumped 23-3 by the Cheetahs, after which they received resounding boos from a bitterly disappointed home crowd.

"Last night, 48 hours after packing down with 100 or so angry fans at an extraordinary honesty session in which they were labelled fragile, arrogant and mediocre, the Waratahs players put their reputations on the line against the lowly Lions. And though only 14,123 fans turned up, the Tahs did themselves and those fans proud, showing at least some of the style of play upon which the NSW rugby legend was built. Sure, they bagged five competition points to retain their place in the top six a month out from the play-offs. But more importantly, they went a long way towards winning over an audience that had rightfully wondered where the team's sense of adventure, confidence and accountability had gone this season."

The Waratahs are complicit in undermining rugby's popularity with their predictable tactics, according to Simon Poidevin in the Sydney Morning Herald

"Berrick Barnes is a highly intelligent rugby player, an exceptional athlete and, in my opinion, a future Wallabies captain.

However he must have been drinking the "Tahland" Jimmy Jones Jungle Juice when he made the following comments to the Herald's Jamie Pandaram after the bore-a-thon that was the Waratahs clash with the Western Force last Saturday night at the SFS: "We don't set out to intentionally kick the cover off the ball but they are the sacrifices we've got to make if we want to keep winning.

"There is obviously criticism of our game. We don't get a lot of love but that's fine. We will keep on plugging away. We're in the hunt, and that is the most positive thing. It is not a popularity contest."
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Sorry, Berrick, I know you have to toe the company line but the players, the coaches and the administration of the Waratahs had better quickly work out that they are competing in one of the toughest popularity contests in world sport, and they are getting a dusting."

The New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray previews the Blues' Super Rugby clash with the Reds and anticipates another dazzling show from Quade Cooper.

"Cooper has shown his winning mentality with the Reds as they have churned through nine wins from 11 matches before tonight's shootout in Brisbane. There is little doubt he has the sort of X-factor Deans is looking for with the Wallabies - someone capable of shredding the best defences with his subterfuge.

"Sometimes even Cooper appears nonplussed by his work. He has those SBW-type passing moves, the cross-kicks and kick-passes, the stutter-step, the foxtrot dodge - every week an addition seems to appear. He is box-office, natural and exuberant, a crowd magnet and a Wallaby hotshot.

"Tonight is a big stage for Cooper among many players - his task is to make his mark, create a victory and if he does, he'll get another huge tick from [Robbie] Deans."

George Smith will be heading to the land of the rising sums next season © Getty Images

The lure and lucre of a move to France is well known, but it faces competition for players from the land of the rising sums according to Shaun Edwards in The Guardian.

"Most, I think, always considered the Japanese league to be something of a rest home or a pension plan for guys who had done valiant service with their clubs and countries but were beginning to feel the aches and pains. George Gregan, 139 times a Wallaby and now aged 38, has only just finished with Suntory three years after a season with Toulon, and there are plenty who didn't quite make it so big as the record‑breaking Australian scrum-half.

"...However, it is the transfer of George Smith, the former Australia captain and flanker, that should ring alarm bells. After his successful season in the south of France, Toulon wanted to keep Smith, but they were outbid and the 30-year‑old, who has quite a bit left on his clock, will be lining up with Norton‑Knight after Sanyo Wild Knights offered him a reported €800,000 (£720,000) for a season that spans just 13 games before the play‑offs. That's almost football money and you can imagine a few players may be rethinking their plans."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Reds coach Ewen McKenzie reflects on the pros and cons of a rotation policy.

"The easiest thing a coach can do is to make as few selection decisions as possible and hope nothing changes. In an ideal world you would run your best 15 players for the length of the competition. Combinations would be honed, match fitness would be OK and Bob would be uncle.

"The Brumbies almost managed this back in the Super 12 days (11 games plus 2 finals) when they won a title using just 24 players. That dream run was probably the significant reason why they won. When I coached the Tahs in 2007 we suffered a number of injuries, forcing us to use 37 players, before finishing second last in Super 14. There are more stories like this than the aforementioned one about the Brumbies.

"When it comes to both proactive and reactive management, the dream has to be connected to reality. It's simply not possible to know when your next injury might occur in a contact sport. Soft tissue injuries can (and should) be limited with good programming, but contact injuries just happen. Proactive coaches consider all the possibilities and always have a plans B, C and D to allow other players to step up."

Could the Kangaroos and Wallabies soon meet on a football field in a battle of the rival rugby codes? The New Zealand Herald reports.

"Many have tried to push the idea, but now a movement conceived by some of the top figures minds in rugby league and rugby union is pushing to make the idea a reality.

"Former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer and player Mark Ella have come together with league great Bob Fulton to create the "Hybrid Code" - a 13-a-side game mixing elements of league and union.

"Ella says a match between Australia's two international rugby teams is a long way off, but fans will get a chance to experience the game next Wednesday when Sydney's St Augustine's College, known for its rugby union achievements, takes on the Gold Coast's equally successful league school, Keebra Park State High."

Former Wallabies back Pat Howard and World Cup winning coach Bob Dwyer yesterday said the Melbourne Rebels should persevere with Danny Cipriani despite the wayward star's continuing off-field problems and on-field tackling deficiencies. The Sydney Morning Herald's Stathi Paxinos reports.

"Howard said Cipriani had not completely lived up to the hype and could lose the opportunity to fulfil his talent with his off-field antics.

''Has he been as good as some people had hoped? No,'' Howard said. ''Has he been better than the people who had written him off [thought]? Absolutely, the balance is somewhere in between. Cipriani has played a role. He's shown that he could be very, very good.
'
'I'd love to make this judgment in another 12 months' time. I think if in two years he hasn't reached his promise then you would question in retrospect how good a decision it was but he's been fit, he hasn't been injured, he's been available and there's a couple of games where you've seen a bit of brilliance.''

"Dwyer said Cipriani had made his mark this season. ''They've certainly got some good value out of him,'' Dwyer said. ''I think he's looked a real quality player with the Melbourne team.''

Legendary NRL coach Wayne Bennett is set to bolster Australia's World Cup challenge © Getty Images

Legendary rugby league coach Wayne Bennett has confirmed he will help the Wallabies in their World Cup preparations. The Sydney Morning Herald's Jamie Pandaram reports.

"The most successful rugby league coach still in the game is being sought by Wallabies assistant Jim Williams to provide insights into how to succeed at major tournaments. Bennett told the Herald yesterday he would be happy to speak with Williams and confirmed he takes a keen interest in the Wallabies' fortunes.

"Asked what key ingredient is required to help an underdog win a major tournament, Bennett - who helped New Zealand claim a stunning Rugby League World Cup victory in 2008 - said unwavering belief was critical. ''From the head coach down to the trainer and the players, everybody has got to believe,'' Bennett said."

Berrick Barnes has been out of action due to repeated concussions © Getty Images

Jamie Pandaram salutes the bravery of Berrick Barnes after the Waratahs playmaker publicised his recent head injuries in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Berrick Barnes has been sitting on the sidelines, but that is why he should be considered the bravest Super Rugby player of the past month. By publicising his health fears after two separate head knocks, Barnes is helping to change a dangerous culture in contact sports and is providing an important example for youngsters.

"There is nothing macho about brain injuries, so why do we see athletes forcing themselves back into the fray after suffering concussion?

"In the first instance, it is a cultural reaction, a cry from within that decrees they are weak for staying down too long after a heavy blow. They will themselves to their feet, disregarding the spinning sky and grass, because of a pre-determined mindset that charges them up for physical confrontation."

The Australian Rugby Union will not follow its English counterparts and place bets with bookmakers on its team winning the World Cup this year. The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reports.

"ARU chief executive John O'Neill said yesterday that in recent months they had been approached by several betting agencies, including one overseas firm. ''They came up with a product to sell to the major rugby bodies, which is an alternative to taking out an insurance policy. We haven't pursued it, and it is very unlikely we will,'' O'Neill said. ' 'We are looking at more traditional methods of laying off the risk, and have sought some quotes from insurance companies revolving around the possibility we will have to outlay a considerable amount of money in terms of bonuses. We are currently weighing up the risk-reward ratio, and the premiums aren't cheap. But we haven't locked anything away at this stage.''

"If the Wallabies win their third Webb Ellis trophy in October, an Australian player, through win bonuses and match payments, could earn close to $200,000 from the tournament."

Danny Cipriani's Randwick rendezvous has Waratahs tongues wagging according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"Danny Cipriani for the Waratahs? Surely not. Then again, strange things happen at Royal Randwick race meetings. Our snouts in Waratahland are adamant a NSW ''mover and shaker'' is interested in luring Cipriani from Melbourne, following Kurtley Beale's decision to go the other way. Apparently the Waratahs powerbroker was sighted palling around with the Rebels five-eighth at a recent Sydney race meeting shortly before it was announced the England Test pivot would play club rugby with Warringah this season. However, luring Cipriani to the Waratahs would be stridently opposed by several team officials due to doubts whether he would fit into their ''culture''. A common discussion point among the Waratahs is Cipriani's defensive frailties. He currently tops the Super Rugby statistics for the most missed tackles with 35. Maybe the Cipriani push simply involves marketing? We also hear several Force players - including a big-name forward - were interested in moving to the Waratahs but opted to stay put due to concerns about internal politics at NSW Rugby."

Mark Gerrard has been in strong form for the Rebels © Getty Images

Former Wallaby Mark Gerrard has emerged as a front-runner for Australia's Super Rugby Player of the Year, The Sydney Morning Herald's Jamie Pandaram reports.

"Gerrard has enjoyed a fine season for the Melbourne Rebels despite playing just five games due to injury, and has bucked the trend of players fading away after heading overseas.

"He gained an early release from the third year of his Brumbies contract to join Japan's NTT Communications in 2009, and played his last Test for the Wallabies at the 2007 World Cup, but national selectors will have taken notice of his renaissance."

Rocky Elsom has rejected former Wallaby great Tim Horan's suggestion he is burdened by the test captaincy. The New Zealand Herald reports.

"Horan last month argued the task of leading the Wallabies would prevent Elsom living up to his reputation as arguably the world's most feared blindside flanker.

"I believe the captaincy burdens Rocky too much," Horan explained. "The only way I think you see the best from Rocky Elsom is when he doesn't have the [captaincy or vice-captaincy] next to his name."

"But the 28-year-old Brumbies stalwart who is slowly recovering from a hamstring injury, disagrees. "Well, nothing is coming to mind to support that," Elsom said yesterday. "Obviously I don't appoint myself, but I'm happy in the role and I'm pretty keen to get into it [at the World Cup]."

Greg Growden brings up the idea of widening the field in order to increase the number of tries scored in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"When Manly rugby league coach Des Hasler last week suggested extending the size of the field as a way to cut down injuries, some thought he had misread his calendar and believed it was April Fools' Day. But Hasler was serious, explaining that by widening the field, ''there is more space to run into so the hits are less''.

"In the rah-rah world, the idea of making the field bigger has cropped up now and again as a way to make the game more conducive to try scoring. As rugby has two more players than league, space is compressed, defences are more cluttered, and getting over the opposition line supposedly harder.

"This has prompted calls for fewer rugby players on the field. That's not going to happen, so the next best idea is pushing the sidelines out a few metres. Usually in World Cup years, this idea gathers momentum, as teams go safety-first and focus on their defences. Already after seven rounds of the Super Rugby season, statistics suggest tries are harder to come by."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Chris Dutton reveals why Wallabies star Adam Ashley-Cooper swapped the Brumbies for the Waratahs.

"Matt Giteau reckons the changes in Adam Ashley-Cooper are as simple as the clothes he wears and ''that strange fringe he's growing''.

"But they go so much deeper than that. For the past two months, Ashley-Cooper has been a man conflicted. He was forced to choose between loyalty and love.

"Would he decide to remain with the Brumbies or end his time in Canberra to be with his partner and family in Sydney?

"Deep down he knew long ago that he was saying goodbye to the Brumbies, but he put his announcement off as long as possible.

"Why? Because Ashley-Cooper is no longer the starstruck kid who burst on to the scene seven years ago. He has new priorities and a new outlook on life."

James O'Connor's recent form has been so impressive that Wallabies officials are deliberating whether he should be moved from the wing and be brought closer to the action at inside-centre. The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reports.

"O'Connor is also in contention to be Quade Cooper's back-up as the Test No.10 when the Wallabies go into Tri Nations and World Cup mode from July. Although the Force have only won one match, O'Connor has been the most consistent player of the five Australian teams, excelling at five-eighth. O'Connor has enthused Wallabies selectors with his aggressive attitude, eagerness to take the initiative and to test the opposition at every opportunity.

"One of his best efforts was against the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend, where O'Connor provided resistance to an opposition who were right at the top of their game. The Stormers won by 35 points, but the margin would have been more embarrassing if O'Connor was not on the field. He constantly hassled the Stormers, and provided the highlight of the game when he took on their front row and winger Bryan Habana, beating all to score a classic solo try. Apart from bulking up,

"O'Connor has worked hard on his goalkicking, and is sitting third on the Super Rugby points-scoring list, with a tally of 80 from two tries, 22 penalty goals and two conversions."

Jamie Pandaram in the Sydney Morning Herald reflects on one of the Waratahs' most embarrassing defeat after their loss to the Cheetahs this weekend.

"The Waratahs suffered one of their most embarrassing defeats when they were shocked by the previously winless Cheetahs last night, and have now slipped from the top of the Australian Super Rugby conference.

The Waratahs have lost successive matches, separated by the bye last week, and have much to fix before they travel to Canberra to tackle the Brumbies next weekend.

Their performance was riddled by handling errors, loose passing and turnovers, and the Waratahs were subjected to jeering from their own crowd of 15,849 as impatience grew and time ran out."

The Australian Rugby Union is set to introduce an NRL-like salary cap to curb player expenditure of more than A$30 million, cracking down on third-party payments, and reducing individual player payments by as much as 25 per cent as the code continues to suffer financial pressure. The Sydney Morning Herald's Josh Rakic reports.

"In a rebuilding phase after hitting rock bottom in 2009, Australian rugby is already resigned to a fall in profits this year due to a restriction on Wallabies' in-bound Tests as a result of the World Cup.

"And while television ratings have had a big increase the ARU is following the lead of European competitions in looking to stem the outflow of cash.

"The code's biggest expenditure? Players' wages.

''The game is experiencing some financial difficulties, and as such the ARU is reviewing all of their expenditure items, player salaries included,'' a source said. ''They're looking at introducing an overall salary cap.''

"It is widely accepted that players are entitled to 25 to 30 per cent of Australian rugby revenue, but with revenue down significantly, the governing body is looking to slash that share."

Robbie Deans is set to extend his stay with the Wallabies © Getty Images

Greg Growden analyses the groundswell of support for Wallabies boss Robbie Deans in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"About 15 months ago, Robbie Deans was concerned his reign as Wallabies coach would end well before this year's World Cup.

"The losses were piling up. The All Blacks' domination over the Wallabies had become stifling, debilitating even. Deans was struggling to gain the support of several leading senior Wallabies.

"Privately, Deans even wondered whether he had the full backing of the Australian Rugby Union board. And, like any rugby coach, he knew that even though he had been successful at provincial level with the Canterbury Crusaders, failure on the field quickly leads to blood-letting on the other side of the fence. Rugby is a brutal, paranoid business. Deans would probably not have been shocked if the ARU had come up to him a year ago to give him the much-feared tap on the shoulder."

Gareth Delve and Danny Cipriani face up to a humiliating opening defeat against the Waratahs © Getty Images

Following the Melbourne Rebels' chastening opening day Super Rugby defeat to the Waratahs, the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden predicts a tough season for the Rebels and questions the influence of Danny Cipriani.

"It will be an excruciatingly long season for the Melbourne Rebels, and the Waratahs should finish on top of the Australian conference if they continue using their opportunities as wisely as they did last night.

"The Rebels went for the old bump and grind physical game, and compressed themselves in the middle of the field. That played right into the hands of an excellent Waratahs defensive line, which sucked all the energy out of the Rebels.

"Also the Rebels were so giddy by having to run around and around in circles pre-game trying to deny there was a problem with their star signing Danny Cipriani. There was a discipline issue, but that apparently was a long time ago. Hmmmm. What cannot be avoided is that it is very strange for a new province's big name to be sitting on the bench for their first game."

The Australian Rugby Union has taken quick steps to stem a mass player exodus according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Sun-Herald revealed two weeks ago that some of the code's biggest names - including Matt Giteau, Dean Mumm, Luke Burgess, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell and Stephen Moore - were on the verge of finalising deals with clubs in France. With these clubs looking to finalise their rosters unusually early in mid-February, ARU officials were caught on the hop during their annual holidays.

"But The Sun-Herald can reveal ARU chief executive John O'Neill and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans have been holding meetings thick and fast as pressure mounts on officials to secure the bulk of the youthful playing roster - with most off-contract after this year's World Cup - before it affects the Wallabies' World Cup preparation.

"As reported, Stephen Moore had all but agreed to join Paris's Racing Metro a fortnight ago, but a late play by the Brumbies and ARU have helped the Wallabies secure their first re-signing victory."

On the eve of the new Super Rugby season, veteran Melbourne Rebels centre Stirling Mortlock tells the Sydney Morning Herald's Guy Hand that there is still plenty of life left in this old dog.

"Mortlock will make his long-awaited debut for the Super Rugby newcomers in a trial match against Fiji in Ballarat on Saturday.

The 33-year-old hasn't played since May last year, when he was found to have a serious disc problem which required back surgery soon after announcing his move from the Brumbies to the Rebels for 2011.

"Mortlock, who still harbours ambitions of breaking back into the Wallabies' set-up in time for the World Cup, is keen to clock up at least half a game against Fiji.

"Thrilled with how his back feels, Mortlock believes once he reaches full fitness he will be a better player than he was just prior to his injury being diagnosed.

"I still feel as though my body has got a little way to go, but I'm very confident in the back," Mortlock said. "(Before surgery) my right side was essentially not doing what I asked it to do. When my body is hopefully in tip-top shape, I'm hoping for it to be significantly better than it has been in a number of years."

Chris Slade tells Toby Robson about his whirlwind start to life with the Melbourne Rebels in The Dominion Post.

"Chris Slade has not slept much these past few weeks. Nor has the 26-year-old been seen often by his boss at the Melbourne IT consultancy where he has been working since arriving from Wellington last July.

"Slade has not had time for much other than getting his head around a turn of events that's seen his previously stalled rugby career take flight."

With several Wallabies linked to a move to Europe, the Sun-Herald's Josh Rakic and Adrian Proszenko
believe the Australian Rugby Union have dropped the ball.

"The World Cup will be the last time the majority of the Wallabies play together as defections overseas or to rival codes threaten to decimate Australia's playing ranks.

"And The Sun-Herald can reveal that the ARU has made no attempt to retain superstar Matt Giteau although the 28-year-old playmaker stands to earn less in France than through his existing Wallabies deal. Fifteen other Wallabies stars are off contract in October but the governing body has less than a fortnight to secure some of the biggest names as cashed-up European clubs prepare to pounce.

"Hooker Stephen Moore and back-rower Huia Edmonds have already signed with Paris club Racing Metro and English side Saracens respectively, while Dean Mumm, Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Luke Burgess have been given strict signing deadlines from determined French clubs as they look to cement their rosters by February.

"ARU officials returned from their Christmas and New Year's holiday break last week to learn that international clubs had fast-tracked contract negotiations with their players, shifting contract deadlines to January - six months earlier than usual - in anticipation of a busy cup period."

The Rebels thrashed Tonga 43-13 in their first trial game on Saturday night and after the game Danny Cipriani - who had a limited run at fly-half - was allowed to talk to the media for the first time since joining the fledgling franchise. The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"Cipriani said there had been ''no inkling'' as to Macqueen's thinking but was confident he could lead the team around the field.

''I think with the position I play at five-eighth you always end up being a leader in some way because it's kind of like the quarterback on the field, you've got to get the team moving and get the plays moving,'' Cipriani said. ''Since I was young that was something that was put on me by a lot of my coaches, and that's something I've worked on a lot.''

"The Rebels have put Cipriani in cotton wool since he arrived in Melbourne to keep him from the pressures he faced in Britain but he has still hit the social pages several times.

''I've had that since I was 18 so I'm dealing with it now,'' he said. ''It is what it is, and you've just got to deal with it. A lot of people will write whatever they want to write but you've just got to carry on with your job at the end of the day and do the best you can.

''That [media ban] was down to the coach to make that decision. It's obviously helped me and helped the situation, and I trust in his [Macqueen's] experience. [He's] a man who's won the World Cup, he's been in winning teams and he's had winning businesses so he knows the structure of winning.''

A fit and focused Kurtley Beale is ready to continue his rugby union rise in 2011. The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"While Beale admits he has "about a kilo, two kilos" to lose following his off-season he's all too aware a massive year is in prospect.

"The revamped Super Rugby competition is first before Beale aims to cement his spot in the Wallabies ahead of the World Cup in New Zealand.

"I still think there's a long way to go for myself and actually developing and trying to improve on my game," he said.

"My first goal now is just to try and get back and mingle in with the boys, they've been training pretty good in the off season and I'm just very excited to be back."

"Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said Beale's emergence as an international standard fullback is likely to have him exclusively at No.15 this Super season."

Sydney and Melbourne are set to face off in a new annual rugby grudge match, according to reports in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"The brainchild of the new Sydney Rugby Union, who take over the management of the Sydney club competition this month, the match has been scheduled as a curtain raiser to the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby home game against South Africa's Sharks on March 11.

"Sydney Rugby Union chairman Chris Birch said the selection processes for both city teams would ensure an even battle. "Melbourne will be using a lot of the players they've got who are on Super Rugby contracts who may not be playing in the main game," he said on Wednesday. "Whereas our team will be chosen purely from the 12 clubs in Sydney."

"The launch of the Rebels in the 2011 Super Rugby competition will give the game a huge boost in Victoria, Birch said, while the annual curtain raiser will give an "edge to intercity rivalry".

Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper has declared that the Wallabies are ''very confident'' about their World Cup prospects after thrashing France to conclude their European tour. The Sydney Morning Herald's Daniel Lane reports.

"Cooper said the Wallabies, who will compete in group C of next year's World Cup against Ireland, Italy, Russia and the US, had finally grasped what Deans wanted of them. And he considered it a compliment that observers were saying they could see glimpses of the Crusaders - the New Zealand-based Super Rugby franchise Deans coached to a total of five victories (three in Super 12, two in Super 14) - in the Australian team.

"We love spreading the ball, and any turnover ball we love to use that and try to exploit any weaknesses in the opposition," he said. "I think the mould is there to be a great team just like the Crusaders but we are a fair way off it. And I think that is the good thing about the Wallabies … everyone is still looking to improve and we're all very excited about our future."

"Cooper, who was reportedly offered $1.5 million over three years to switch to the Parramatta Eels, decided to remain in rugby and signed a one-year deal to play in next year's World Cup in New Zealand."

John Eales reviews Australia's Test season in the wake of a massive win over France in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Years ago my brother armed me with the advice, "don't whistle while you pack". He reasoned that while you may eagerly anticipate your "juice, water or champagne", your better half is probably cutting lunches, cleaning vomit and ironing uniforms. But while his counsel is wise for a sporting tour, a business trip or a boys' weekend, it holds no relevance when travelling back from a record-breaking, seven-tries-to-one, 59-16 victory over the French.

"This was a remarkable finish to what has been a demanding calendar. How do you judge a year like this? Fifteen Tests with, aside from the opener against Fiji, no "gimmes", for a return of nine victories and six defeats.

"The record includes victory against every opposition at least once, including being the only team to beat the All Blacks, the Wallabies' first success at altitude since 1963, and an All Black-like killer attitude to nail the French until the death."

The Australian's Emma-Kate Symons reviews the media response in France to the national side's hammering at the hands of the Wallabies.

"Following their "pulverisation" (59-16) before a capacity crowd at the Stade de France by "les Australiens", newspapers, public debates and online chatter are awash with the story of the collective national shame over "A Terrible humiliation", as Le Figaro lamented.

"The French awoke yesterday to the announcement of two grim and seemingly linked phenomenon: the nation threatened by the debt crisis that is driving the Euro to record lows, and "the total failure of French rugby", in the words of Sud Ouest newspaper.

"Plucked like chickens!" L'Equipe screamed in one of multiple references to the French national symbol of le coq, or the rooster. The team was even likened to squashed pate and petrified chickens."

Greg Growden hails Australia's attacking box of tricks but draws focus back to their scrum after a massive win over France in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"It's pretty simple, really. If your scrum resembles melting jelly, not even Mandrake the Magician at five-eighth can save you. But if your scrum maintains its shape, anything is possible.

"The Wallabies' record Test victory over France was the perfect example of that. Has there even been such a dramatic contrast between the first and second halves of a rugby match? In the first half, the Wallabies scrum was castigated by New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence over and over again, and suffered the indignity of a penalty try in the 30th minute.

"The three minutes before that was one of the most humiliating an Australian scrum has experienced in recent times. Unlike the England Test in Perth, when a rookie Wallabies pack of Ben Daley, Saia Faingaa and Salesi Ma'afu was pulverised, the seasoned front row that encountered France - Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore and James Slipper - was supposedly Australia's best."

Les Bleus meet their Paris match on Saturday night according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"The Wallabies went on a wild second-half points scoring spree to enjoy their biggest win over France to end their spring tour the best way possible with a 59-16 trouncing at Stade de France in Paris today.

"...The Wallabies decided to show all their backline tricks with their wide, expansive passing from all quarters of the field and astute chip kicking reaping seven tries including three to winger Drew Mitchell. The Wallabies other winger James O'Connor also enjoyed a great night out finishing with 29 points from a try, six conversions and four penalty goals. O'Connor also consolidated himself as Australia's number one on goalkicker missing only two from 12 attempts.

"Outside-centre Adam Ashley-Cooper had an exceptional game. Where everything seemed to be falling apart in the first half, Ashley-Cooper held it together by scoring the first try of the game and then making endless charges at the line to allow the Wallabies to stay level 13-13 with the then dangerous French."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, former Wallabies star Matt Burke gives his views on how to beat France.

"There is nothing quite like playing the French. I remember watching Didier Camberabero put the Wallabies to the sword at the Sydney Football Stadium with a sublime kicking display, and France's team try against England sparked by the great Serge Blanco from behind his own goal line.

"What you don't want is to be part of one of those ''remember when'' games. The Wallabies will want to finish their spring tour on a high with a confident display of rugby.

"The French have a classic unpredictability about them. There will be moments on the field when they keep it tight and rumble their way upfield through the forwards. Then, without warning, they will break and shift the ball when, by traditional thinking, it shouldn't be allowed to do so. They see something and go for it. They possess structure to their game to get around the park, but many of their players have an innate penchant for having a go whenever they desire.

"What lies in store for the Wallabies? If their defence is off at all, it will be a long night. Should they look after defence and trust their system, it will go a long way towards stifling the French attack."

Greg Growden learns a little more about the French scrum, and their state-of-the-art scrum machine, from Didier Retiere in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Since June, the French team has been packing in against a state-of-the-art robotic scrum machine, which can simulate every set piece imaginable, even to the extent of re-enacting collapsed scrums. It is also able to take on the characteristics of an opposition Test scrum, and allows France to bore in on the props and hookers at varying angles.

"At the team's luxurious training headquarters, 25 kilometres east of Paris, the machine, which cost €200,000 ($276,000) to build, is being used this week to ensure that the French pack is up to whatever tricks the Wallabies scrum might try.
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"Among those heavily involved in the machine's construction is France's forwards coach Didier Retiere, who said yesterday that the original reason for building the scrum simulator was for safety."

Spiro Zavos believes that the Wallabies' newcomers deserve a further shot against France after the win over Italy on Rugby Heaven.

"During the worst days of the First World War, the beleaguered French military justified the execution of deserters "pour encourager les autres" (to encourage the others not to desert). This same principle of salutary justice was behind coach Robbie Deans's decision to move forward from the England defeat by dropping several players who have been part of the core starting side for the Wallabies this season. So for the Test against Italy at Florence, Matt Giteau, Mark Chisholm and Benn Robinson were dropped to the bench. And Dean Mumm was dropped from the squad. Did it work?

"There has been criticism of the reshaped Wallabies' 32-14 victory over Italy. And already there are dire predictions about what France will do to the Wallabies in Paris on Saturday. My reading of the Test, though, is that all the replacements brought in played well enough to justify selection in the starting side against France. Berrick Barnes, for instance, with his six successful penalties, most of them from a long way out, seems to have solved a chronic problem for the Wallabies this season. The losses to England at Sydney and at Twickenham would probably have been reversed had Barnes been on the field to kick the penalties that were missed in those Tests."

Melbourne Storm have put out the welcome mat for their cross-code rivals Melbourne Rebels, agreeing to share rugby league great Andrew Johns, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"The Rebels, who will join the expanded Super rugby union competition next year, will piggyback on the Storm's use of the former NSW and Australian skipper.

"Rebels head coach Rod Macqueen approached Storm football manager Frank Ponissi and asked if they could use Johns as a coaching consultant on his visits to Melbourne to work with the NRL side.

"He's done one session so far," Johns' manager John Fordham said. "If he's able to fit in a couple more in the pre-season mode he will. He's going to work with the Rebels' halves ... but his priority is the Melbourne Storm."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden witnessed a welcome return to winning form for the the Wallabies side when against Italy but he feels the victory was still deeply flawed.

"For most of the game the Wallabies were well off their game endlessly pushing the pass which saw them waste numerous good attacking opportunities.

"At times they seemed confused while their scrum was again a major problem area with the referee Christophe Berdos penalising their set piece six times, including on the Australian feed.

"The home crowd gave Italy the courage to continuously rattle the Wallabies, who never really settled during a very flaky international performance.

"In the end, the Wallabies had to rely on their new goalkicker Berrick Barnes to keep them well ahead with the inside centre tallying 22 points from six penalties and two conversions."

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal will be in Paris next week for meetings with several leading Wallabies players and their agents about the possibility of them joining his club after next year's World Cup, Rupert Guinness and Greg Growden report for the Sydney Morning Herald.

"It is believed the list of players targeted by Toulon includes four of Australia's most attacking players - Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper and James O'Connor.

"Giteau and Cooper have in recent years hinted there has been serious interest in French clubs for their services. Boudjellal's plan was revealed when he outlined his intention for Toulon to reciprocate the visit to France by the ACT Brumbies.

''We hosted the Brumbies last year, and if everything goes to plan, we could be in Australia [to tour],'' Boudjellal told the Herald. ''There will perhaps be new Australian players at Toulon [then].''

"Boudjellal would not name which players he was interested in, but confirmed he would travel to Paris in the week of the Wallabies-France Test for talks with Australian targets. The club president confirmed he had already been in contact with several players.

"The charismatic multi-millionaire cartoon publisher lauded the Wallabies, despite their loss to England last week, although he felt next year's World Cup might come a year too early for them.

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden believes there have been more questions than answers on the Wallabies current tour.

"And so Deans finds himself on another end-of-season tour, attempting to douse bushfires. In recent years, northern hemisphere Wallabies tours have not been simple, confidence-building affairs. Instead, they have regularly conjured up new dilemmas, especially last year when the tour went off the rails in Edinburgh, where the Wallabies suffered an inexplicable loss to an average Scotland outfit. How they lost that night at Murrayfield is still among Australian rugby's most baffling questions.

"A year on, there is the potential for this tour to take the same negative path, and it will require enormous willpower from Deans and his players to ensure that doesn't happen in the final two weeks when they meet Italy and France - neither of whom are easybeat opponents.

"What is most disconcerting about this tour is that it began in such spectacular fashion when the Wallabies defeated the All Blacks in Hong Kong. It has since undergone a now customary slump with a loss to England at Twickenham, followed by the Wallabies B team being completely overwhelmed by Munster in Limerick.

"It was an extremely subdued group that arrived in Florence on Wednesday night, after a spectacular flight across the French Alps."

Australia's Anthony Faingaa is shown yellow in Limerick © Getty Images

Greg Growden laments a miserable evening for the Wallabies in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"It was so ridiculous it became hilarious. But, sadly, the Thomond Park fiasco has sunk the Wallabies players into despair.

"The Wallabies B team headed to one of rugby's proudest provinces hoping to revive their Test aspirations and provide a psychological boost after the horrors of Twickenham last weekend by showing their skills against the might of Munster.

"Instead they left dishevelled, distraught and close to drowning after they floundered in the most inhospitable conditions imaginable, allowing Munster to enjoy another monumental victory over an international touring team. To add to the humiliation, the Wallabies were beaten by an Australian, with Queensland's Munster five-eighth Paul Warwick kicking them to victory with three penalties and two field goals."

England lock Courtney Lawes breaks through the Wallaby defence during Saturday's game at Twickenham © Getty Images

Writing on Rugby Heaven, Greg Growden bemoans the number of tackles missed by Australia in Saturday's defeat by England at Twickenham.

"The Wallabies say they were victims of what they consider the best England performance in recent times, but have at least conceded their flimsy defence is not up to the required standard.

"Wallabies players and management tried to downplay a 17-point loss to England by arguing they were overwhelmed by a team that performed to the peak of its abilities at Twickenham on Saturday night.

"However, match statistics glaringly show where the Wallabies were inadequate. While their inability to consistently win the physical battle is a serious concern, they are also missing too many tackles.

"On Saturday night, the Wallabies were involved in 163 tackles. Of those 142 were successful, but 21 were missed - almost 13 per cent. In contrast, England were involved in 97 tackles, and only three were missed."

Spiro Zavos of the Sydney Morning Herald was hugely impressed by England at Twickenham on Saturday but mystified by the tactics employed by the vanquished Wallabies.

"Early on in the England-Australia Test at Twickenham, one of the commentators suggested we were watching a preview of next year's Rugby World Cup final. Perhaps, but unlikely. The two teams are in the same half of the draw for the cup. They are seeded to play each other, if they win all their matches, in the semi-final.

"Judging by their forthright and sometimes brilliant play against the Wallabies, England are on track to have a strong tournament. This was far and away England's most impressive display since the glory days of 2002 and 2003.

"It is an ominous fact that since they lost the World Cup final in 1991, England have put the Wallabies out of the tournament in 1995, 2003 and 2007."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has trouble on his wary hands according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"What a waste! After such encouraging signs in Hong Kong and Cardiff, the Wallabies came to Twickenham and showed they are well short of the finished product when their many inadequacies - and in particular an inability to win the physical contest - enabled England to beat them at their own game.

Again the Australians got ahead of themselves by reading their own press and believing they were the magicians of the world stage, but didn't have the grunt, leadership or Plan B to work their way out of trouble when it got tough.

A triumph at Twickenham in front of a sell-out crowd would have been a defining moment for the tourists. However, an audience expecting entertainment from the Wallabies instead witnessed their soft underbelly, as England won the big collisions and advanced over the gain line almost every time they were in possession, and knocked Australia back when they were in attack."

The Wallabies went back to their terrible old ways and were justifiably smashed by England at Twickenham, so writes the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"After such encouraging performances against the All Blacks in Hong Kong and Wales in Cardiff, today's international was the ultimate let down when the Wallabies showed off their many frailties.

Wallaby goalkicker James O'Connor had a dismal night with the boot being successful with only three of his seven kicks which saw Australia missing out on a possible 11 points.

But this is not where the Wallabies lost the game.

Their defence was at times embarrassing, with England successfully strolling through Quade Cooper, time and time again, make great ground through his defensive channel

But Cooper was only one of many Australian culprits, with numerous other players falling off tackles and giving England easy territory.

The Wallabies composure was near non-existent at times and they were involved in numerous idiotic plays."

Australia captain Rocky Elsom rejects the gung-ho approach as he builds on the legacy of Nick Farr-Jones and John Eales. The Daily Telegraph's Ian Chadband reports.

"We claw with our fingernails for that inch 'cause we know when we add up all those inches, that's going to make the ------- difference between winning and losing, between living and dying

This is Al Pacino in full ham-tastic cry in Any Given Sunday, playing Tony D'Amato, the pumped-up American football coach in the locker room, roaring his pre-game team talk to its macho crescendo.

"You know that speech?" asks Rocky Elsom, bringing up Hollywood out of the blue. "People love that speech. They say 'Jeez, I'd run through a brick wall if I heard that'. Well, they might feel that way until they got to the brick wall.

"I watch that speech and think 'if someone was saying that to me, I'd tune out right at the start'. Younger players could lose their way listening to that. You want clearness in the head, a bit of direction."

Right, so if the Australia rugby captain is unimpressed by the shouty, gung-ho approach to leadership, then could we instead categorise him in that Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee mould of strong, silent Aussie types who inspire by deed not oratory? Nope. Try again."

Former Wallaby Matt Burke believes that it's time their pack stood up for themselves and their backline in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"I once played in a Newcastle back line that boasted England internationals Jonny Wilkinson, Toby Flood, Jamie Noon and Mathew Tait. When we were able to get the ball the results were devastating. The only regret was that we never really experienced success.

"The reason for that was because we didn't have the right balance between the forwards and backs. Our forwards were limited. The product of that is that, as a back, you have to make something out of nothing because of the inconsistencies of the delivery up front. Counter-attack becomes a weapon as it is ''free ball''.
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"This is the unenviable position the Wallabies find themselves. They might have won back-to-back games in Hong Kong and Cardiff, but a lot of soul-searching has taken place during the week. There is a way of winning, and then there is a way of winning well."

Once upon a time, the Wallabies' backs would hover around David Campese in the hope of either being inspired or getting some scraps. Now it seems Kurtley Beale, the new Australian fullback, has taken on that role. The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reports.

"Three days after his exceptional man-of-the-match performance against Wales in Cardiff, his Australian teammates were still talking about Beale's special moments in that Test, particularly when he came close to scoring a second-half try by leaping to catch a high ball before swivelling out of the tackle, grubbering through and regathering only to lose control centimetres from the line.

It was a passage of brilliance that proved Beale is finally comfortable on the big stage and that he is ready to push his talent to the extreme in the green and gold, as he did during his acclaimed schoolboy days with St Joseph's College in Sydney, where he dominated the ranks."

James O'Connor was among the players taking advantage of a new adventurous attitude that is dominating the international game © Getty Images

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Spiro Zavos argues that last weekend's international matches reflected an upsurge in the quality of rugby at the top level.

"The opening week of the southern hemisphere rugby invasion of the north gave us three pulsating and well-played Tests, with the visitors all repulsing last-minute challenges. None of the sides played in exactly the same way. But they all played real rugby, generally creating pressure and breakouts with ball-in-hand play.

Some of the statistics compare what is happening now on the field with the game in the 1980s. The findings provide the evidence that ''rugby football'' has evolved into ''rugby''. The ball is now in play 50 per cent longer. Rucks and mauls are up 400 per cent. Passing is up 400 per cent. Kicks each game are down 50 per cent, with the Wallabies averaging only 15 a match. Scrums are down 50 per cent, to an average of 14 a match. Lineouts are down 58 per cent from 52 to 22.

With the ruck and maul now being refereed to give the runner all the placing rights, teams are retaining the ball for longer periods of play. One consequence of this more handling and more ball-in-play game is that 57 tries were scored in this year's Tri Nations compared with 27 last year. We saw the impact of these changes in the approach of Wales, England and Ireland towards the end of their Tests as they tried desperately to score enough points through tries, not penalties, to snatch unlikely victories."

Former Australia international Michael Lynagh believes that the Wallabies' exuberant backs will be too much for England at Twickenham on Saturday, according to the Daily Mail.

"If Australia get enough ball, England simply cannot cover all their threats. They are so dynamic and unpredictable, I don't think it's possible to contain them.

Quade Cooper has had an unbelievable year. He is just so exciting. If you put him under pressure he can make odd decisions, but he can also win games with a moment of genius. Kurtley Beale has been playing really well at full back. I first saw him as a fly-half at school and he just did whatever he wanted. He was a child prodigy who won games on his own and it seemed as if the other players were only there to give him someone to talk to. He struggled to step up to professional rugby, but he is really on song now. England should be very wary of kicking the ball to him.

James O'Connor is almost a veteran at 20. He is so confident and that was clear from the way he ran around Shane Williams twice last Saturday in just a yard. He is so quick. That's another one England have to watch and we haven't even mentioned Matt Giteau!"

Greg Growden reflects on the exciting future facing the Wallabies' young guns in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"About 20 minutes after they had kept the Welsh dragon at bay, a key member of the Wallabies brat pack headed back on to the Millennium Stadium pitch.

"While the rest of the team congratulated themselves in the dressing room for at last showing they could back up a special victory with a gritty triumph rather than falling in a heap, Wallabies goalkicker James O'Connor and coach Robbie Deans had some pressing duties to attend to.
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"Deans stood directly under the goalposts, while O'Connor, with kicking tee and ball in hand, moved to different parts of the field to practice his shots at goal. For about 15 minutes, Deans retrieved the ball after O'Connor had guided them through the posts. In between shots, Deans would point out where O'Connor had to work on his approach and follow through. Eventually, everyone was happy, and they disappeared back to the rooms."

Adam Freier is excited by rugby's rediscovered capacity to thrill in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The sprinkle of rain on the tin roof of Australian rugby in 2007 quickly became a three-year northern Queensland monsoon, but now that the clouds are starting to dissipate and the sun begins to shine, the sport isn't in as bad shape as most experts thought.

"A courageous and wonderful Hong Kong night was the turning point for rugby union in the land down under. Not because it was the night the Wallabies broke a 10-game losing streak against the All Blacks, but the night all sporting fans sat back and said: ''Hey, that game was actually entertaining."

"A year ago, it was safe to say the perception of rugby could not have been much worse. But now the tide is slowly starting to turn."

Wayne Smith hails the maturity of Wallabies midfielder Matt Giteau following his decision to hand over kicking duties to James O'Connor on The Australian.

"It's always a test of character when the older generation gives way to the new, but Matt Giteau handled it with aplomb yesterday.

"It would have been no easy thing for him to relinquish the goalkicking for Australia. He has always relished the singular, solitary nature of that job, the pressure that goes with it and, let's be honest, the knowledge that all eyes are upon him.

"Most players shrink from that harsh spotlight, content to share in the collective praise when things go right, relieved to be taking on only a portion of the blame when they don't, but that has never been Giteau's way. Precocious right from the start, playing Test football before he had even made his Super 14 debut, he has always been the star of the show."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Greg Growden reflects on Australia's thrilling victory over New Zealand in Hong Kong.

"Arm in arm, the Wallabies team stood as one near the halfway line, willing over a goal kick that would provide reward after months of toil. And James O'Connor, the youngest player in the Wallabies touring squad, was up to it.

He struck the conversion attempt of his own try perfectly and after 26 months and 10 straight trans-Tasman losses, the Wallabies discovered the benefits of sticking solid because at last they could boast a victory over the All Blacks.

As in Bloemfontein, when Kurtley Beale ended a 47-year drought on the South African highveld with a last-minute penalty goal, the Wallabies used Hong Kong Stadium to prove they can also overhaul the world's best in the final seconds of a Test. By ending New Zealand's 15 Test unbeaten streak with a dramatic 26-24 win, the Wallabies will enjoy an enormous boost in confidence and self-belief."

Greg Growden previews the Wallabies' Hong Kong showdown with New Zealand in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Wallabies and All Blacks sides vary considerably in terms of age, success and consistency, but they have taken the same approach for tomorrow night's final Bledisloe Cup match by selecting only those accustomed to glory.

"It may be a dead rubber, and spectator interest in Hong Kong is lukewarm at best but, as shown by yesterday's team selections, both countries are treating it as possibly the most important cup encounter of the season.

"Less than a year from the World Cup and with no more trans-Tasman encounters for nine months, it is a significant encounter in which the Wallabies can gain much-needed momentum and confidence or suffer destabilisation. If they can't beat them at home or on neutral territory, what hope have the Wallabies in beating the All Blacks on their home turf in next year's World Cup? For the All Blacks, it is a chance to really assert their dominance."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Josh Rakic suggests that winger Rod Davies could be set to become the fastest player to appear for Australia.

"Queensland Reds flyer Rod Davies is set to become perhaps the fastest player to don a Wallabies jersey if he makes his Test debut against the All Blacks in Hong Kong on Saturday and his emergence has highlighted there will be big-name casualties when the Wallabies name their World Cup squad next year.

With a personal best time of 10.8 seconds over 100 metres - three tenths of a second faster than Lachie Turner, who beat Jarryd Hayne in the race to decide Australia's fastest footballer - Davies will give the already talented Wallabies back line some express speed, an asset Robbie Deans has long-said the Wallabies lacked."

ARU high-performance director David Nucifora has declared the Wallabies will treat the coming spring tour as a shadow World Cup and pick their strongest side for every Test, according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Josh Rakic.

"The Wallabies will return to camp tomorrow and then depart for Hong Kong where they will take on the All Blacks, before starting their spring tour of Europe where they will take on Wales, England, Italy and France.

Coach Robbie Deans has declared the time for experimentation is over and Nucifora said the tournament was as good as a World Cup trial for every player - even the once untouchable superstars.

Advertisement: Story continues below ''It's certainly the intention to pick our strongest 22 we possibly can for every Test match,'' Nucifora told The Sun-Herald. ''That's not to say we'll stick with the same 22 the whole tour - that depends on the players. We'll be picking the best team on form, not the best team on paper. These blokes have their opportunity now, some blokes have missed out and it's what they do from here that counts now.''

He said the team had come along in the past year and there was enough depth to have rid the squad of complacency - something he said has been an issue in the past."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has spent the past few weeks trying to rid his side of its soft centre as he continues to transform the look of his team. The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reports.

"The Wallabies' inability to finish off matches, defeats in so-called ''unloseable'' Tests, and the All Blacks' recent trans-Tasman dominance have given rise to concern Australia are developing an inferiority complex. Deans is convinced the problem will not be fixed just by improvements in skill level, execution and tactics, but by getting the players' heads right, so they start believing they're winners.

He wants to harden them up for their northern hemisphere tour, starting with a showdown against New Zealand in Hong Kong on October 30 before they set off for four Tests in Europe. The Wallabies struggle to kill off opponents, as they showed when they lost by one point to England in Sydney, and then last month at the same venue let the All Blacks run over them in the dying minutes to lose 21-20, making it 10 wins out of 10 for the New Zealanders against Australia.

Little wonder there has been no talk over the past two weeks, while the Wallabies have been in camp in Sydney, of a possible unbeaten tour. Rather, the players and team management have focused their efforts on trying to make the team more ruthless, especially in the final quarter of matches."

Wallabies newcomer Van Humphries knows he has to return from Wallabies' tour with something of value. The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reports.

"For bragging rights in his Brisbane household, Van Humphries knows he has to return from the Wallabies' tour with something of value - his first Test cap.

"It's been a whirlwind few days, with Humphries's elevation to the Wallabies squad being matched by his partner, Donna Urquhart, winning a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in the women's doubles squash event on Wednesday.

''She'll be flashing that medal around a bit in the house now,'' Humphries said yesterday, shortly after being told he had made the Wallabies squad. ''So, hopefully, I have something to bring back from the Wallabies' tour to be able to put up next to her bronze medal.''

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Greg Growden ponders the Wallabies' possible tour squad.

"It is known that Deans is still some way off from determining who will tour and who will stay behind, but those who are able to back-up after Tests and play in the two midweek matches - against Leicester Tigers on November 9 and Munster the following week - will have an advantage.

"Deans is treating these midweek games as serious Test trials, as shown during last year's spring tour when Quade Cooper used the Gloucester match, where he excelled against Carlos Spencer, to push his way into the Wallabies starting XV. And Deans will certainly not be treating the midweek team as the Australia B line-up."

Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu has performed the famous Kiwi haka, now he wants the opportunity to face it wearing an Australian jersey. AAP's Adrian Warren reports.

"Kepu, 24, was named in the Wallabies' 40-man training squad chosen this week for the seven-match spring tour of Hong Kong and Europe.

The Waratahs star had the choice of three countries to represent, and has already played for two. Born in Australia of Tongan parents and raised in New Zealand, Kepu represented the Kiwis at under-17, -19 and -21 levels before moving across the Tasman to join NSW. The Sydney-born prop's decision paid off, with him making three Test appearances over the past two years.

Advertisement: Story continues below His parents still live in New Zealand and Kepu would love the opportunity to play against the mighty All Blacks when Australia open their tour with a Bledisloe Cup clash against them in Hong Kong on October 30.

''Once upon a time I was coming up through the [NZ] grades doing the haka at the beginning of the game,'' Kepu said yesterday. ''Having to oppose the haka is something I look forward to doing one day and I'll work towards trying to put myself in the best position to come up against them.''

Peter Fenton slams the 'dysfunctional' Shute Shield following Sydney University's latest triumph in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"So 5410 intrepid rugby supporters attended the time-honoured Shute Shield final between guess who? That's right. Again. This is much the same number as last year but 10,000 fewer than it drew year after year, before professionalism. Knockin' em dead aren't we? The national coach rightly took the Wallabies and Waratahs out of their cocoons, encouraging and allowing them to play club rugby. The finals series produced some great games but only the club faithful gave a damn. Why? Let me tell you.

"The competition is dysfunctional. Any competition where the top couple of teams can beat the bottom couple by a hundred points is dysfunctional. Rugby, sporting more academics than any code, is the only game not intelligent enough to produce a competitive club competition. No salary cap, no draft, no remuneration for junior clubs that produce a Wallaby, nothing. Just let' em play. Let the rich poach from the poor, and don't send any newly contracted players to the poorer clubs. The professional players' agreement prevents this. So the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and those at the top end worry only that the Wallabies or Waratahs are doing OK."

In his latest colum in the Sydney Morning Herald, Adam Freier offers some ideas on how to close the gap between the club game and the professional game in Australia.

"The tug of war of rugby's nurseries is a fine and delicate matter. On one side we have the dusty grass floors of park rugby. The other side is a Project Runway-style process of identifying talent early and churning them through the high-performance structure of the 'academies'.

"My path was a little skewed: I was able to work from the ranks of Randwick Colts through to third grade and eventually into first and so on. But if that were the same path I chose this year, would I have the same results and a framed Wallabies cap hanging in my study?

"Times are definitely changing: the importance of Sevens and the under-20s is considered a lot more critical, while coaches are now using a similar system to that of the Socceroos, using the world stage to develop their young talent, with players such as James Slipper showing promise in the Wallabies this year.

"So how can we reward those who battle on through the turf of our local clubs, whom many would say are as good, if not better, then those in front of them? It's a hot debate - many of our Sydney practices have the view that the gap between professional rugby teams and club sides are growing further and further apart.”

Who will force their way into the Wallabies' tour squad? © Getty Images

Rupert Guinness pops along to a Wallabies scrum session as the competition for places on their November tour heats up in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"It might be the off-season for the Wallabies but for scrum guru Patricio Noriega and ''the new generation'' of tight-five talent, it is still heads down and bums up as they prepare for the World Cup year.

"With the Wallabies' spring tour Tests against the All Blacks, Wales, England, Italy and France to come, scrum coach Noriega is leaving no stone unturned to ensure Australia's stocks of elite second- and front-rowers are all versed on a common approach in the art of scrummaging.

"Until the Wallabies leave for Hong Kong on October 23 for their Test against the All Blacks a week later, Noriega is taking scrummaging classes for those in contention for the 40-man train-on squad that will be named on Sunday week. The final touring party, the number of which has yet to be decided, will be named on October 14."

Wallabies scrum-half Luke Burgess falls victim to some ribbing from Waratahs team-mate Luke Burgess in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Waratahs already have one eye across the Tasman before next year's revised Super Rugby series, with teammates warning halfback Luke Burgess to watch out for a Sonny Bill Williams revenge mission when NSW meet the Crusaders in round three in New Zealand.

"SANZAR unveiled the new Super Rugby conference format and draw in Sydney on Monday, and it's the Waratahs who will be the first Australian side to face the former NRL enforcer and Toulon inside-centre.

"Williams has been impressive in New Zealand's domestic rugby championship after an injury-delayed start, and the Waratahs' Tom Carter labelled his likely match-up against the 108-kilogram former Bulldogs star as ''scary''."

Gregor Paul wonders about the Wallabies' capacity to cause an upset at next year's Rugby World Cup in The New Zealand Herald.

"There's a growing wariness about the Wallabies and the potential threat they will pose this time next year.

"So what if they have lost 10 in a row to the All Blacks - does anyone really trust them not to lose another two and then beat New Zealand at next year's World Cup?

"It would be so typically Australian to win when they have to - to rip out the All Blacks' heart then dance on it. This is the Wallabies, the masters at pressure football; the sort of cunning foxes who really would deliberately bumble their way through three-and-a-half years just to keep their true World Cup credentials a surprise."

The Australian Rugby Union is on the hunt for a back-up coach for Robbie Deans on the Wallabies' coming tour of Hong Kong and Europe. The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reports.

"Wallabies assistant coach Richard Graham has decided not to travel with the national team next month after having taken up Western Force's head coaching post.

"Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill said at the launch of the Super Rugby season yesterday that he would meet Deans and ARU high performance manager David Nucifora within the next week to find Graham's replacement. A decision will be made at the next ARU board meeting on September 24.

"Deans admitted at the weekend there were difficulties in filling Graham's position because at this late stage of the season most coaches had been signed.

"One alternative, which is understood to have support, is to coax Nucifora into more of a hands-on role with the Wallabies. Although a Test selector, the former ACT Brumbies and Auckland Blues Super 14 coach has regularly kept his distance from the team. He has been involved in coaching the Australian under-20 team."

Greg Growden hopes that former Springbok Braam Van Straaten can cure Matt Giteau's kicking ills in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Braam van Straaten is heading to Sydney to help the Wallabies' goalkickers - and the arrival of the former Springboks kicking ace cannot come quick enough.

"Goalkicking has become a pressing issue for the Wallabies, in particular Matt Giteau's hot and cold days with the boot. When he is hot - and that is often - Giteau is as accurate as any goalkicker in international rugby, as shown on the South African highveld where he was successful with all his 10 shots at goal.

"But when he is not, the consequences can be dire. Such was the case on Saturday night, when he missed four of seven shots - which could have netted the Wallabies 10 crucial points - from failed conversion and penalty goal attempts. Any of those kicks would have given the Wallabies more breathing space in the final 15 minutes, when the All Blacks picked up their act to sneak home."

Wallaby flanker David Pocock puts in yet another big hit, this time on South Africa's Schalk Burger © Getty Images

In his column in the Sydney Morning Herald, Adam Freier offers a positive outlook on Australia's current standing ahead of next year's World Cup.

"The Tri Nations competition has been unusually lopsided this year, with the All Blacks wrapping up the tournament three weeks ago, but which is the really healthiest rugby nation leading into next year's World Cup?

"I know it's a hard sell, and we sell it often, but the Wallabies have rebuilt a very competitive team, and the fans are now demanding to see them produce consistent results. For the frustrated fan it's been a long time coming.

"Australia's standing - the world's No.2 side - is is fair reflection of where they are in the mix, but I cannot wait to see some of these young players in a year's time.

"I have always said George Smith is one the greatest I have ever seen or played with but David Pocock is starting to close the gap, very quickly. The 22-year-old has been simply outstanding this year. I have never seen a player with a motor like his."

Austrailan Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill, Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper and coach Robbie Deans pose following the announcement of Cooper's decision to re-sign with the ARU © Getty Images

After his decision to commit his playing future to the 15-man code, Australia's Quade Cooper talks to Sydney Morning Herald.

"''I did feel a bit undervalued at the start, especially with the offers from league,'' Cooper says. ''They were very flattering so that was what made me get very serious about switching codes. I was very serious about league and it was a very serious offer that Parramatta put in front of me. There were some good financial opportunities there. When you have those sort of people knocking on your door it would be rude not to acknowledge them and take them seriously. It would be very silly and arrogant of me not to look into that as best I could. I guess the thing about playing rugby league is that it does offer another challenge; I haven't had the opportunity to play at the top level in rugby league so I was definitely fair dinkum about it and looking into that offer as best I could. At the end of the day, I enjoy playing both league and union so I guess I was in a win-win situation.''

"Coincidentally, the Wallabies have the man the All Blacks believe can be the X-factor in their World Cup campaign, Sonny Bill Williams, to thank for helping to convince Cooper to stay in rugby until the World Cup. ''Sonny Bill is a guy who I deeply respect, and to get an opinion from someone like that, who has played and done well at three sports, is huge,'' Cooper says. ''The advice I got out of him was that playing in front of 5.1 billion people who would be watching over the period of the World Cup is something I might never get again.''

Australia have been told to respect the haka © Getty Images

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Wallabies have been warned that disrespecting the All Blacks' haka could result in a fine from the International Rugby Board.

"The ARU was recently forced to pay a £1000 ($1677) fine to Rugby World Cup Limited after the Wallaroos, Australia's women's rugby team, advanced on the Black Ferns mid-haka before their World Cup pool match in England last month.

"Shortly after the match, won by New Zealand 32-5, the ARU received a letter from the Women's World Cup tournament director, based at the IRB headquarters in Dublin, explaining that the conduct of the Wallaroos was in breach of tournament rules.

"The Australian women were found guilty of moving several metres towards the haka. IRB tournament rules dictated that the team facing the haka must stay at least 10 metres on its own side of the halfway line, but the Wallaroos made the mistake of walking beyond that line.

"There was also a warning that if the fine wasn't paid, or if there were any repetition of such behaviour while the haka was being conducted, the ARU was liable to find itself at the centre of a misconduct case.

"The Herald understands that there is no reference in the SANZAR tournament laws to player behaviour during the haka, but the warning is clear that in future IRB tournaments, such as next year's World Cup in New Zealand, the haka must be treated with respect."

Say Cheese: Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom and his All Black counterpart Richie McCaw © Getty Images

The Bledisloe Cup should not be treated as a marketing tool according to Toby Robson in The Dominion Post.

"By all accounts the ball has been a hit with tourists and a great advertisement for New Zealand, but the players looked uncomfortable and awkward as they were wheeled out and sacrificed at the altar of the marketing gods.

"Which brings us to the fact that less than 10,000 tickets have been sold to the All Blacks-Wallabies test scheduled for Hong Kong next month.

"Should the New Zealand Rugby Union really be surprised? Who would want to see these two sides play each other for the fourth time in a calendar year? Fans in Hong Kong – let's face it, we are talking about expat Kiwis and Ockers – are sending a message most Kiwis endorse."

Greg Growden talks to several of the surviving members of the 1963 Wallabies side that won on the high veldt following last weekend's Bloemfontein thriller in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Wallabies yesterday celebrated last weekend's historic win on the South African highveld with members of the previous Australian team to achieve that feat.

"Many players from the 1963 Wallabies team that defeated the Springboks 11-9 in Johannesburg attended a function at the SFS yesterday where a bronze of Wallabies halfback Ken Catchpole, who played in the 1963 Test, was unveiled.

As the past Wallabies admired the statue, on the walkway to the SFS main entrance near sculptures of Trevor Allan, Reg Gasnier and Dally Messenger, they congratulated today's Wallabies, who also attended the function. It was a special moment, as the 1963 players had been waiting too long for a team to emulate their triumph, which followed their 9-5 win in Cape Town."

After their Bloemfontein heroics, Spiro Zavos takes a look at Australia's 'Generation Y' in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Some years ago the ABC televised the St Joseph's College first XV in one of their traditional GPS matches. A few minutes into the game my telephone rang. "How good is he!" my son shouted down the line.

"He" was Kurtley Beale. Beale threw magical short and long passes. He made breaks. He played with the confidence and flair of a youngster bound for glory. On Saturday night at Bloemfontein against the Springboks he converted that potential brilliance into the real thing. He was an outstanding runner when the Wallabies played their finest 38 minutes for ages in establishing a 31-6 lead. Towards the end of the Test, he made a series of blunders that allowed South Africa to consolidate their unlikely lead. But with time up he banged over a penalty from the halfway sideline, giving Australia their first win at altitude for 47 years.

"Chiefly responsible for the triumph was a new cohort of young Wallabies from Generation Y: David Pocock, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, James O'Connor and Beale. According to sociologists, this generation has "high expectations of their employers, seek out new challenges, are not afraid to question authority, value teamwork, seek the affirmation of others, crave attention and want to be included and involved''."

David Pocock got through plenty of work against South Africa © Getty Images

Wynne Gray is looking forward to David Pocock and Richie McCaw going head-to-head in Sydney on Saturday in The New Zealand Herald.

"About a year ago, David Pocock replaced the superb but tiring George Smith as the Wallabies' premier openside flanker.

"That ascension had only been a matter of when, once Pocock was nabbed five years ago by former All Black coach and looseforward John Mitchell for his Super 14 debut. Pocock is still only 22, but yesterday in Bloemfontein, he backed up his work from the week before with another stunning display in the Wallabies' edgy 41-39 victory.

"While most inspection would have been on Kurtley Beale's mishaps-to-messiah contribution in the second half, the Wallabies would have been buried without Pocock."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has laid down the law to his under-performing squad © Getty Images

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has warned several players to get out of their comfort zone or their World Cup aspirations will be over. The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reports.

"What irritates Deans most is that he cannot penalise the repeat offenders because the back-up is so shallow. Some are holding on to their Wallabies spots simply because there is no one else available for selection. But he warned that when Digby Ioane, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Wycliff Palu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Peter Hynes, Rob Horne, Dan Vickerman and Rod Davies again became available, he would not be sympathetic to those members of the squad in South Africa who failed to lift their standards over the next fortnight.

"World Cup spots could easily be determined by how some players fare in Bloemfontein and against the All Blacks the following weekend in Sydney.

"Deans said he had not lost hope of former Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock returning via the Melbourne Rebels next year, explaining that players who achieve high-impact performances would help transform this erratic line-up."

The Wallabies agony on the high veldt continued when they were swamped by the Springboks 44-31 at Loftus Versfeld. The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reports.

"Springboks second-row Victor Matfield was able to celebrate his 100th Test after the South Africans took the lead in the 50th minute and then were not really troubled as the Wallabies error rate continued to pile up.

"The result means Australia are still yet to win in Pretoria after five Tests and they haven't won on the South African highveld since 1963, while the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate remains up for grabs with the Tri Nations already won by New Zealand.

"In a crazy and at times, scatterbrain international, five tries were scored in the opening 14 minutes with the Wallabies starting at a frenetic rate when their winger James O'Connor scored two tries and halfback Will Genia scored another in the opening 10 minutes.

"At last fortunes appeared to be working the Wallabies way, but they fell down badly in midfield defence with the Springboks scoring a succession of soft tries before the Wallabies lineout simply fell apart."

Zelim Nel throws the spotlight on the Springboks' conditioning as they prepare to face the Wallabies in The Cape Argus.

"The Wallabies are banking on superior conditioning to lift them to their first win on the Highveld in almost 50 years when they square up against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon.

"Australia have never won in Pretoria and, in 37 matches played in South Africa, they have only beaten the Boks eight times. Six of those wins came at coastal venues, while the most recent Highveld victory - dating back to Johannesburg in 1963 - came three decades after Australia's first such win in Bloemfontein in 1933."

Spiro Zavos believes that the Wallabies can kick the Springboks while they are down this weekend in Bloemfontein in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Some New Zealand newspapers carried the remarkable photograph of Ma'a Nonu bursting through the Springboks defence to set up the All Blacks' last try in their thrilling 29-22 victory in Johannesburg. Remarkable because Nonu is running with one of his boots left in the despairing grasp of John Smit. There is a metaphor here. The Springboks were given the order of the boot by the All Blacks, who scored their first victory in Johannesburg since 1992, and their first ever Tri Nations win there.

"Despite the closeness of the scoreline and the fact that the All Blacks scored 12 points in the last five minutes of play, the home side was really thrashed all over the field. The Springboks scrum was under pressure most of the game, even though it won a penalty when Smit went up early. The famed lineout dominance has gone with penalties conceded for crooked throws and taking too long to throw in. The All Blacks missed five chances of scoring tries and scored three while the Springboks took their only chance which came from a couple of barging runs near the try line following a tap kick."

Adam Freier has an apology for the rugby league ranks, and a plea to leave Quade Cooper alone, in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Dear Mr Rugby League,

"First let me start by saying that we are extremely proud of rugby union's NRL recruits in the past five years, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri and the recently retired Matty Rogers, who have all brought much colour and flair to the game of rugby.

"I have had the honour of playing with them all, and will one day be able to tell my kids so. They were all highly respected as well as very liked among the playing group and our rugby fans. Rugby league's loss was rugby's gain, without a doubt.

"But, in a timely statement as Julia and Tony battle in the polls, I would like to express to you, in recruiting your NRL stars: ''I am sorry.''

The Australian Rugby Union has intensified its campaign to retain Quade Cooper, the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden writes.

"[ARU chief executive] John O'Neill and ARU contract negotiator Peter Friend met Cooper and his manager, Richard Colreavy, for an hour at the ARU offices in St Leonards. At the meeting, the ARU presented its case to Cooper as to why it wants him to ignore an offer from NRL club Parramatta, worth $850,000 a season, and instead become a focal point of the Wallabies' World Cup campaign next year.

"The ARU is considering increasing its base offer - which before Test match payments is about $360,000 a season - following Cooper's request that he be offered a similar contract to Australian rugby's highest-paid player, Matt Giteau, whose annual salary is understood to be in the vicinity of $700,000 to $800,000."

Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper is the subject of a tug-of-war between the rugby codes © Getty Images

Writing in The Age, Spiro Zavos insists it's time for star No.10 Quade Cooper to tackle nagging issue and commit to the Australian rugby union cause.

"It used to be called the Jonah Lomu ploy. Now it has become the Quade Cooper ploy. Rugby league clubs having a bad trot would announce that they were negotiating with Lomu to play for them. Season ticket sales would pick up, allowing the embattled chief executive to survive for another season. To his credit, Lomu would vigorously deny any interest in switching codes, a reaction that eventually killed off further stunts. For the past few days I have been waiting for Cooper to do the same thing about the offer from Parramatta.

"It's all very well blaming managers for setting up a bidding war between the codes. Cooper has been the recipient of a huge monetary investment from the ARU. With a World Cup coming up, he owes rugby an unequivocal statement that his loyalty to the Wallabies jersey is set in concrete for next season. There has been a great deal of talk about how Cooper's passing game would glitter on a rugby league field as it has for the Reds and the Wallabies this season. And this is right. But league, essentially, is a tackling game. The player with one of the worst tackling records in the Super 14 this season was … Quade Cooper."

Greg Growden believes that Wallabies boss Robbie Deans is struggling against the weight of history as he looks to inpire a victory on the high veldt in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"When the Wallabies return to training today, they will probably insist they are not scarred by their nine-Test losing streak to the All Blacks and will revive their winning form by defeating the South Africans on the Highveld for the first time since 1963.

"This is an admirable chest-beating venture aimed at buoying the troops, but one that is sounding somewhat hollow. Player injuries and unavailabilities aside, the losses are mounting up and the Wallabies are hardly the flavour of the month.

"There is justifiable concern the Wallabies are struggling to overcome a losers' mentality, and if it is not addressed within the next year, the 2011 World Cup campaign could be as agonising as this season has been so far."

Are the Wallabies lacking in confidence? © Getty Images

Former Wallabies hooker Adam Freier wonder where the confidence has gone from Australian rugby in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Wallabies are in a temper trap of frustration. They have played and trained their hearts out, but something is missing, and success evades them.

"Recently Mark Ella told me he was struggling to understand why this Wallabies crop wasn't playing exciting rugby. He and his brothers played the same way for Matraville High as they would for Alan Jones and the Wallabies in the 1980s.

"Where is the confidence?" Mark said with high eyebrows.Ironically enough, as if the great man heard the question being asked, David Campese enters the conversation. Love him or loathe him, Campo is the most honest and confident bloke I have ever met. I love the guy. His mindset on anything and everything he believes in is exceptional. It is not arrogance, but a proven confidence."

Tatafu Polota-Nau - helping out at home © Getty Images

Greg Growden, in his latest Ruck and Maul, salutes a man of the people, Wallabies hooker Tatfu Polota-Nau, in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"here are many weeks to go in the rugby season but we have already found our player of the year. Come on down Tatafu Polota-Nau. You can't be beaten.

"But, we hear you say … ''What are you talking about? He is not even playing.'' True, but Tatafu nonetheless gets our award for the incredible amount of work he is putting in to ensure his club, Parramatta, gets back on track.

"While the Wallabies certainly miss him, with the Test hooker still to recover from several major injuries, he is devoting an enormous amount of time helping out at the Two Blues - a club which a few months ago was under threat of being dumped by the NSW Rugby Union from the Sydney first-grade premiership."

Rupert Guinness gets the thoughts of former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and Reds boss Ewen McKenzie about the Springboks' woes in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has warned against writing off the world champion Springboks despite their Tri Nations form slump.

"And Reds coach and former World Cup-winning Wallabies prop Ewen McKenzie says the extent of the Springboks' ills won't be known until after they face New Zealand in Johannesburg next Saturday.

"The Springboks lost their first three away Tri Nations Tests - 32-12 and 31-17 to the All Blacks in New Zealand and 30-13 to Australia in Brisbane on July 24. Jones believes their decline is temporary and that they are more focused on the World Cup next year."

Pat McCutcheon has his eyes on the prize © Getty Images

Rupert Guinness talks to Aussie Sevens star Pat McCutcheon about bringing home gold at the Commonwealth Games in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"For Australian Sevens rugby captain Pat McCutcheon all the talk about infrastructure at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi falling apart is the least of his worries.

"McCutcheon has been following Games developments while the Australian squad has been preparing for a tilt at a medal in the October 11-12 tournament in Delhi. Of all the Commonwealth Games sports, Sevens rugby might rely least on facilities.

''I have been reading the papers and seeing that the roof has fallen in at the pool and things like that … but all we need is a square pitch with a bit of grass on it,'' McCutcheon said yesterday. ''I think we have trained and played on a lot of goat tracks here in Australia … so I think we should be right with it. We are used to it.''

Kurtley Beale breaks clear of Dan Carter to score © Getty Images

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Wallaby fullback Kurtley Beale tells of his eternal gratitude for some sage advice on education.

"As Kurtley Beale sped across the All Blacks line to score Australia's only try in the seventh minute of the Christchurch Bledisloe Cup Test on Saturday night, he knew it was far too early to start believing an upset victory was on the cards. Good thing too, considering Australia lost 20-10.

"But as the fullback sucked in the big ones after his 70-metre dash he allowed himself a few seconds to share the moment - in spirit - with the greatest inspiration in his life.

"That was with his grandfather Raymond, who died three years ago. As soon as Beale put the ball to the Christchurch ground, the former bricklayer was the first person he thought of and privately thanked for giving him the steering in a life that has made him a Wallabies regular."

In an article in The Australian, both John Connolly and Tim Horan tell Wayne Smith that the the under-fire Matt Giteau deserves to be cut a little slack.

"Matt Giteau is frequently compared to dual World Cup winner Tim Horan.

"But former Australia coach John Connolly believes the embattled Wallabies playmaker also is entitled to the same lenient judgment Horan received as a five-eighth.

"And so too does Horan.

"Horan enjoyed one of the most successful careers in Australian rugby history, with 60 wins and a draw from his 80 Tests. But there is a vast discrepancy between his record as a centre - 53 wins from 69 Tests - to what he achieved when forced to fill in at five-eighth. Then his winning rate dropped to 55 per cent, with just five wins from nine Tests. His two other Tests were on the wing.

"No one was critical of Horan for not mastering the playmaking role and Connolly, who coached both players at the height of their careers, insists Giteau deserves similar latitude."

Writing on Rugby Heaven, Spiro Zavos argues that some commentators have gotten carried away by Australia's performance against the All Blacks in Christchurch.

"George Bernard Shaw said that he welcomed every new book on the play Hamlet because the world was one book nearer to an explanation of what the play is about.

"This aphorism came to mind this weekend when I read how the Wallabies took enough comfort from their decisive 20-10 loss to the All Blacks to be convinced that sooner rather than later they will beat them. "Sooner or later" makes more sense right now. The "sooner rather than later" theory seems tied to the notion that getting close, in terms of points, means that a victory must be close.

"This idea of a coming inevitable victory is buttressed by an unhelpful obsession by some of our rugby experts with the so-called illegalities in the game of Richie McCaw. It was noticeable that the All Blacks and McCaw contested far fewer rucks and mauls than the Wallabies with their hands. More generally they tried to counter-ruck by driving the Wallabies off the ball. The tactic worked to the extent that the Wallabies had difficulty getting fast ball from the 110 rucks they set up. Moreover, the Wallabies were able to get only three turnovers from the 70 All Blacks rucks and mauls. The All Blacks forced five turnovers."

In his column in the Sydney Morning Herald , former Wallaby John Eales puts Australia's Tri-Nations defeat by New Zealand in perspective.

"In many ways Saturday's Bledisloe Cup went according to plan with a much better performance from the Wallabies in Christchurch and a result that went the All Blacks' way.

"The Wallabies were gallant in defeat but, no matter how much pride they recovered after a lacklustre performance in Melbourne one week ago, the fact is they continue to come second to an All Black side that refuses to give them an inch.

"The Wallabies had the greater run of play for much of the game, dominating possession, making the New Zealanders defend for much of the match but, as usual, the All Blacks were up to the task.

"Unfortunately, much of the Wallabies' attack, especially in the first half, was sideways even though they controlled the football and didn't allow the All Blacks' defence to fluster them."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Greg Growden believes the performance of flanker David Pocock was a major plus for Australia despite suffering their latest Bledisloe Cup reverse against New Zealand.

"He was bashed. He was belted. He stood up to it.

"He was everywhere last night. And after the Test match where the Bledisloe Cup was again being paraded to a surprisingly subdued Kiwi crowd, all many New Zealanders wanted to do was talk about a special Australian player.

"As the All Blacks went on their lap of honour, former All Black second-rower Ian Jones was on the New Zealand television screens, raving about the Wallaby openside flanker David Pocock.

"Jones said Pocock was a definite future Wallaby skipper, believing he had the poise to lead this young team with authority.

Jones is not alone in that view, with several in powerful positions at the Australian Rugby Union thinking similarly, looking upon Pocock and Will Genia as the men to lead this Wallaby side out of the mire."

Frowns all around: Are the Aussies heading for a crisis? © Getty Images

Peter Bills airs his concerns for Australian rugby, not only on the pitch but off it, in The Irish Independent.

"Without wishing to put too fine a point on it – something the Aussies never like doing – a brutal fact has to be recorded: Australian rugby is in the soup.

"It has nothing to do with last weekend’s defeat for the Wallabies at the hands of the all-conquering All Blacks. Fact is, they are likely to get another belting when they meet again in the Tri Nations/Bledisloe Cup match in Christchurch on Saturday.

"If the Wallabies lose this weekend, it will be a ninth successive loss to the All Blacks, their fiercest rivals. Yet not even that stark, sorry statistic represents the depth of Australian rugby’s travails.

"A marketing survey recently released in Sydney revealed that Australian Rugby Union’s (ARU) share of the sporting market has nearly halved in six years despite spending an alarming AUS$23m on the game. It has slipped to a perilous 13.7pc of the sporting interest market and is only the fourth most watched sport in the country."

Wallabies legend Mark Ella believes that Robbie Deans must develop combinations in his backline if he is to counter the All Blacks in The New Zealand Herald.

"So far in this season's Tri-Nations matches it has been noticeable that the senior players within the All Blacks group have been in outstanding form and the likes of McCaw, Kieran Read, Keven Mealamu, Brad Thorn, Tony Woodcock and Mils Muliaina are getting better with age.

"The one aspect of the game that is worrying from an Australian perspective is the lack of combination within the Wallabies backline.

"The Wallabies have a team of utility players who, apart from halfback Will Genia, are too accustomed at playing in different positions week in week out."

Greg Growden's Ruck & Maul offers up a few tasty morsels in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Wherever you go in Christchurch, there is a constant reminder that New Zealanders are apparently better than Australians. The 21-point win in Melbourne has made the Kiwis very cocky. R&M was drawn to a new book that takes Aussie bashing to extremes. Titled New Zealand 50 Australia 0, it chronicles 50 Kiwi sporting victories over their supposedly much-battered trans-Tasman rivals.

"It explains on the back cover that it is ''unashamedly, the most one-sided and biased sports book in New Zealand publishing history''. Relive such glorious moments as when the 1914 All Blacks belted Australia 17-0 at the Gabba, after being promoted as ''the greatest footballers on earth''.

Simon Poidevin believes that the Wallabies must achieve absolute perfection to beat the All Blacks this weekend in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Wallabies received a brutal reminder against the All Blacks last weekend – give the best side in the world, in any sport, the sort of “free kicks” they gave the Kiwis and the consequences are not pretty.

"Australia made too many mistakes with kick restarts not up to scratch, turnovers at the breakdown, a charge down and other associated errors. The All Blacks, at full throttle, took advantage.

"When the Wallabies blundered they were punished, usually with points on the scoreboard for the All Blacks. The message then for this weekend is simple: if the Wallabies are to win then for every second of the 80 minutes they must be committed and focussed on perfection."

Can Soccer City inspire the Springboks? © Getty Images

Brenden Nel calls for the Springboks to build some momentum and restore some pride between now and the end of the season on Supersport.

" Now that the Springboks can do absolutely nothing to stop the All Blacks from winning back the Tri-Nations title, it is time rather to turn our attentions to restoring pride in the national jersey and creating some momentum ahead of next year’s World Cup.

"The next three home Tri-Nations games will be crucial for the Springboks, not only because they are on home soil, but because it will test the reaction of a management team currently under pressure to come up with a counter to not only the All Black supremacy, but their own playing woes on the field.

"You don’t have to be an expert to expect the Boks to do well in these three test matches. They are, by far, a different animal at home, and all three tests are at altitude, with the Wallabies having a very poor record, having not won at altitude since 1992."

Chris Rattue joins the chorus of dissenting voices following Drew Mitchell's sending off against the All Blacks in The New Zealand Herald.

"Thank you, YouTube. Finally, we get to see what Wallaby winger Drew Mitchell was yellow-carded for in the Melbourne test. It turns out to be the phantom tackle.

"The initial Fox Sports-provided pictures broadcast by Sky in New Zealand didn't show the incident but a clip on the internet answers the riddle. The verdict: rugby is stark raving bonkers to send blokes off in test matches for such innocuous incidents.

"The Wallaby pack may be soft, but the game is getting even softer. Mitchell perhaps got what he deserved - under the dubious current rules - when he prevented Conrad Smith from taking a quick lineout throw later on and was red-carded for a second yellow card offence."

Toby Robson takes a look at the contrasting body language shown by the All Blacks and Wallabies in training on Tuesday in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Body language experts weren't needed in Christchurch yesterday.

"Five days before kick-off, two contrasting practice runs unfolded as the All Blacks and the Wallabies began preparations in earnest for their Bledisloe Cup rematch.

"At AMI Stadium the mood was light. Even the most carefree passes stuck as the All Blacks backs went through their counter-attack drills at the match venue. Players and coaches wore the relaxed, self-assured smiles of a team on a 12-Test winning streak and with fresh memories of a 49-28 drubbing of their trans-Tasman neighbours."

Spiro Zavos ponders Robbie Deans' legacy in New Zealand rugby as he looks to plot their downfall as coach of Australia in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Hoist by his own petard. Wallabies coach Robbie Deans endured the acute pain on Saturday night during the Bledisloe Cup Test at Melbourne of seeing several players he developed into stars when he coached the Crusaders destroy his team. But would the Franks brothers, Brad Thorn, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read or Daniel Carter have been the great players they have become if they had been developed by Australian Super rugby coaches? They might not have.

"Deans cleverly played Thorn as a second-rower, rather than as a loose forward. And in doing so he maintained the Crusaders' tactic (now standard practice around the world, except in some Australian sides) of having a scrummaging, hard-yards second-rower (Todd Blackadder before Thorn) to complement a taller, jumping partner. Deans, though, spent hours getting Thorn's jumping right by practising with him, having Thorn catch an old boot. On Saturday night Thorn won his one lineout throw and made important passes in both of Cory Jane's tries.

"When Carter first came into the Crusaders squad, Deans asked him what his goals were for the season. "To take Mehrts' [Andrew Mehrtens's] place," he replied. "Good answer," Deans told him. A common sight at the end of the Crusaders' practices was Deans teaching Carter all the tricks of how to kick a rugby ball."

Greg Growden shudders at the thought of Robbie Deans' most recent press conference in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"If you thought watching the Wallabies surrender to the All Blacks for the eighth time in a row was excruciating, it was nothing compared to what occurred afterwards.

"The media conference was like having bamboo applied under the fingernails. This painful occasion again showed how personal the pursuit of the Bledisloe Cup can become.

"Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was blinded by the spotlight. The obvious question revolved around how negative the reaction in New Zealand would have been if the All Blacks had just lost to Australia eight times in a row - and whether he was feeling similar pressure. ''Of course. It's part of the territory,'' Deans said, trying to keep cool."

Chris Rattue rubbishes the efforts of Robbie Deans' Wallabies and bigs up the achievements of the All Blacks in The New Zealand Herald.

"The All Blacks will be the best side by streets at the World Cup next year. It won't even be close.

"Whether they win the trophy or not is another matter. If the World Cup was a championship, no team would touch them. As the Webb Ellis Cup is decided by sudden-death games, anything is possible, as everybody knows.

"Graham Henry's new-look side is so far ahead of the pack that the Bledisloe Cup game in Christchurch this week is in danger of turning into a massacre, with the Awful Aussies ripe for a hiding. The problem for Australia isn't skill. The problem is a lack of muscle power and heart."

Greg Growden calls for the All Blacks to be handed the Tri-Nations trophy after another dominant display against the Wallabies in Melbourne in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Give the All Blacks the Tri Nations trophy, right now. It is all over. The next month or so is just sheer theatrics. And while we're at it, why not call off the Christchurch and Sydney Bledisloe Cup Test matches!

"It's high time the Australian Rugby Union did long-suffering Wallabies fans a favour, because they have been subjected too long to unnecessary agony, dejection and disbelief as one Australian line-up after another has been put through the sausage machine, and turned into little boys by the All Black master butchers.

"It's eight Tri Nations defeats in a row - and drawing close to the worst sequence ever when Australia lost nine in a row to New Zealand between 1936-47. This is a debacle, even prompting All Blacks coach Graham Henry to say if he was in a situation of eight straight losses he would feel ''sad''."

ARU boss John O'Neill is facing an ongoing fight to restore the sport's popularity in Australia © Getty Images

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Richard Hinds paints a depressing picture for Australian rugby in the wake of some alarming research.

"If you are going to win the war, it is a good idea to understand that one has been declared. Otherwise you might find yourself in the position the Australian Rugby Union once did. Sitting at the desk back at headquarters, blithely assuming the sound of gunfire was just backfiring cars. ''Another cup of tea, colonel?''

"In becoming collateral damage in Australia's battle of the codes, rugby union was in some ways a victim of its strengths. It was lulled into a false sense of security by the entrenched elite school and top-end-of-town support, and the high-profile international competition fostered the smug delusion that a successful 2003 World Cup would automatically accelerate the game's growth, or at least allow it to tread water.

"Yet, figures published recently that showed rugby union's share of the Australian sporting market had slipped from 22 per cent in 2003 to 13.7 per cent merely put a number on what rugby's rivals have long thought. Interest outside the hard-core constituency had diminished to the point that a once-thriving, nationally focused game was being reduced to its pre-professional status as a niche-market introvert."

The Wallabies again showed why they regard Suncorp Stadium as their spiritual home when they produced yet another spectacular Brisbane performance to blow away the Springboks, according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"Elsewhere the Wallabies flounder. But not here. They produced one of their best efforts for some time, outmuscling, outrunning and out-defending the Tri Nations holders for a victory that had its dramas, especially when the Springboks had a revival with two late tries.

"It was a mighty team triumph, highlighted by outstanding individual performances, particularly from captain Rocky Elsom and openside David Pocock, who completely out-enthused their opponents.

"...The frustrated Springboks correctly identified Pocock's try-saver on Bryan Habana and then follow-up ruck penalty on his line as a massive turning point in the match."

Can Robbie Deans turn the Wallabies around? © Getty Images

Peter Bills believes that Robbie Deans has struggled to recover following his criticism of his side at the back end of the Tri-Nations in 2009 in The Irish Independent.

"He must wish now that he had never said them. Just two little words -- but will they come back to haunt Robbie Deans and ultimately condemn to failure his Australian coaching tenure?

"They were uttered by Deans in September 2009 to describe his Australian team following their 33-6 Tri Nations defeat by the All Blacks in Wellington and remain a painful sore that just won't heal.

"Deans accused his players of "rolling over," the worst sin an Australian sportsman can commit. And he went on: "The most disappointing thing from our perspective was, we essentially capitulated once the game was gone."

Greg Growden calls on Wallabies flanker David Pocock to strangle the Springboks at the breakdown in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"David Pocock's Test initiation is over, with the Wallabies calling on their openside breakaway to be a Tri Nations match winner by strangling the Springboks at the breakdown during the Test in Brisbane on Saturday night.

"The message from the Wallabies camp yesterday was that this was the season for Pocock to step up and be as authoritative as his predecessor George Smith by taking advantage of a shaky opposition, which has been criticised this week for messing up the balance of its back row.

"As Pocock is the only specialist openside breakaway on the field, and with the Springboks so obsessed with how they are being persecuted by northern hemisphere referees at the breakdown, the Wallabies know that the scavenging skills of their 22-year-old could destabilise the South Africans for the third week running. They realise that this could be the moment where Pocock, in his third Test season and 11th starting Test, arrives as a top-quality international back-rower."

Despite threats of major changes, the Wallabies have opted for more of the same for their Tri-Nations match against the Springboks in Brisbane on Saturday night. The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden reports.

"In a glaring example of how Australian rugby is shackled by lack of players, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has, shortly after calling for more aggression, stuck with all but the same pack. And after initially dropping Drew Mitchell, he has been forced to select him on the wing.

"Due to injuries and a lack of serious competition for numerous positions, several players who are suffering from form fluctuations have held their spots because the alternatives are simply not enticing enough.

"Clearly the push to show more mongrel has been put on hold, with Scott Higginbotham and Ben McCalman not included, although Reds second-rower Rob Simmons has made the bench."

Greg Growden believes that the Wallabies can beat South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday, but only if they play as a team, in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"It is obvious why the All Blacks are standing tall at the top of the Tri Nations ladder. They play as a team.

"They do everything as a team. They are there in numbers. They back up. They support each other. They perform as a finely tuned ensemble.

"The All Blacks know when to lift the intensity, how to help each other to ensure they are in control of the combat zone. And when they reveal an opposition weakness, they know how to be there in numbers. Just watch how many times the swarming All Blacks score tries, with attacking options either side of the scorer. That is confidence. That is self-belief. That is being part of a real team."

The Wallabies' engine-room woes may be over with the return of prop Benn Robinson. The Sydney Morning Herald's David Sygall reports.

"Robinson successfully negotiated a stern test on his return to competitive rugby yesterday for Eastwood against West Harbour in a Shute Shield thriller at Concord Oval.

"Robinson was seeking to prove his fitness for Australia's Tri Nations opener against South Africa in Brisbane next Saturday. The Waratahs' loosehead had been out of the game for more than two months with a fractured forearm. He was forced to miss the Wallabies' opening four Test matches and, though he had recently resumed training with the national side, this was his first hit-out in match conditions.

"Robinson played with his arm strapped but showed no discomfort and came through unscathed before being replaced after a solid 65 minute hit-out. Robinson believed he showed enough yesterday to pressure for selection. ''I've definitely put up my hand,'' he said. ''My arm feels 100 per cent now, I really bashed it around, so I'm just looking forward to the weekend now.''

Matt Giteau insists he is happy in the Australia camp © Getty Images

Matt Giteau has denied he is disenchanted with the Australia camp and coach Robbie Deans in particular, according to The Australian

"The frustrating thing is that one person (a media critic) is coming out saying I'm unhappy and from that people are trying to work out the reasons why.

"The actual case is that I'm not unhappy, I'm not down at all. I'm enjoying my football. I've always loved my football. As soon as that enjoyment stops, I stop playing. But I still love my football and want to be involved as much as ever.

"That's one that people throw up but I've loved working with Robbie," he said. "He's certainly taught me a lot while I've been here (in the Wallabies). I've thought I've played some of the best rugby of my career under Robbie."

Greg Growden ponders the various combinations at the disposal of Wallabies coach Robbie Deans in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Wallabies' guessing game continued when the Queensland Reds attacking midfield was given its chance to impress and flanker David Pocock scrummaged at No.8 during yesterday's training session.

"Wallabies coach Robbie Deans can never be accused of being a conservative selector, using this week's camp to try out vastly different combinations at training, while he has been assessing whether several newcomers, including Reds inside-centre Anthony Faingaa, are ready to be promoted to Tri Nations starting-XV status next week.

"Although Deans repeatedly changed his combinations at Rushcutters Bay yesterday, to keep both players and onlookers bamboozled, the Queensland midfield of halfback Will Genia, five-eighth Quade Cooper and centre Faingaa spent a long period of the opposed session together, with Cameron Shepherd, James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale acting as the back three."

Digby Ioane: A different kind of player © Getty Images

Jamie Pandaram meets Digby Ioane, a player cut very much from a different cloth, in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"His eldest sister controls all of his lucrative finances, down to giving him a $500-a-week budget. He is too scared to tell his parents he drinks alcohol. And he has one friend in the world. Digby Ioane is not who you thought he was.

"The Wallabies winger lives an off-field existence so meek it's a wonder where he finds the power and aggression that makes him one of the game's most fearsome players on it.

''You need to hang out with positive people, it's hard to trust people in life, the only people I trust are my family,'' Ioane says. ''I'll be honest, I ain't got no mates. I've only got one close mate who I met at school. Mum and Dad told me there's no good in having heaps of mates in life. The backstabbing, I've seen it a lot with my brothers. They just bring you down.''

Greg Growden takes a look at the Australia squad for the Tri-Nations, now with added 'mongrel', in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Wallabies coach Robbie Deans wants to bring menace and mongrel back to the Australian line-up.

"His captain, Rocky Elsom, is expected to be moved to No.8 and aggressive newcomer Scott Higginbotham added to the Test back row in a bid to match the physicality of the Springboks and All Blacks packs during the Tri Nations.

"His plan of aggression is clearly behind the inclusion of Reds back-rower Higginbotham, Western Force utility forward Ben McCalman, Reds centre Anthony Faingaa and Reds second-rower Rob Simmons in the Test squad announced yesterday."

Spiro Zavos, writing in The Sydney Morning Herald, believes that Robbie Deans must look to size if he is going to inspire a Wallabies turnaround.

"The key to successful coaching lies in successful selection. This is the test facing Robbie Deans tomorrow when he announces his squad for the Tri Nations series and, effectively, for next year's Rugby World Cup. Earlier this year Deans said that there would be little time next year after the completion of the Super 15 to put in place the systems and plays the Wallabies will need to win the World Cup. So this squad (aside from some injured players such as James Horwill) will carry Australia's hopes through to the end of next year.

"When all the forwards are available, unfortunately this is not the case for the Tri Nations, the starting pack should look something like this: Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, David Pocock, Horwill, Nathan Sharpe (or Daniel Vickerman if he can be persuaded to return), Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Palu.

"This is a pack that has or should have some strong ball-runners. It has a goodish lineout and a competent scrum. But there is a lack of mongrel and aggressive defence along the lines of the Springboks pack."

Rob Horne is not the most imposing of midfielders © Getty Images

Greg Growden is hoping that brains can triumph over brawn in the Tri-Nations midfield battle in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Wallabies midfielders are praying that speed and brains, rather than size and brawn, will keep the Springboks and All Blacks at bay during the Tri Nations.

"As the Australians attempt to climb off the bottom of the Tri Nations ladder, they know their midfield will hardly scare their opponents in the height and weight category, as they are one of the smaller Wallabies attacking combinations of recent times.

"And due to injuries and lack of options, there are no glaringly obvious alternatives to help increase the size of the midfield and outside backs in the short term."

Greg Growden looks at the out-of-sorts Matt Giteau prior to the Tri-Nations in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Giteau's position in the Wallabies' starting XV is under threat following several average perform-ances, including missing some easy kicks at goal - against England in Sydney and late last year against Scotland at Murrayfield - resulting in two Test losses.

"Giteau's relationship with Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is not as close as he has had with some of the Kiwi's predecessors, in particular Jones, who picked him from left field for the 2002 end-of-season northern hemisphere tour. Giteau also appears uncomfortable with some sections of the ARU's hierarchy.

"When Jones was asked yesterday what he thought Giteau was doing wrong, in particular with his goalkicking, he replied: ''I think it's inside his head gear.''

Can Robbie Deans inspire a late surge from the Wallabies? © Getty Images

Spiro Zavos looks ahead to the serious business of the Tri-Nations, which he believes is harder to win than the World Cup, in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The famed Australian writer Tom Keneally once described the intense build-up to a big sporting occasion as the foreplay before the climatic event itself is played out. The June Tests in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, in this context, can be seen as the foreplay for the real rugby thing of the Tri Nations series.

"I've sometimes suggested that the Tri Nations is harder to win than the World Cup. There is an element of exaggeration in this in that by definition only three nations can win the Tri Nations. And, in theory, the 20 nations competing in a World Cup tournament can win it. In fact, only one nation outside of the Tri Nations powers has won a World Cup. That was England in 2003. And in that year, England did not have to defeat the All Blacks. South Africa won the 2007 RWC tournament without defeating either the Wallabies or the All Blacks. But to win the Tri Nations one of the teams has to defeat the other two national sides, the strongest sides in world rugby."

Writingi n the Sydney Morning Herald, John Eales is a little concerned by the Wallabies current form.

"Of late the Wallabies' form has been akin to my fitness regime: they have good weeks and bad months. To be fair, while they are not that bad, four weeks into the 2010 Test season they are not as reliable as they would care to be at this point.

"It's been a tough week for the Wallabies , not as tough as it has been for the Socceroos or Kevin Rudd, but still one of much soul searching. Sometimes at the end of such weeks all you want to do is to record a win and the Wallabies did just that – and I mean just that. So did the Socceroos but their win was like a loss anyway, sending them home early from South Africa.

"When you are desperate – and the Wallabies are desperate on the injury front and to keep improving – you will take any win. This was no classic Test match but the 22-15 win was an important result."

Will Australian celebrations be short-lived? © Getty Images

Greg Growden can't see the Wallabies posing a major threat to New Zealand and South Africa come the Tri-Nations in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Bewildered Wallabies fans should feel grateful that many of the big boys will be back for the Tri Nations - with Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Will Genia, Nathan Sharpe and maybe even Digby Ioane among those scheduled to be around in time to tussle the Springboks and All Blacks next month.

"Thank God for that - because there's only so many Wallaby wanderings one can endure, and there is no real sense of relief in toppling a northern hemisphere team that have one eye on their holidays.

"Last Saturday in Sydney the Wallabies were diabolical. And while beating Ireland last night will have them backslapping each other for a while, because any type of win by Australia in these trying times has to be cherished, it should not hide the fact that this side is a long way from convincing anyone they will be a Tri Nations threat."

Ben Daley and Co. will be back in the spotlight on Saturday © Getty Images

Former Wallabies fullback Matt Burke ponders Ireland's tactics as they prepare to take on Australia in Brisbane in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"I wonder whether the men in green are rubbing their hands at the thought they have a real shot against the Wallabies tomorrow. They would have seen the performance last week against England and thought that the old northern hemisphere bash-and-barge rugby might do the trick in Brisbane. On the back of that, if you can play a little, things just might go your way.

"The critical points of the Wallabies' loss against England, barring the last missed opportunity, is that at this stage of the season the coach commented on the team's enthusiasm. This shouldn't be a factor at all. It should be easy to get yourself up for a game. Perhaps the Wallabies expected to do it easily again."

The reality that the Wallabies are underachievers and well short of their Tri Nations rivals is starting to hit the players, according to Greg Growden in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Some on the team may want to ignore it, but not their second-rower, Dean Mumm, who yesterday explained how infuriating it was that they had virtually no trophies to show for their recent meanderings. The team constantly follows courageous wins with inexplicable losses, as again occurred last Saturday night in Sydney against England.

"The Wallabies have not won the World Cup since 1999, the Bledisloe Cup since 2002 or the Tri Nations trophy since 2001. Adding to the pain is that the Wallabies dropped to fourth in the International Rugby Board rankings this week."

Wallabies rookie James Slipper has endured a baptism of fire over the last two weeks against a formidable England pack - he reflects on the experience with the Sydney Morning Herald's Rupert Guinness.

"James Slipper is sitting on the Wallabies' bench. It is the first Test against England in Perth and he realises his career will suddenly take another turning point if he is called up to play.

"His stomach churns. It pains to watch the Wallabies front row repeatedly collapse under the English pack. The knowledge that he may be thrown into the fray without notice only heightens his angst. Was he feeling butterflies that night in Perth? ''Hugely,'' Slipper said. ''Sitting on the bench, I was quite nervous, especially after seeing the first scrum.

"...How quickly a career can change. Ten days and two Test appearances off the bench against England later, the 21-year-old prop has become one of Australia's brightest front-row prospects. It has been an incredible journey for Slipper, last year's Australian under-20s player of the year."

Wallabies prop Ben Daley is less than thrilled with the Cook Cup © Getty Images

Greg Growden reviews a disappointing evening for the Wallabies and an empty retention of the Cook Cup in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Wallabies coach Robbie Deans emphasised the exasperation of every Australian rugby fan last night when he said: ''We take no comfort in retaining the Cook Cup because it finished in a way we're not satisfied with.''

"It showed when the trophy was handed over at the end of Saturday night's second Test.

Even though the Wallabies aren't overburdened with silverware, the befuddled Australian players looked as if they wanted to be elsewhere. This was perfectly understandable, considering how badly they had dropped their standards within a week to allow England to win 21-20."

If you let your imagination go wild, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans looks a bit like Bill Murray, according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"The well-thumbed script goes like this. The Wallabies have a few wins. They suddenly look good. Their defence is again spectacular. The attack cheeky. Everyone gets a bit light-headed. We all start arguing that the gloom and doom may just be over. Then it all goes down the drain, making everyone feel a bit silly.

"As shown last night, the Wallabies are far from the complete package, and unable to string victories together, with something always going astray. Admittedly everyone will look at Matt Giteau's bad penalty goal miss in front of goal in the 70th minute, and wonder what was going on there, as it was a Test-turner.

"But did the Wallabies deserve to win? Certainly not. England showed the greater purpose, and played to a better rhythm. They wanted to win far more than the Wallabies. England also indicated that when they want to they can provide above-average attacking skills, and can take advantage of an opposition that seemed genuinely surprised the visitors did know something about being adventurous."

Wallabies openside David Pocock has taken some positives out of being part of a scrummaging decimation against England at Subiaco last weekend. He talks to Greg Growden in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"While some Australian forwards were slinking around after conceding two penalty tries, Pocock believed it was the ''wake-up call'' they needed, after several seasons in which they had gradually started to believe they were a formidable pack.

"Admittedly the front-row stocks are well down at the moment, with Ben Alexander, Benn Robinson and Stephen Moore all sidelined, but Pocock yesterday argued this was still the time for everyone - young and old - to step up.

''Without a good scrum you're going to struggle to win the tight games,'' Pocock said yesterday. ''We can't rely on other aspects of the game to prop up one area which is lagging. It's maybe not a bad thing that we got this wake-up call early, as we can now put a lot of work into that area.''

Greg Growden reviews a forgettable fixture between England and the Australian Barbarians, but retains his share of scrum fear, in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Australia's scrum woes were amplified last night when the Barbarians front-row was minced up by the England opposition at Gosford, enabling the tourists to enjoy a mind-numbingly boring 15-9 victory.

"The Australian Barbarians pack were penalised eight times by referee Steve Walsh, with the most crucial occurring just before full-time when a makeshift front-row of hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau playing at tight-head prop, and replacements Huia Edmonds and James Slipper were guilty of collapsing. This enabled England kicker Olly Barkley to boot the winning points in a tryless and, at times, seemingly pointless match.

"Not surprisingly, a fair proportion of the crowd of 9053 booed when full-time was sounded, giving their opinion of a dreadful encounter which thankfully was not televised, because it would have sent the game backwards by decades. As the players filed off the field, one exasperated spectator yelled at the Wallabies bench: ''Bring back Tahu.''

The Australian scrum goes backwards at Subiaco Oval © Getty Images

Greg Growden expects Robbie Deans to persevere with his inexperienced front-row when the Wallabies face England on Saturday with revenge in mind in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Even though Wallabies tighthead prop Salesi Ma'afu was sin-binned for scrum collapses and the pack suffered the indignity of two penalty tries being awarded against it - as well as infringing on at least eight other occasions - there will be no SOS calls for old-time props to bolster an inexperienced and injury-shackled forward contingent.

"Instead, for the second Test in Sydney on Saturday night, the Wallabies will tinker with their forward pack. Powerhouse hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is certain to play as long as he can prove his fitness when he starts for the Australian Barbarians against England tomorrow night in Gosford.

"James Slipper is in line to be the new tight-head prop, after excelling in his 15 minutes off the bench in his Test debut when the 21-year-old played on both sides of the scrum. The Wallabies are expected to persevere with Ben Daley at loose-head."

Saturday night was not one of the great nights in the history of Australian scrummaging, according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"But what made this Test win special was that elsewhere the Wallabies were spectacular, giving enough clues that they are starting to gain the attacking and defensive capabilities which are required to be a real World Cup threat next year.

"The old adage is that if you can win up front, in particular the scrummaging tussle, the game is yours. If that was the case last night, England should have won by 20 points."

Australia's defence was "marvellous" and their attack at its "mightiest" against England according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"It was a mess up front, with the bulk of England's points coming from the penalty tries that were the result of the raw Australian front row being constantly smashed and unable to hold the scrum up. But out wide, the Wallabies were in another league, with their flash and flair leading to a deserved triumph.

"The Wallabies had to endure plenty of pain and endless tense moments for their 14 first-half points. Their young scrum was subjected to enormous pressure, and were constantly penalised by the Welsh referee Nigel Owens for collapsing it, but their composure in attack and self-belief was exceptional, enabling them to enjoy the moral victory of keeping the visitors scoreless until the 44th minute."

Karmichael Hunt (right) has excelled across the board © Getty Images

Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt's AFL defection opens up an interesting new world for Australian rugby union, accoring to Adam Freier in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"But both the body-contact codes, league and rugby, have a potential problem on their hands: what happens if the Folau and Karmichael Hunt experiment actually works and it turns out that all NRL players can make the switch quite easily?

"At school, there was always the kid who seemed to be great at every sport you put in front of him. At Waverley College in Sydney we had Ryan Cross. He opened the batting and bowling, ran the 100m and hurdles, then became the Australian schools champion shot-putter and was selected in the Australian schoolboys rugby for two years. Then, after deciding to go and play league for the Roosters, he is now a fully fledged Wallaby.

"Berrick Barnes did the same, having shown equally outstanding ability as a cricketer or football player. Jamal Idris is still battling to work out whether he can be an Olympic shot-putter while still playing in the NRL."

Melbourne Rebels fly-half Danny Cipriani has revealed he was on the verge of quitting rugby to escape the harsh glare of life in the spotlight in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"I get scrutinised differently to other rugby players, which is okay, but there is so much negativity. I don't want to be around it anymore. I don't want this to be the headline but there were times when I thought about quitting. I just thought: 'Is it worth it? Should I be doing something else?'

"I feel privileged to earn a living from rugby but with everything I was getting there were times when it just felt like a job. And it annoys me that happened because this is something I love. I get scrutinised differently to other rugby players, which is okay, but there is so much negativity."

George Smith says England needs more than just Jonny to compete in the World Cup © Getty Images

Jonny Wilkinson may be preparing for his first tour of Australia since his World Cup triumph in 2003, but he alone will not be able to save England when their tour starts in Perth next Saturday, retired Test star George Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald.

''They definitely have the drive to win down there,'' Smith told the Herald. ''They will be very competitive, but with their end of their season and the Wallabies at the start of theirs, the Wallabies will be too strong.''

Greg Growden offers up his usual mix of rumours and banter in Ruck & Maul for the The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Scott Johnson and John Muggleton, two quality Australian coaches who have spent recent years plying their trade overseas, may soon be in charge at the Western Force. R&M has heard that high on the list of those the Force are looking at to take over from John Mitchell are the former Wallabies assistant coach Johnson and long-time Australian defensive coach Muggleton.

"In both cases, the Force are on the right track. Johnson, an innovative coach who would have been a good right-hand man to Robbie Deans, is the director of coaching at Ospreys in Wales, while Muggleton, who served under a succession of Wallabies coaches has just finished up at the Llanelli Scarlets."

Francois Hougaard feels the force of the Stormers' defence © Getty Images

Spiro Zavos calls on the Wallabies to stand firm in the face of a South African onslaught this season in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"This year's Super14 final between the Bulls and the Stormers had a one-minute 39-second, all-hell-breaking-loose start to a thunderous match. The ball was run wide by both sides during this opening blitz. Kicks were belted high into the air with forwards and backs charging after them.

"Hard-shouldered tackling was inflicted. And gangbuster tackling that would have stopped a runaway bus was delivered by the unsmiling giants of South African rugby. The match continued at this pace and physicality until, with time up, the Stormers, down 25-17, continued their assault on the Bulls' defensive line.

"After watching enthralled at the quality and power of the rugby, which was of a Test-match intensity, I remembered receiving a phone call from a high-ranking ARU official after a similarly intense and well-played final in 1998, between the Blues in their third consecutive final and the Crusaders. "How are the Wallabies ever going to defeat the All Blacks this year after a final like that?" he said."

Greg Growden hopes that the Wallabies can catch the Springboks and All Blacks napping this season in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The New Zealand Rugby Union chiefs are hovering around Sonny Bill Williams as if they've just unearthed another Colin ''Pinetree'' Meads.

"The South Africans are in a similar state of frenzy, showing off the best they have to offer - and it is quite impressive - during a quality Super 14 final.The humble Wallabies are just attempting to work away in the shadows, hoping to strike when it's least expected.

"And if the Wallabies are to achieve that aim, they must hope that the All Blacks continue to be distracted by the out-of-control merry-go-round just outside the Sonny Bill Circus big top, and that the Springboks peaked too early when the bulk of the squad relentlessly smashed and bashed each other in Soweto on Saturday night."

Rob Horne is not yet 21, but seems to have been around forever, waiting for his big chance according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"And it has been the most frustrating of waits as for seemingly ages he has hovered close to his first Test cap, only for it to elude him at the last moment.

"After opting against pursuing a rugby league career with St George Illawarra, Horne started playing for the Waratahs when 18. He was sighted at Wallabies training when John Connolly was in charge. He has 30 state caps, and been Australian rugby's rising star for three seasons. Why hasn't he gone further? Blame it all on his legs, in particular his hamstrings, which have given him so much trouble and anguish, especially when just a few days into last year's end-of-season European tour he had to return home from Tokyo after breaking down at training. Exactly the same thing happened at the under-20 World Cup tournament last year, also in Japan."

The push for Quade Cooper to be the Test five-eighth against Fiji in Canberra on Saturday week intensified last night when he was announced as the Australian Super14 player of the tournament, according to Greg Growden in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Cooper became the first five-eighth to win the Player of the Tournament award since Stephen Larkham, who shared it with John Eales in 1998, when he finished with 21 votes, one ahead of his Reds teammate Will Genia. In third place was Force utility back James O'Connor with 15 votes, ahead of the Waratahs pairing of Kurtley Beale (12 votes) and Drew Mitchell (11).

"Cooper's triumph ended George Smith's four-year reign as Australia's premier Super 14 player. Smith, who retired from international football after this year's Super 14, won the award from 2006-09.

"Rugby journalists from around the country voted on a 3-2-1 basis on each Super 14 match which involved Australian teams, and soon had Cooper and Genia as the award frontrunners.

"Cooper received six man-of-the-match honours, and polled in eight of the Reds' 13 matches, while Genia was adjudged three times as the man of the match, which shows how critical their midfield combination was in revitalising the Reds."

Could Berrick Barnes soon come face to face with his league past? © Getty Images

A league v union clash is back on the agenda in Australia and The Sydney Morning Herald's Glenn Jackson believes both codes would be foolish to miss out.

"We have been told many times why a hybrid contest won't work. Maybe we should be looking at why it will. Certainly it might not work, but surely it's worth a try – whether that be a four-point or five-point one.

"This latest call for the coming together of rugby union and rugby league has been made at a time when both codes are facing a similar threat and, in turn, have similar needs. The AFL is invading NSW and Queensland like never before, and the footballing codes of choice in these two states, league and union, are both chasing a quick buck, although for different reasons. Rugby union has become stale. Rules, referees and penalty goals are strangling contests and crowds are evaporating, in this country in particular.

"Rugby league in some ways is being hurt by its greatest strength – its athletes are so good that the other codes want a piece of them. And a sport that sometimes seems to have only just progressed out of the chook raffle era cannot afford to keep them."

Spiro Zavos, writing in The Sydney Morning Herald, can't get his head around the kicking tactics of certain New Zealand Super 14 sides.

"On Friday night, I taped the Hurricanes-Reds match before attending a concert by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. Just before leaving I couldn't resist having a peek at the game. The scoreline was 21-8 to the Reds, after 32 minutes of play. A close-up shot of Hurricanes No.8 Rodney So'oialo showed him looking exhausted and anguished. The Hurricanes were facing a hiding. While later listening to melodic baroque music, I constructed an analysis of the resurgence of the Reds.

"Their rise in 2010, I decided, has vindicated Robbie Deans's insistence that Australian sides needed to get back to their traditional game, which involves playing expansively and skilfully. Similarly, the rugby nous shown by most of the New Zealand teams has deteriorated, a result, I believe, of the loss of Deans and the intellectual property he created while the leading rugby thinker there."

The Waratahs thrashed the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday © Getty Images

John Eales tries to reveal the substance behind the Australian teams' Super 14 bid as the regular season draws to a close in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Waratahs this year have been a bit like an autostereogram. The players could see it – they kept telling us as much. The coaches could see it – many thought they were simply defending their jobs. A few others could as well. But most critics and fans, as hard as they tried, and as much as they may have wanted to, didn't see anything particularly exciting jumping out of the page at them . . . even though they kept winning.

"The Brumbies, who have been similarly underwhelming in many of their displays, also find themselves situated favourably for a semi-final appearance. Their destiny as well is in their own hands, albeit with a challenging head-to-head battle with the Crusaders to determine who plays on for another week.

"The Reds, on the other hand, have all but bowed out of contention with their enterprising but ultimately ineffective effort against the Hurricanes on Friday night. It is just mathematics and some memory of advanced probability and statistics that give them a sliver of hope."

The Reds - Australia's darlings © Getty Images

Spiro Zavos finds it hard to love the Waratahs as the rest of Australia gets behind the Reds in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Lovemarks is a marketing idea developed by Kevin Roberts, chief executive worldwide of Saatchi and Saatchi, and also the president of Rugby America, the USA rugby union, to turn brands into commercial powerhouses. The essence of a Lovemarks brand is that it commands respect and love. A passionate loyalty is created from this combination of results and a high emotional identification that goes beyond reason. This loyalty, in turn, provides the driving force for the brand's success.

"Australia had a provincial Lovemarks side, the Brumbies, in the heady days of their two Super tournament wins. The passion of Brumbies fans for their team and the team's response to that love made them all but unbeatable in Canberra. Any journalist knew, too, that criticising the team's iconic players, especially George Gregan, or the team itself, was a dangerous occupation. This slightly manic aspect of the loyalty was off-putting. But while it lasted it gave a sort of in-your-face energy to the Brumbies that made them Australia's most successful Super rugby side."

Will Robbie Deans pick his first Wallabies team of the season on form or reputation? Greg Growden takes a look at his options in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"For Wallabies coach Robbie Deans a huge question is looming. Does he pick his first Test team in June on form or reputation?

"If form is the prime guide, then Deans will find himself in the difficult position of deciding whether his captain Rocky Elsom, chief playmaker Matt Giteau and his other key go-to man Berrick Barnes are worthy of holding their Test spots. He would also have to ignore his fervent youth policy by selecting the Wallabies' oldest second-rower Nathan Sharpe, who has been easily the best Australian lock this season.

"Luckily for Deans there is still a month to go for several players to lift their levels of performance, but if not he will find himself in a precarious position, and will have to make some brutal decisions that will affect the balance and direction of the Australian team."

Could the Waratahs spring a late surprise? © Getty Images

Gavin Rich takes a look at the Waratahs' place in the Super 14 standings heading into the final weeks on Supersport.

"While the Stormers and Crusaders tripped up this past weekend, the Waratahs came back from their bye week to see off a concerted but ultimately in vain Brumbies challenge in Sydney. They didn’t pick up a bonus point, but the win was enough to move them to within one point of the three teams jammed together in places two to four.

"The Stormers are second thanks to the lucky bonus point they picked up when the TMO in Brisbane ruled no try to what looked a perfectly legitimate score from Reds captain Will Genia.

"But they are only there thanks to a superior points differential, which means it is an insignificant advantage as the Cape team head into a tough three match sequence featuring matches against the Crusaders, Sharks and Bulls."

In a week where rugby league's reputation took a hit, Rugby Heaven's Greg Growden believes the Waratahs missed a chance to boost union's image in their match against the Brumbies.

"All it needed was for the Waratahs and Brumbies to confirm that the code had revitalised itself and it would have been the perfect rah-rah weekend. Instead rugby's night of nights became a nightmare. After enduring that drivel, you must wonder what the broadcasters now think of local derbies. They may even ask SANZAR for a refund.

"It was a dreadful affair made more infuriating by endless scrum resets, and not helped by being played at an oversized stadium with zilch atmosphere and plenty of open spaces. The Waratahs, oblivious to the fact that playing in front of their biggest crowd of the season meant they should at least attempt to be interesting to watch, went through their usual ''bore everyone to death'' routine by kicking virtually everything to oblivion. The Brumbies, as expected of a team suffering from internal dramas, were a rabble. Many of the 40,000 present must have wondered why they'd bothered."

Can Rocky Elsom inspire the Brumbies? © Getty Images

Former Australia fullback Matt Burke previews the weekend's massive derby between the Brumbies and Waratahs in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"You couldn't ask more from a local derby than tomorrow night's clash between the Waratahs and the Brumbies at ANZ Stadium. Fifth playing sixth, match-ups all over the park, a few injuries, some form concerns and a lead-up week in which both teams have played ducks and drakes.

"Despite all the success the Brumbies have enjoyed in Super rugby, they will still claim to be the little brother getting a raw deal and therefore proclaim underdog status. The reality is that they have been the benchmark a lot of other franchises have tried to emulate. The innovation in their plays prompted a revision of tactics and a new attacking style.

"A successful recruitment drive in the off-season and all the big-name players now on their roster have led to the Brumbies being dubbed the Real Madrid of rugby. The most interesting observation is that they have benefited not so much from the elusiveness of their backs this season but the muscle in the forwards, and keeping the play quite tight. The Reds have been the team that have thrown the ball around and the Tahs have tried to follow suit, but not so much the Brumbies."

Former Wallabies skipper John Eales was appointed to the ARU Board last week © Getty Images

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, former Wallabies captain and new Australian Rugby Union Board member John Eales sets out his stall.

"A general consensus has rugby in the middle of a great big "U" at the moment – no, we are not talking of any particular peccadilloes of those living far east of Byron Bay but rather the rut it has found itself in of late.

"...Rugby does have its challenges at the moment, some urgent and the rest simply pressing. A snapshot from any of my "advisers" reels off: player contracting and third-party agreements, factional fighting, greedy players, poor administration and the quality of the product, among a plethora of other issues, both real and imagined.

"If you were to prioritise, however, after a season when even the die-hards were disillusioned, the quality of the on-field product had to be a priority and both anecdotally and tangibly the entertainment renaissance has begun."

Leading the class of 2010: Berrick Barnes © Getty Images

Former Waratahs skipper Matt Burke believes that it's time to look beyond their 96-19 loss to the Crusaders as the class of 2010 prepare to visit Christchurch in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Much is said about history. We look at the past for direction and detail on how we lived our lives. We keep records on how we achieved our goals. Whether that be on the battle grounds or on the sporting fields, records are kept on who won or who lost. People love to look back and get stuck on reminiscing about old times, good or bad.

"History certainly has its place, but I am more interested in the future. The past is done. It's the spent arrow, you can't get it back, so prepare yourself as well as you can to write a piece of you own history. Your destiny.

"I speak of the game in 2002 when yours truly was the Waratahs captain in a game against the Crusaders. The game got away from us a little. Actually, that doesn't emphasise the point enough. Let's just say the losing margin was substantial - plus 10. Anyhow, the point being that, the Waratahs were a totally different team, culture, even generation to the one that is running around today. So I question why every time the Waratahs play in Christchurch, the spectre of the 96-19 loss is raised."

According to Greg Growden, in The Sydney Morning Herald, it's the strenght of the Waratahs' bench that has helped them secure top spot in the Super 14.

"The ability to finish off games in the final quarter of matches by using their bench as a strike weapon has given the Waratahs their best chance in years at the Super 14 title.

"The Waratahs are sitting on top of the ladder and a key reason they find themselves there has been the dramatic improvement in the overall strength of the playing squad. This season, not only have the Waratahs coped comfortably with injury setbacks, they have also picked up the tempo of matches by using quality replacements in the final minutes.

"Most weeks there have been Wallabies sitting on the Waratahs bench waiting to make their mark on games. Never was this more crucial than in the opening round, when the Waratahs' back-up was considerably better than that of Queensland's, enabling the visitors to take control in Brisbane in the latter stages to run out 30-28 winners."

Australia's Liam Gill injects some pace into an attack during the recent Hong Kong 7s tournament © Getty Images

A Super 14 injury crisis has created welcome opportunities for a host of young Australian players and writing on Rugby Heaven, Greg Growden is already looking forward to 2015.

"Australian rugby is going through a dramatic regeneration phase, with the young pups taking over the game. Partly caused by necessity due to extensive injury lists among the four Australian Super 14 provinces, especially the Western Force, a number of teenagers and new faces have appeared in the tournament this year.

"Not that long ago, it was a rarity to see a kid just out of school in the Super 14. This year it has been the norm. And in the background, the Australian Sevens team keeps producing vibrant talent, including 17-year-old Queensland breakaway Liam Gill, who was this week signed by the Reds.

"Australian Rugby Union officials say the new breed will have a presence in next year's World Cup in New Zealand. However, it is at the 2015 tournament that the next generation could really make the Wallabies a dominant force."

Robbie Deans was unflustered by the result © Getty Images

Glenn Jackson reviews a bizarre day down under as an inexperienced league team beat the cream of the union crop in The Sydney Morning Herald.

" Their coach refused to learn the rules and the players trained with soccer balls, but somehow Keebra Park High, the best rugby league school in the country, did what many at the Australian Rugby Union must have considered unthinkable and beat them at their own game.

The Gold Coast school yesterday defeated the cream of young rugby talent across NSW, Queensland and ACT to win the ARU Schools Sevens, as the battle between the codes took a bizarre turn. The very fact they were invited to compete - after winning the Queensland section of the tournament earlier this year - must have many believing the decision should have been thrown in the ''what-were-we-thinking?'' basket."

Laurie Weeks is heading to Melbourne © Getty Images

Reds skipper James Horwill sees both positives and negatives in the emergence of the Melbourne Rebels in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed after hearing Laurie Weekes had signed with the Melbourne Rebels. Laurie is a guy who has made the most of the opportunity given to him by Queensland and is currently one of the form props of the Super 14.

"If he continues to play the way he is, a Wallaby jersey won't be too far away. Not knowing exactly what Laurie's reasons were for leaving Queensland, it shows that each individual player has different priorities that drive them to make decisions about their future.

"Since Laurie signed with Melbourne, two more Queensland players, Richard Kingi and Adam Byrnes, have announced they are making the move south. Both have their own reasons. For many Queensland fans this would bring up memories from 2005, when Nathan Sharpe led a number of Reds players to the newly formed Western Force. I'm sure the fans are hoping the same thing won't happen again, especially since we are finally heading in the right direction."

Lachie Turner's intercept saved the Waratahs last weekend © Getty Images

Spiro Zavos takes a look at Lachie Turner sparing the Waratahs' blushes against the Blues in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"For a minute or so at the SFS on Saturday it seemed the dreaded Wara-wobbles were about to infect the side. The Blues had turned a 21-7 deficit into a 32-29 lead in the 72nd minute, and were one pass and a couple of metres from scoring the clinching try.

"Stop the tape! The Blues halfback, Taniela Moa, has the ball. Two attackers are set to his left. One defender, Lachlan Turner, is trying to cover three attackers. Moa, with his beefy build, can just shoulder his way across the line. Or he can pass to a teammate to score the try. A try - and a NSW loss - is inevitable. Start the tape. Moa ever so carefully delivers a sympathetic pass to Turner, who in desperation has placed himself between the two Blues attackers. Turner motors away, head back and legs pumping, to score the winner under the posts. The True Believers are on their feet pumping their fists.

"This victory capped a splendid weekend for the top three Australian sides. The Brumbies broke a 23-23 deadlock with the Chiefs right on time when Matt Toomua, a smart, young five-eighth, scored from an opposition mistake under the posts. In South Africa, the Reds comfortably beat the Cheetahs playing at altitude. The main blemish in the performance was the stupid trip by Quade Cooper on a Cheetahs player trying to take a quick drop-out."

John Eales takes a look at the difficult situation developing at the Western Force following John Mitchell's decision to leave the franchise in 2011 in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Life is more like a Ferris Wheel than a merry-go-round: when the music stops not everyone steps off equally.

"When Western Force coach John Mitchell's management announced he would not be continuing as the coach of the Force beyond the completion of his current contract, their man stepped off comfortably at ground level whereas the club was stuck awkwardly somewhere in the air. Mitchell's decision, about 1½ seasons before his contract expires, couldn't be more tactical or couldn't be worse, depending on from whose perspective you see it.

"From Mitchell's perspective, the announcement could be looked at as tactical, but arguably it is also self-serving and does the Force, which stood by him through an enquiry at the beginning of last season, no favours. His management has taken control of their client's situation, which of course is their prerogative. After all, they need to sell Mitchell into his next role and this might now be easier than it would have been were it the Force that announced that they would not renew his deal."

Berrick Barnes calls it like he sees it © Getty Images

In his column in the Sydney Morning Herald, Adam Freier asks whether rugby needs to market itself better.

“Sport soap operas sell. If you're an avid reader of the back end of the newspaper you'll be well aware that sport and soapies are fast becoming one. Yet, while every year sport enters deeper into the realm of the 'entertainment industry', it's fair to say rugby union has not been as active when it comes to pushing the players' profiles and personalities, as opposed to their sporting abilities and feats.

“Should rugby endorse this interest in personalities or should the focus remain squarely on what takes place on the field?

“Rugby league has many colourful characters, with clubs and agents ensuring the public see them in every way possible. Not that all these players have to be superstars to be in the newspaper or on the TV, but like Neighbours and Home and Away, the show must be on every night.

“It's a fact that rugby union at times is buried by rugby league in the newspaper. The balancing act of keeping stories on sport and not off-field dramas is an area that I believe is important to keep our code - and all sports for that matter - in the best light possible. Fortunately, I believe our code is held in great regard.”

Tim Clarke looks at the strange situation created by John Mitchell's decision to leave the Western Force in 2011 in WA Today.

"It will be the longest farewell tour since Frank Sinatra, or Elvis, or John Farnham. But that is what John Mitchell and the Western Force have apparently agreed to, with the announcement the former All Black coach will leave the club at the end of his current contract.

"That deal, brokered before the team launched a mutiny in the build up to last season, runs out in 2011. So that gives the team the rest of this year, and the whole of next year's Super Rugby season, to impress a bloke who is not going to be there.

"A strange situation indeed. Mitchell's time in Perth should be remembered fondly for the immediate boost he gave WA rugby and the Force by choosing to take on a new franchise."

Spiro Zavos evaluates the merits of 'winning ugly' ahead of the Waratahs' meeting with the Blues in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"When a rugby team bases its playing style on "winning ugly" it is not going to lift any trophies. The occasional ugly win, though, is necessary for even the best teams if they want to become the champions.

"At the weekend we saw a number of necessary winning-ugly results. France won the Six Nations with a nervous victory over a dogged England. The Bulls snatched their fifth victory for the season, despite being outscored two tries to one by the Hurricanes, by playing out time with a series of slow-plod flops, a form of visual torture that should be legislated out of rugby. The Stormers made hard work of the Cheetahs by kicking away most of their ball. And the Waratahs won against the Western Force without making a line break or showing any attacking ploys or skills.

"France's ugly win over England can be justified because it delivered the glittering prize of a title. The Bulls reversion to negative kicking tactics seemed designed to put pressure on the two rookie Hurricanes wingers. The Stormers have the strongest defence in the Super 14 and this is their main strength. They have conceded a miserable 59 points in six matches."

John Eales recalls the 'great agitators', Owen Finegan and Sean Fitzpatrick, in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Business might be a bit different. Perhaps not investment banking, they would measure up to most sporting teams in a character style assessment, but if you run a nursing home you probably don't want your nurses going too hard at the oldies... or maybe you do.

"In his playing days Owen Finegan, now the assistant coach at the Brumbies, was your classic prickly character. Although one of the most important players in the Wallabies throughout that successful era, he would mercilessly agitate the opposition on the field and his teammates off it. During the 1999 world cup campaign players completed weekly questionnaires asking how they felt on a scale of irritability, from exceptionally irritable to not irritable at all. Owen would scour the responses and make it his business to hound anyone at the more irritable end of the continuum. No one broke but players were on edge.

"Obviously it's a lot more useful if the irritability is directed at the opposition and if it can be done to distraction then even better. Sean Fitzpatrick was masterful at distracting his opposition and led the 95-97 All Blacks, the best teams I played in my career, in this bristling manner."

A wish to help others helped drive this player's return from a brain tumour, writes the Sydney Morning Herald's Rupert Guinness.

"Julian Huxley woke up yesterday feeling battered and bruised from his first game of rugby in two years - and wouldn't have wished otherwise.

''I haven't felt like that for a while,'' Huxley told the Herald yesterday. ''I was a bit tired. Now a couple of days later I feel I am getting sorer. But it's sparking the old memories, the old flashbacks of what it used to be like. It's a good thing I am enjoying it.''

"The comments came three days after Huxley resumed a career that came to a halt on March 1, 2008, when a mistimed tackle on Reds lock James Horwill prompted a terrifying chain of events."

Greg Growden believes that the Waratahs must keep up their attacking brand of rugby if they are to entice the crowds back to Sydney Football Stadium in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The crowd did not come, but at least the tries and points did. So while the NSW Rugby Union bean-counters will have another restless night, knowing that a miserly 16,878 home crowd will affect the bank balance, at least the Waratahs players will be relieved their dwindling spectator base is no longer on their backs for supposedly being boring.

"And when a Waratah scores four tries for the first time in a Super rugby match, it is certainly time to overlook all the wide open spaces in the SFS terraces, and be thankful Drew Mitchell chose the right time to have a smart buzzcut hairdo to look really respectable for the cameras when he kept finding the line.

"Sure, the Waratahs kicked at times, prompting the occasional hoots and hollers, but they knew that if they held the ball for most of the time they had possession, they would reap the benefits. This was sheer Rugby 101, considering that before this match the Lions had leaked 18 tries in their first four games. This showed there was something rotten at the core of the opposition and it continued last night where it was soon evident the Lions had little idea in how to stop the Waratahs."

Phil Lutton salutes the new-look Quade Cooper, superhero pose and all, following the Reds' promising start to the Super 14 season in The Brisbane Times.

"It looks like he's about to don a cape and leap tall buildings in a single bound. Reds fly-half Quade Cooper's new "superhero" pose before shots at goal is raising eyebrows but there's no chance of the Queensland star tinkering with a posture on the verge of attaining cult status.

"The comic-book stance isn't just for aesthetic appeal. There is much to admire about Cooper's maturing game in 2010, not least a new-found influence with the boot that has seen him slot 20 from 28 attempts in the opening four rounds of the Super 14.

"While his instinctive playmaking abilities have been earning most of the compliments, Cooper's efforts to pilot home five-from-six in his side's dramatic 23-18 upset of the Chiefs in Hamilton last week was the telling blow in the contest."

Greg Growden reopens the file on Australia 'A' as the Wallabies look to uncover new talent ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2011, in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"In a bid to uncover talent before next year's World Cup, the Australia A concept is back on the agenda and the Wallabies are scheduled to play several midweek games during the end-of-season northern hemisphere tour this year.

"After the success of the two midweek games during last year's tour, Australian Rugby Union officials are trying to organise two or three extra matches where they can again field fringe Test players, as well as the four internationals in November.

"The Wallabies are scheduled to start their northern jaunt in late October with a Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong. The next Test is expected to be against Wales in Cardiff, but the match is still to be confirmed, before the Wallabies play England, Italy and France. The extra midweekers against major club sides are likely to be played in England and France, with even a match in Ireland a strong possibility."

In a bid to uncover talent before next year's World Cup, the Australia A concept is back on the agenda and the Wallabies are scheduled to play several midweek games during the end-of-season northern hemisphere tour this year, so writes Greg Growden in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"After the success of the two midweek games during last year's tour, Australian Rugby Union officials are trying to organise two or three extra matches where they can again field fringe Test players, as well as the four internationals in November.

"The Wallabies are scheduled to start their northern jaunt in late October with a Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong. The next Test is expected to be against Wales in Cardiff, but the match is still to be confirmed, before the Wallabies play England, Italy and France. The extra midweekers against major club sides are likely to be played in England and France, with even a match in Ireland a strong possibility."

Spiro Zavos, writing in The Sydney Morning Herald, believes that teams must adapt to the new Super 14 law interpretations quickly, or face a season in the doldrums.

"To understand what is going on we need a little theory. Many years ago I had a conversation with Danie Craven, a legendary Springboks halfback and coach.

"In the 1950s and 1960s Craven was Mr Rugby, the game's most influential administrator. He was in charge of writing the various changes to the laws. Craven told me that the laws were wrong. ''How do we know this?'' he said. ''Because, unlike the laws of soccer, they are too complicated and can't be written down on a single sheet of paper.''

"Craven, a double PhD, taught at Stellenbosch University (where the ELVs were devised and trialled). He told me he often experimented on law variations using students as guinea pigs. Craven learnt from this experimenting that if you changed one law, it would affect how others worked. He used the metaphor of pulling a thread from a jersey and the old garment ''unravelling''."

Rupert Guinness talks to Waratahs prop Benn Robinson about the positives of being the smaller man in a land of giants in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"It was on a lumpy cow paddock in the Black Sea city of Constanta, Romania, five years ago that Benn Robinson - then a budding 20-year-old prop who dreamt of one day playing for the Wallabies - realised his relatively diminutive size as a prop could be a strength rather than a weakness.

"It all began when, as a member of the NSW development tour to eastern Europe, Robinson and his teammates were preparing to play against ''Romania A''. As he ran onto the field, it suddenly struck him that each of the opposing front-rowers weighed up to 20 kilograms more than he did.

''I looked over before the game and the whole front row was 120 to 130 kilos each,'' Robinson recalled. ''I was with Aaron Broughton-Rouse. I said to him: 'Mate, this is going to be a tough night at the office'. But we ended up getting a pushover try. It wasn't that tough."

Candid camera: Adam Freier © Getty Images

Waratahs hooker Adam Freier offers a guided tour of the club's new training facilities in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Those who have ventured to a Waratahs home game in the past two years might have seen NSW Rugby's relatively new headquarters: the IBM Centre. This big building with no opening windows and massive glass doors is NSW Rugby's administrative hub, but it is also home to the Waratahs training centre, with a world-class gymnasium and players' common area.

"You could quiet easily head in for a training session and not come back out to reality for days. In many ways, it's rugby's version of the Big Brother show.

"They say when you retire from rugby you won't miss playing the game itself, you will miss your teammates and the fun times had, usually at the expense of others. This is why we love coming to ''work'' and we are so very fortunate to do what we all do for a living."

As the NRL gathers on the Gold Coast to show off its glittering stable of indigenous stars, a leading indigenous rugby figure says a ''very white'' union has failed to embrace and cultivate Aboriginal talent. Phil Lutton writes in the Sydney Morning Herald

"Just three of the 118 players on Australian Super 14 rosters are of indigenous heritage. The NRL boasts 11 per cent of its ranks - including some of its biggest stars - as being aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders.

"Tom Evans, the chief executive of the ARU-affiliated Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team, says a refusal to broaden the recruitment net outside of private schools means the code has little chance of unearthing future indigenous champions. The former Randwick player and coach also says the huge influence of Polynesian players in the code isn't being reflected in the make-up of the ARU."

Can the Brumbies scale the heights in 2010? © Getty Images

Greg Growden has high hopes for the star-studded Brumbies in this season's Super 14 in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Brumbies believe the push by SANZAR to revitalise rugby could see a team already tagged the Real Madrid of this year's Super 14 earn a Barcelona-style reputation for inventive and entertaining play.

"While some provinces, including the Waratahs, have been reserved about a campaign designed to see southern hemisphere sides play more exciting rugby, the Brumbies have embraced it, and are hopeful it could push their galacticos line-up into the Super Rugby semi-finals for the first time in six seasons.

"While their stocks have been bolstered by the signing of Matt Giteau and Rocky Elsom, giving the Brumbies a near Test quality line-up, their aspirations have also been aided by an official campaign aimed at freeing up the game and giving greater assistance to teams in possession."

Justin Harrison is back in action with the Brumbies © Getty Images

Rupert Guinness talks to Brumbies lock Justin Harrison on his return to rugby following an eight-month drugs ban in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Justin Harrison was one of the most imposing and hard-edged second-rowers in world rugby. But after the veteran of 34 Tests for Australia last year admitted to using cocaine, and retired humiliated and remorseful, simply ''getting through the day'' became the biggest challenge of his life.

''I became very insular and my horizons became very narrow,'' Harrison told the Herald of the weeks following his departure from English club Bath after his confession of drug use. ''I wasn't looking at anything other than getting through the day and managing the people closest to me, to reconcile that I had let [down] so many who had helped me … to try and placate them [and make them believe] I was the same person they had faith in when they started supporting me.

''There were many times of sadness, but overriding it was that I was enormously proud of my career to date - and still am - and wanted to maintain an association with rugby. So it became a matter of trying to find how I could continue that association and reduce the reticence of people around me.''

	Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh © Getty Images

”The rougher it got the more I enjoyed it." That's typical Phil Waugh. And the attitude that should have Wallabies coach Robbie Deans questioning why he ever left the tough-as-nails breakaway out of last year's spring tour.

"Just days back from his maiden Sydney to Hobart voyage, in which he finished fourth aboard supermaxi Loyal, the Waratahs skipper said he's already counting down the days to the 2010 race. However, he only got an hour's sleep in three days, so that could just be the celebratory beers talking.

"I certainly enjoyed the yachting and the actual racing. I think it's the competitive spirit," said Waugh, who was joined on the 100-footer by ex-Wallaby Phil Kearns, world champion boxer Danny Green and Olympic swimming gold medallist Grant Hackett.”

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey has given his best indication yet that livewire Wallaby Kurtley Beale will play fullback next year, writes Josh Rakic in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"The unpredictable Beale was a stand-out on the wing for the Wallabies last month, and for the first time Hickey admitted his best position might not be as a playmaker.

"...Beale and University star Halangahu battled for the No.10 all last season. But word from the NSW camp is Halangahu - who all but rescued the Waratahs season from five-eighth late in the Super 14 season - will have first crack at the guernsey, with Barnes to play No.12."

Phil Wilkins remembers Gregor Townsend's short stay in Sydney club rugby in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"In all the madness greeting Scotland's win over Australia at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, one face shone as broadly as his fast receding forehead, just as when he proved one of the finest five-eighths to play in Sydney club rugby for Warringah.

"Gregor Townsend is 36 now, an ex-Scotland captain and veteran of 82 internationals, a British Lion with pride, so esteemed in the game that he received the MBE in the Queen's Birthday honours of 1999.

"He was just another wandering foreigner - have boots, will travel - a good, young five-eighth with a sense of adventure when he came to Sydney. But Warringah's scouts knew their stuff.

"Townsend soon established himself as one of the classiest, most creative pivots behind the Green Rats' man-eating pack at the old, welcoming tip site, a pivot who attacked the line, could pass short or play the wide-passing game or when the "black nor-easters" blew, kick it a country mile. He was a real pro. He was brave and he tackled."

The lack of passion shown by Australia in their loss to Scotland was worse than the result itself when compared to heroic teams of eras past, writes Spiro Zavos in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"It is the complacency in defeat that the Wallabies showed once again at Murrayfield that is infuriating supporters and, no doubt, the coaching staff of the Wallabies. Where is the raging against the dying of the light? When the Wallabies were put out of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in Marseille by a poor England side, the incomparable Stephen Larkham, who could not play on the day, was photographed in tears. These Wallabies prattle on about "the journey" and "taking the positives" out of losses and then go back to their mobile phones.

"The point is that national rugby teams do not win all the time. The All Blacks have lost four Tests this season. One more loss, and they play a resurgent France in Marseilles on Saturday, and they will become only the second New Zealand side since 1903 to lose five Tests in a season (six Tests were lost in 1949). But they have never tolerated their defeats. Nor do the Springboks."

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Jim Tucker lays into the Wallabies following their narrow loss to Scotland.

"It may be the worst Test loss by Australia since the 1973 crash to Tonga at Ballymore. Certainly, no Test played by the Wallabies since has been frittered away with such dominance of possession, territory and genuine chances. This was not a loss to the All Blacks but to a team ranked No 9 in the world, for very good reasons."

Australia need to maintain their composure and see off the Scots if they are to salvage any pride from their tour, writes Greg Growden in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"When the Wallabies headed north a month ago, they would have placed the Scotland Test at the bottom of the pecking order. Playing the All Blacks in Tokyo was always going to be tricky. England seem to rise against the Wallabies at Twickenham. And Ireland and Wales have for years on their home turf succeeded in destabilising the Australians. However, Scotland, who have repeatedly suffered massive defeats to the Wallabies, don't hold anywhere near the same aura. That is until this week.

Suddenly, this Murrayfield Test on Saturday has become the most crucial of internationals, with a sense of nervousness overwhelming the Wallabies, a team that has recently become accustomed to failure, and understand the circumstances if they become the first Australian side in 27 years and 17 encounters to lose to Scotland."

Australia have plenty still to play for, despite losing out on a grand slam, writes Spiro Zavos in the Sydney Morning Herald .

"The grand slam quest for the Wallabies is over, stopped cruelly in its tracks with a last-minute try by Brian O'Driscoll playing in his 100th Test. The try was under the posts so the Wallabies were denied even the fleeting hope of a missed conversion which would have provided them with a miraculous escape.

"They have to regard the 20-20 draw against the best team in Europe as a sort of loss. Both of Ireland's tries were scored under the posts. Ronan O'Gara's first conversion was close to being charged down as the kicker leisurely walked in to make his strike. He took no chances with his second conversion.

"The Wallabies' new quest must be to beat Scotland and Wales. They have played two strong Tests in a row. Now they must play two more. If they defeat Scotland and Wales they will become the second-best Australian grand slam-aspiring tourists. The 1984 Wallabies won their grand slam. The 1947-48 side defeated England, Ireland and Scotland but lost to Wales. This side did not have a try scored against it in its grand slam Tests."

	Australia's Ben Alexander takes on the England defence at Twickenham last weekend © Getty Images

"The Australian behemoth bruiser in the front-row knows this only too well, after the brush with death which forced him into a Damascene conversion that would utterly transform his approach to his life and career.

It all began so innocuously, albeit painfully, when he shattered his right leg playing for the Canberra Vikings club side four years ago, snapping his tibia and fibula clean in half. If only that were the extent of his travails, as Alexander, one of world rugby's rising stars, recounted in Dublin this week.

"It was the second or third day in hospital when they discovered I had breathing problems," he recalls. "Then an embolus (in essence, a migratory blood clot) formed in my lungs and there was also some bone marrow threatening to enter into my bloodstream."

David Pocock is a natural born leader. A future Springbok altered by fate into a potential Wallaby captain. Living proof that early experiences mould people into manhood, so writes Gavin Cummiskey in the Irish Times.

"Growing up “in a tiny, backward town in the middle of Zimbabwe” his childhood coaches said he would one day play for South Africa (this being the unnatural process for a country constantly raided of talent by South Africa, much like New Zealand and Australia cherry pick from the Pacific Islands). Then irrevocable change descended upon his native land. Neighbouring white farms were violently seized with the Robert Mugabe regime of terror encouraging such practice.

Jane Pocock: “Things were pretty scary on the farm. I remember going into his room one night and he had a loaded shotgun next to his bed. A big fishing knife tucked into his mattress. I remember saying to him ‘Dave, my boy, you don’t have to . . . ’ and he said, ‘Mum, if they come I have to help Dad protect us. As a mother it just about broke my heart.” Andy Pocock: “It’s not right for a 12-year-old kid. It’s just not right.” It took the family two years to get out of Zimbabwe. Nine months in South Africa followed before a brief stint in New Zealand eventually saw them rediscover some form of normality in Brisbane. Rugby gradually took over the teenagers life."

	Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom lifts the Cook Cup at Twickenham © Getty Images

"On a night when the Wallabies' young pups took over proceedings, it was Genia who set the tone, with an authoritative approach that succeeded in taking the pressure off five-eighth Matt Giteau and Cooper. Genia's continued sniping attracted much of the England forwards' focus, leaving them little opportunity to charge at the Australian midfield.

"...The emotion after the win was clear for all to see and it was not surprising. The Wallabies had endured a long and frustrating Tri Nations campaign, particularly in their Bledisloe Cup clashes. So they enjoyed this victory, spending a long time on the field after the match thanking supporters and posing for photographs. But they also made certain they did not get too carried away when they stood on the official rostrum to receive the Cook Cup. There was no jumping up and down, just modest waves."

Writing in the Sunday Times, Stuart Barnes hails the rising profile of Wallabies scrum-half Will Genia.

"Pitched into this season’s Tri-Nations, Genia is developing at such a rate that come the 2011 World Cup he is going to be one of the outstanding pivots in the world game. England - in contrast - remain hamstrung by an obsession with experience driven by a fear of losing.

"Australia may have lost six of their past seven internationals (against New Zealand and South Africa) but coach Robbie Deans has continued to trust kids such as Genia and the almost equally impressive Quade Cooper with the task of moulding a mature and match-winning team, and most pertinently, a team capable of competing in 2011 because, whatever anybody claims, this is the yardstick by which international sides are judged."

Ahead of the November Tests, four of The Guardian's rugby scribes pick their current world XVs.

"The hits may be getting bigger but class is permanent. It will be interesting, even so, to see how many of this team are still pre-eminent when the 2011 World Cup kicks off in New Zealand.

"The autumn Tests will certainly tell us more about Jamie Roberts, so influential for the Lions, and the new French captain Thierry Dusautoir. Watch out, too, for the fast-rising Irish back-rowers Stephen Ferris and Jamie Heaslip, Australia's Rocky Elsom and France's Maxime Médard."

Paul Rees is hoping that the November Test matches provide something to shout about after mixed bags in the Six Nations and Tri-Nations in The Guardian.

"John Clare wrote about dark and dull November days, but how the game in Europe could do with an Indian summer as the autumn internationals beckon. South Africa, New Zealand and Australia arrive in Europe after a Tri-Nations campaign that was hardly more stimulating than the Six Nations championship which preceded it.

"The New Zealand coach, Graham Henry, was in typically waspish mood this week when he described most sides in Europe, meaning the Six Nations, as conservative in their approach. Dull, in other words. He cited Wales as the exception, but South Africa have hardly been a byword for adventure this year and their meeting with Ireland at the end of the month, who won the Six Nations by adopting similarly constrictive tactics, could come down to who blinks first.

"Henry laments the surfeit of kicking spawned last year by the experimental law variations, but Wales presaged the changes on their way to the 2008 grand slam when they kicked more often than anyone else in the Six Nations, keeping the ball in play and chasing hard. They were opportunistic and waited for the moment."

David Flatman expects some changes to the norm when England face Australia at Twickenham next weekend in The Independent on Sunday.

“When the Wallabies arrive at Twickenham to take on England next week, a few points of tradition will be challenged. Whatever the competition, year or venue, some things have always been assumed in the build-up to this most enticing of fixtures: England's scrum will annihilate the prop-weak Aussies; and the Wallaby back line will be too athletic, thick-thighed and naturally elusive for the straight-up-and-down English.

“These days, however, things are somewhat different. While Ryan Cross, at outside centre, might be considered a strapping lad, he could probably fit quite comfortably into Matt Banahan's pocket, should the need arise. At 6ft 7in and 115kg, Banahan wins the prize for the most monstrous piece of meat on the field, but it is at inside centre where England will look to defy rugby legend.

“Shane Geraghty has the poacher's eye combined with the swiftness of feet to cause Australia problems. With Jonny Wilkinson and Dan Hipkiss either side of him, incoming runners will be dropped like tranquilised buffalo and he will just have to concentrate on what he does best: threaten the defence. Those Wallaby forwards who find themselves defending in midfield will have their work cut out if England win clean ball and, after a few heavy scrummaging exchanges, those legs might not have the zip to cover a player like Geraghty.”

Peter Bills questions the extravagant prices charged for tickets to the dead-rubber Bledisloe Cup Test between New Zealand and Australia in Tokyo on Saturday in The New Zealand Herald.

"Tomorrow's match in Tokyo offers rugby fans a disturbing view of the game's future. If you wondered why earlier this year the IRB broke with tradition and announced the venue of not just the next Rugby World Cup but the next two, then all can be revealed.

"For sure, it's a wheeze Blackadder's servant Baldrick would have been proud of. If the Bledisloe Cup's dead fourth rubber is any guideline, the 2019 Rugby World Cup which is to be staged in Japan will produce eye-watering ticket prices.

"It seems the IRB's thinking is that if the tournament isn't going to take place there for another 10 years, the world has time to get used to the idea of super inflation mugging ticket prices for the sport's premier event.

"For those who reckoned that $242 for the best tickets to watch Wales play Japan in a pool match at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and $850 for the most expensive ticket to the Paris final two years ago were decent asks, then I suggest you find a comfortable surface and lie down before you read about the ticket prices being charged in Tokyo this weekend for a Bledisloe Cup match which is irrelevant, the All Blacks having long since retained the trophy this year."

Greg Clark, in his preview of the historic Tokyo Bledisloe Cup match for Fox Sports, says the Wallabies will be playing for the sake of the game in Australia.

"Critics are writing off their chances of winning all five Tests on tour, and that’s why this trip takes on extra importance. In a season when no Aussie team made the Super 14 play-offs and our national team lost five of the six Tri Nations games, support for the code is disappearing fast.

"The best way to fix the problem, and silence the critics, is to win by playing an attractive brand of rugby. If the upcoming Tests all turn into boring ‘kick fests’, it’s not going to help to regain the lost support.

"Australia must take the game to the All Blacks on Saturday in Tokyo and then show the northern hemisphere that they mean business in the run up to the next Rugby World Cup in 2011.

"Coach Robbie Deans has shown his hand by making changes to the team that lost in such disappointing fashion in Wellington six weeks ago. Frustrated by that huge loss, Deans has issued a warning that no-one is safe from now on. "

Writing on Rugby Heaven, Greg Growden calls on Australia No.8 Wycliff Palu to deliver a dominant display in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks in Tokyo.

"The mini typhoon which was supposed to hit Tokyo yesterday didn't occur, with the Wallabies instead training in perfect weather. However, these emotionally battered tourists are still hoping that a cyclonic force - otherwise known as Hurricane Palu, which has been in the doldrums far too long - will hit on Saturday during the year's final Bledisloe Cup fixture.

"While George Smith's demotion to the bench and Matt Giteau's retention of the five-eighth spot will have the Australian rugby world all atwitter today, a more pressing issue that could determine whether the Wallabies are competitive in this Tokyo Test centres on No.8 Wycliff Palu.

"If the Wallabies are to upset the All Blacks, it is time for Palu to step up. Australia have been waiting an eternity for someone to cement themselves in the Wallabies No.8 position. Until that occurs, and Australia can again boast a player of the calibre of a Mark Loane or a Toutai Kefu as the centrepiece of their forward assault, their performances will continue to fluctuate."

Josh Rakic investigates some worrying financial implications for the Wallabies in The Sun Herald.

"Amid a sports administrator's nightmare scenario of plummeting television ratings, poor attendance figures, a demise in public interest and a struggling national team, the Australian Rugby Union is also believed to be battling to retain its $6 million-a-year sponsorship with Bundaberg Rum.

"Over the past two seasons the Robbie Deans-coached Wallabies have recorded a disappointing 56.5 per cent win ratio, and it is having an impact on the corporate world's ability to support sports teams. The Sun-Herald understands Ford and Vodafone - neither of which returned calls - have already declared their intent to cease their sponsorships of the Wallabies.

"While Bundaberg Rum marketing manager Andrew Hewson was reluctant to speak with The Sun-Herald, he sent a press statement issued by his media department. This refused to confirm the brand's commitment to the ARU beyond 2010, following the conclusion of its current five-year deal."

The Sunday Telegraph's Paul Ackford believes that England have to beat the struggling Wallabies by a significant margin.

”If England don't beat the Aussies by a significant margin when the two sides clash at Twickenham in three weeks' time, then Heaven help Maestro Martin Johnson and his merry men. Seriously. I can't remember a period in the last decade when Australia have looked so discombobulated.

“The on-pitch stuff is bad enough, just one win in six from their Tri-Nations encounters, and a big fat zero when it came to Australian sides participating in the knock-out stages of the Super 14 competition. But it is the declining allure of the sport which is most alarming.

“According to a leaked report, commissioned by the Australian Rugby Union, crowds for Test matches have fallen by 37 per cent in a three-year period, declining from 617,555 in 2006 to 386,287 this year.

“Research into the game's 'brand health' also indicated that rugby union was the least entertaining, innovative, grass roots-orientated and social when compared to rugby league, Aussie rules, soccer and cricket, as well as being "exclusive and hard to follow".”

	Can Wallabies boss Robbie Deans get his team firing for their end of year tour? © Getty Images

"There were plenty of sideways glances and shuffling of feet when Deans and two players, Stirling Mortlock and Matt Giteau - each upset at either losing the captaincy or not being considered for a leadership role - fronted the media as the Wallabies went into camp in Sydney yesterday.

"The body language gave it away. Giteau was edgy. Mortlock was more relaxed, and Deans was trying to put a lid on it all by making the right sounds. Even if the smoke billowing from the peace pipe was stifling, it wasn't exactly hugs and kisses all round."

It's time for the Wallabies to knuckle down to business according to Greg Growden in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"When the 1984 Wallabies arrived at Heathrow Airport for the start of their Grand Slam tour, coach Alan Jones gave them strict instructions. He told the players to write on their arrival cards, under ''purpose of visit'', ''business … because that's what we're here on''.

"Australia subsequently attended to their business, becoming the first Australian team to win all four Tests against England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Twenty-five years on, the 2009 Wallabies will - after playing a Bledisloe Cup match in Tokyo - head to London aiming to emulate Jones's history-makers. When they arrive at Heathrow on November 1, coach Robbie Deans should go through the same routine, telling the players to write exactly the same word on their arrival cards. Business."

	Matt Giteau was passed over for the Wallabies' captaincy © Getty Images

"An insider yesterday told the Herald a number of players believed Giteau deserved to at least be ''sounded out'' for a new leadership position before any decision was made by Wallabies coach Robbie Deans. Giteau has not enjoyed his best year, but his supporters believe he has done enough in previous seasons to warrant consideration for a higher leadership role."

Matt Giteau might be moved from the Wallabies fly-half spot and Lachie Turner could play at fullback as part of a radical back-line revamp for the coming northern hemisphere grand slam tour. Greg Growden writes in the Herald.

"The Herald has been told that the Wallabies selectors are contemplating swapping Berrick Barnes and Giteau around in midfield, but this development could easily destabilise the team as it is known Giteau wants to remain the Test five-eighth. Turner, whom Wallabies coach Robbie Deans appears to be a fan of, will be switched from the wing to the last line of defence.

"If Giteau is moved to inside-centre, it could see him reconsider his future as an Australian player. It is known that Giteau, who is contracted to the Australian Rugby Union until the next World Cup, has been disenchanted for some time and that at least two French clubs are desperate to get his services - sooner rather than later. One of the clubs is believed to be Toulon."

Television ratings in Australia have confirmed what many rugby fans already knew - that Super 14 and Test rugby have become the most boring forms of the game to watch in the country. Josh Rakic writes in the Herald on Sunday.

"Only 146,000 Sydneysiders tuned in to watch the Wallabies get hammered by the All Blacks last month, while Super 14 averaged less than 100,000 viewers this season after having peaked at 185,000 for the Waratahs-Crusaders final last year.

Alarm bells should be ringing, with most Super 14 clashes out-rated by the NRL's under-20s Toyota Cup competition. But there was a glimmer of hope - in NSW at least."

Ruper Guinness meets Australia scrum-half Luke Burgess, one of four options in a tense selection week for coach Robbie Deans, for rugbyheaven.

"With four halfbacks vying for a possible three berths on the Wallabies' grand slam tour, Luke Burgess has promised to ''rip in'' at simulated match sessions during next week's training camp in a bid to make sure he has a seat on the plane.

"With the proposed Probables versus Possibles clash scrapped, coach Robbie Deans will instead hold periods of opposed play under a referee's control in the camp that starts on Monday.

"Asked about the prospect, Burgess yesterday said: ''I'll rip in, don't worry about that.'' He also realises such sessions will offer nowhere to hide, saying: ''You just get the opportunity to try and put everything together and assess more accurately how you are playing. You get a better indication of how your form is.''

Hugh Farrelly, writing in The Irish Independent, praises the influence of foreign players in Irish rugby.

"When Thai boxing sensation Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym was produced for the Irish media in Dublin last week ahead of his world title bout with Bernard Dunne, the location chosen for the press conference was ... wait for it ... Jimmy Chung's Chinese emporium.

"This led to the (entirely reasonable) query of why the event was not staged in a Thai-based location and a response along the lines of: "Ah sure, 'tis all the Orient". Quite.

"As a nation, we have no problem spreading ourselves around the globe but are less comfortable when foreigners arrive over to Irish shores (there is little doubt part of the reason we have to vote on the Lisbon Treaty again this Friday is attributable to the misguided notion that a No vote would help control our borders).

"The foreign influx into Irish rugby has proved less unsettling. It began in the early 1990s with the clubs and has increased in frequency and influence as the game has developed over the intervening two decades."

Writing on rugbyheaven, Spiro Zavros argues that the Shute Shield Final fully supported Alan Jones’ claim that man of the coaches at work within Australian rugby who don’t know “what skills to teach or how to teach them”.

”On Sunday, former Wallabies coach Alan Jones launched a furious tirade against the coaching regimes at the national and Super 14 levels. There was a great deal of truth in what he had to say. "We are rotten with potential," Jones said. The problem is that "we have lost the momentum towards success and the passion for success".

“Jones identified the lack of requisite skills "to play at the highest level" and coaches who preferred strength and conditioning time to coaching skills because they "don't know what skills to teach or how to teach them".

“The Shute Shield grand final between Sydney University and Randwick vindicated the positive point that Jones made about potential (Ben McCalman and Dave Dennis from the fine Uni pack are in the training squad despite having little or no Super rugby experience), and his criticism of the lack of skills and flair in Australian rugby. We saw Randwick needing a try to win in the last 10 minutes and relying almost exclusively on smashing the ball forward to the Uni try line with one-off hit-ups.”

Chris Rattue, writing for The New Zealand Herald, believes that kicking-dominated union is beginning to suffer in comparison with the 13 man code.

"In contrast, rugby is bogged down, calling on parochialism and patriotism to save it, rather than giving a substantial return for those emotions.

"Four million fans. Yeah right. The union boys may be able to test the codes of advertising standards when making that claim, but only for the World Cup tournament.

"Rugby, the game we have loved for so long, has ground to a horrible halt, mired by scrum resets, breakdown confusion, kicking festivals, officious referees, endless penalties, errors, an inability to properly police or institute an offside line and a cross-hemisphere political rivalry that stymies potential remedies.

"A veteran photographer told me after the recent Auckland-North Harbour match that there was so much forceback kicking involved, he had trouble finding anything to photograph."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Greg Growden believes there is something seriously amiss with this Australian team.

"They seem to have no idea how to string two good performances together. It is a distressing problem that demands a quick fix - otherwise the next World Cup campaign will be as bad as the last.

"We are two years out from the tournament in New Zealand and yet the Wallabies keep saying, ''It doesn't matter, we're getting better,'' despite not having won in the Shaky Isles since 2001. It's poppycock. How can Australia believe they can beat the All Blacks in their home country when they have suffered 10 successive losses there? Then again, these Wallabies are struggling to win anywhere overseas."

Writing for Rugby Heaven, Spiro Zavos lays into the Wallabies following their latest capitulation.

"It's time to bring Berrick Barnes into first five-eighth to run the back line. Matt Giteau is a brilliant individual player (in the mould of Carlos Spencer), and having to control the game rather than playing instinctively puts a straitjacket on his brilliance. Evan Whitton, a great rugby columnist, believes Giteau is a natural outside-centre. I'd like to see him play on the wing in the manner of Wales's Shane Williams.

"James O'Connor, despite his shocker at fullback, made more breaks than any other Wallabies back, and his position should be at inside-centre. As for the forwards, the loose-forward combination of two ''fetchers'' in David Pocock and George Smith, which was so effective against the Springboks, did not work against a well-balanced All Blacks back row."

Move over Dan Carter - the Wallabies have the latest look in rugby undies according to the New Zealand Herald's latest cartoon.

You can scrub this Wallabies team as Rugby World Cup winners, according to Chris Rattue in the New Zealand Herald.

"There's more chance of waking up to find a decent stadium floating at the waterfront and an Auckland cabbie who knows how to get there than of Robbie Deans' powder puffs lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.

"Saturday night's performance in Wellington was one of the worst transtasman capitulations you will see from an Aussie sports side and their red-faced rugby mob will be having nightmares about it as the flamboyant NRL and AFL hit the high notes."

The house of cards, otherwise known as the Wallabies, collapsed yet again on New Zealand soil last night, writes Greg Growden in the Sun Herald.

"The oh-so-soft Wallabies proved they have no idea how to produce two good performances in a row, wasting the momentum they gained beating the Springboks in Brisbane a fortnight ago when trounced at Westpac Stadium to finish deserved wooden-spooners.

"For the umpteenth time this season, this was a hopeless, unforgivable Australian performance, and everyone, including coach Robbie Deans, who strangely veered away from using attacking replacements when several players had clearly lost the plot, must take the blame for another disgraceful night."

Former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack insists there is no chance of either Australia or New Zealand taking Saturday's clash in Wellington lightly. Read his thoughts in the New Zealand Herald.

"Both have played the Springboks on their own home soil in the past fortnight and if you think that tells all about what will unfold in Wellington, then I don't know why New Zealand supporters would turn up. The Wallabies played like a team on the rise while the All Blacks played with a most uncharacteristic uncertainty, and that's without even mentioning the lineout.

"It's been an unusual tournament. New Zealand have got out of jail twice and Australia have locked themselves in three times, and while the All Blacks selectors keep shuffling the deck chairs, it seems Robbie Deans and his panel may have eventually worked out who makes up their most effective 22."

Australia's Tri-Nations victory over South Africa was Robbie Deans' finest hour as a Test coach, a magnificent vindication of his patience, authority and skills, writes Chris Rattue in the New Zealand Herald.

"Deans is only warming up with the Wallaby team, but even those of us who gladly admit to being his strongest admirers also had to concede that he was in desperate need of a confidence-boosting result in Brisbane.

"Deans' young side delivered in spades, rampaging all over South Africa by the end, as much through enthusiasm as outright Test skill. The truth for South Africa is that they were taken apart by a team with too many test newcomers and unproven performers to have won in this manner."

Writing for Rugby Heaven, Spiro Zavos insists the Wallabies have some reason for hope as they prepare to take on the Springboks in Brisbane.

"De Villiers might be rugby's most diverting or annoying sideshow but the main game for the Springboks is that someone is coaching and selecting the side brilliantly. Great success is being achieved for a side that is immeasurably better than the team that won the Rugby World Cup in 2007. This season there has been a victorious Test series 2-1 against the British and Irish Lions, a clean sweep of their three Tri Nations Tests in South Africa, and, on Saturday, a decisive and well-planned victory over the Wallabies at Perth. The scoreline of 32-25 was close only in the way a person is close to a cliff as he plummets down off it."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Richard Loe defends the under-fire Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

"There's no question people are looking at Robbie's record and looking for more wins - and I don't think he has a lock on the coach's job for the 2011 World Cup. Which is as it should be, especially with reference to the current situation in New Zealand.

"But I was at a dinner this week with former Wallaby greats Phil Kearns and Tim Horan and asked them whether Deans was coming under pressure. They felt Graham Henry was under more and that Deans had already improved the Wallaby team "immensely"."

Richard Loe, writing in The New Zealand Herald, ponders the pressure on Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

"It's been interesting talking to Australian rugby people this week about the so-called pressure coming on Robbie Deans. There is no question that people are looking at Robbie's record and are looking for more wins - and I don't think he has a lock on the coach's job for the 2011 World Cup.

"Which is as it should be, especially with reference to the current situation in New Zealand. But I was at a dinner this week with former Wallaby greats Phil Kearns and Tim Horan and asked them whether Deans was coming under pressure. They felt Graham Henry was under more and that Deans had already improved the Wallaby team "immensely".

"They said he'd got their hearts and heads in the right places; had lifted skill levels; had chosen the right personnel and was doing the right thing in bringing hard nuts like Rocky Elsom back. Still, what everyone wants is results."

On Rugby Heaven, Greg Growden argues that the Wallabies should implement a performance-related pay scheme in order to properly motivate the players.

"In the real world, those who perform are rewarded. In Wallabyland mediocrity is rewarded, due to a cosy Test remuneration system in which players get the same amount whether they win or lose.

“That could be about to change due to the strong possibility that under the new SANZAR broadcasting deal the way Australian players are paid will be revised, making it more incentive-based.

“This is not before time. Regardless of the result, the Wallabies enjoy about $11,500 per Test - on top of their substantial base salary and the honour of appearing in the green and gold. This has contributed to a meandering era in which you don't exactly see Wallabies devastated after losses. Go back and watch videos of defeats in recent years, and the reactions of certain players. Some are even laughing and joking, patting each other on the back, making one ponder about their commitment.

“Sure, many do get angry and they make the right ''we're filthy'' comments but it appears to have more to do with personal performance, than team effort. Too much is focused on number one.”

Phil Wilkins, writing on Rugby Heaven, reflects on Australian rugby's road to professionalism.

"For decades, Australia had produced brilliant individuals but struggled to field outstanding combinations capable of winning trophies and Test series.

"One crucial factor was the raids of rugby league, locally and by wealthy English clubs, pecking the eyes out of rugby - the game which had whelped league back in 1907 through its neglect of injured players. The poaching of representative players occurred on a regular basis after the rejection of rugby for league by the colossus Dally Messenger, his imprints followed by immortals such as Trevor Allan, Ray Price and Wally Lewis.

"Whatever the validity of rugby's claim that it provided players with the priceless experience of camaraderie and travel, from school to club to representative ranks, there was no escaping the fact that players returned from memorable tours stone broke."

On Rugby Heaven, Greg Growden outlines a seven-point plan that the Wallabies must adhere to if they are to beat the Springboks.

1. Stop being head cases and instead use your heads:

“The past three weeks have been agony for the Wallabies, as everyone keeps reminding them how they bungled Eden Park. They were well on their way to having the All Blacks Test won, until turning into Peter Pumpkinheads after 20 minutes, fluffing opportunities, allowing the referee to upset them and offering a free pass to an undeserving opposition.

“The All Blacks did virtually nothing that night to warrant victory, except exhibit greater drive and commitment, and the Wallabies allowed them to get away with a very basic game plan, which preyed on their mistakes.

“Yet again, the Wallabies' biggest problem is all in the heads. They slacken off at the wrong moments, lack the killer instinct and are not attuned to the full 80-minute performance. Too often they allow opponents to run over the top of them. They basically have to harden up.”

On Rugby Heaven, Phil Wilkins takes a look back at the 1979 Wallabies.

""David Brockhoff was the son of a flour miller, emerging from the packaging plant at No.1 Glebe Road in the evenings and dashing off to training at Sydney University Oval covered in flour, the truest of white collar workers.

"But he was a blue collar worker by day, walking the waterside and industrial Sydney through Woolloomooloo, Surry Hills and Pyrmont as company salesman, boiling the billy with wharfies and bringing Blue Bottle lemonade to the girls "coming off duty" in Palmer Street.

"He never lost the common touch nor was afraid to make hard decisions. Tall, vigorous, an 11-second, 100-yard sprinter, he played for Scots College’s First XV for three years, represented Combined GPS, played his way into Sydney University’s First XV and toured New Zealand with Combined Australian Universities as breakaway only to be recalled for Australia’s two Tests against NZ Maori."

Greg Growden, writing on Rugby Heaven, believes that the Springboks' win over New Zealand highlighted the extent of the Wallabies' problems in this Tri-Nations.

"In all, it wasn't the most satisfying weekend for Australian rugby.

"For those Wallabies who woke up in the middle of the night to watch the Springboks keep the All Blacks at bay in the Bloemfontein Tri Nations match, it just accentuated the pain of their wasting their chance of beating New Zealand in Auckland the previous weekend.

"The Springboks' haphazard performance, with which they comfortably accounted for the All Blacks, emphasised how far New Zealand are from their best and, if an opponent remains focused, they can be swept aside.

"Australia had that chance and bombed it. South Africa were in the same position on Saturday and completed the task.

"As importantly, the All Blacks' effort, where they fought back for the second week in a row to threaten momentarily late in the Springboks Test, confirmed they have something the Wallabies don't - resilience. The All Blacks know it is vital to keep the pressure on for the duration of the Test and to be close to their peak near the end of the game. They did that both in Auckland and Bloemfontein."

ARU chief executive John O'Neill has a singular vision for the future of Super rugby in Australia writes Brett Harris in The Australian.

O'Neill has stated publicly that the expansion team will be operated under a new ownership model, moving away from the traditional state-run team to a privately operated franchise, ultimately controlled by the ARU.

It is part of O'Neill's vision to franchise Australia's Super rugby teams. During his first term as ARU chief executive between 1995 and 2003, O'Neill was opposed to private ownership because he did not want the game "hijacked", but he experienced a Road to Damascus conversion on the issue while setting up the A-League for Football Federation Australia.

There is little doubt O'Neill is looking to apply a similar model to Super rugby, which would let the ARU reduce its level of funding ($17.2 million a year) to the states, and the expansion team will give him the first chance to introduce the concept.

	Wallabies coach Robbie Deans finds reason to smile during training this week © Getty Images

"It was appropriate that Robbie Deans announced his Wallabies team to play the All Blacks on Bastille Day because the motto of the French revolution - liberty, equality, fraternity - could be the catch-cry for the new culture in Australian rugby.

"For many years Australia's play has been dominated by a controlled, patterned approach. Deans has given the Wallabies a new sense of freedom.

"On his very first day in charge of the Wallabies in June last year, Deans told the players to play what was in front of them. It has become a mantra that has pervaded every aspect of Australia's game."

It's time to see what Robbie Deans' resurgent Wallabies are really made of, writes Greg Growden on Rugby Heaven.

"At the weekend came even more confusion over whether, as the RUPA has attempted to claim, the Wallabies actually did feel fearful and intimidated by the ARU.

"The impending Supreme Court action involving Tuqiri and the ARU and NSWRU has caused rumours to continue to fester.

"It's hardly the ideal environment for a Wallabies team to stay attentive heading into a Bledisloe Cup match and it will fully test Deans's coaching capabilities to keep his squad completely attuned to the high demands of an Auckland Test.

"In Deans's favour is that he appears to be developing a squad that can take advantage of an opposition's frailties. While the All Blacks have appreciable weaknesses, in particular struggling to properly overcome the loss of their dynamic five-eighth Daniel Carter, the Wallabies do have self-belief."

John Connolly, writing on Rugby Heaven, believes that despite a poor Super 14 the Wallabies will be a handful this summer.

"In the next 10 days Robbie Deans will announce his 30-man Wallabies squad for the four June Tests and I expect it to be the strongest team in many years.

"With the amount of talent on show this season and the strong form of some of our best players, I expect the Wallabies selectors to name an experienced squad, with strength in the forwards and incredible flexibility in the backs.

"The two games against Italy won't be great challenges, but they'll be well used by Deans to rotate his team and get them into a good rhythm ahead of the Tri Nations.

France, meanwhile, are apparently committed to sending a full-strength side, but will be backing up from playing the All Blacks two weeks before. Still, this will be a very worthwhile hit-out."

The public could learn shortly exactly what the Wallabies earn after the Australian players' union yesterday expressed a willingness to change its policy and permit salary disclosure, writes Greg Growden in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Asked if revealing salaries could cause resentment between players, especially among those who discover they are on substantially lower salaries than others who play in the same position, [RUPA president Tony] Dempsey replied: "Any resentment may be directed towards the player agent for not doing a good deal."

Some Australian forwards had recently expressed concerns they were unable to get the same large deals that had been offered to high-profile attacking players. However, the ARU recently countered by saying that of the top-20 earners last year, 13 were forwards. Of the top-10 salary earners, there were five backs and five forwards."

Walabies skipper Stirling Mortlock is suffering for his versatility according to Greg Growdwn in the Sydney Morning Herald.

If the Australian Rugby Union neglect and downgrade their domestic comps then the elite teams won't be so super, according to John Connolly in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"With Australian rugby standing at a fork in the road, there's one important issue that we can't afford to overlook: the value of developing a strong feeder competition to provide players for the future.

"...The O'Neill model features the Super 14 running from March to August, with the Tri Nations at the end, in direct competition with the AFL and NRL. A definite advantage is that it would fill that black hole for rugby in June, July and August when all attention is focused on league and AFL.

"But the problem it presents is that it would take 125 players out of club rugby for the entire season. That could have a detrimental effect on the quality and support of this level of the game, with some clubs already struggling with Super rugby taking just 25 players from their competition."

Spiro Zavos, writing on rugbyheaven.com.au, believes that the Waratahs need a few lessons in common sense.

"On my way out of the Sydney Football Stadium after the Waratahs' lacklustre loss to the Bulls, I heard a couple talking about the game. "At least now," the husband said to his wife, "we won't have to worry about buying tickets for the semi-finals."

"The disappointing aspect of the Waratahs' play, which still rankled as I trudged home along with a stream of morose supporters, was the lack of nous and skill. Against a disciplined Bulls side that played a simple game of high balls, pressure and width on the turnover ball, the Waratahs made a number of careless, tactically clueless mistakes that indicated that they're not thinking clearly about their play.

"Players within their 22 were kicking downfield and giving the Bulls possession inside the Waratahs' half. The golden rule under the kicking sanction of the ELVs is that if you can kick out on the full, then do it. Yet time and time again, and this applies to some of the other teams (the disappointing Stormers are a case in point), players continue to kick the ball back to the opposition who then run it back at them with an intent to score tries."

The magnitude of the accident that led to Shawn Mackay's death in a Durban hospital on Monday cannot be forgotten, according to Greg Growden in the Sydney Morning Herald.

	Tributes will be paid to the Brumbies' Shawn Mackay who died this week © Getty Images

"The strength and resolve of this still-young rugby organisation has been tested repeatedly. Its underbelly has rarely been more exposed than when the senior players were offside with their coach, David Nucifora, in 2004, yet somehow the players banded together to win the Super title. There have been other issues that have caused emotions to run high, particularly the Cape Town taxi scandal of nine years ago, when a number of senior players were accused of trashing a local cab.

"But nothing in the Brumbies' short, dramatic past can compare with the heartache and despair that they have suffered the past week following the death of popular squad member Shawn Mackay."

Former Australia boss John Connolly weighs in on the recent Australian Rugby Union election that saw Ron Graham elected President. Read his thoughts in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"The plethora of phone calls I've received since Thursday from people concerned the ARU is being run on the personal agendas of chief executive John O'Neill just made my decision easier. O'Neill's dislike for Graham - a good friend of mine - stems back to his sacking in 2003, when Graham was a member of the board responsible for cutting O'Neill loose.

"There were extensive efforts in the week building up to the meeting to have NSWRU members reject voting the company line. And if not for the efforts of chairman Ed Zemancheff to pull his delegates into line, NSW could have been in trouble."

Spiro Zavos, writing on rugbyheaven.com.au, believes that the Waratahs could be in serious trouble if their backs don't start firing soon.

"The train carriage I was in coming back from the enthralling Waratahs-Crusaders contest at ANZ Stadium at Homebush Bay was quiet until a good old boy dressed in the Waratahs colours came in. "Cash in on the Waratahs demolition sale," he spruiked. "Waratahs caps for $5. They might win next week."

"No one took him up on his offer. On my way through Central Station, I saw him standing at the end of the platform rather forlornly and still apparently unsuccessfully trying to flog off his stock of caps.

"With the Waratahs losing back-to-back matches against the Brumbies and then the Crusaders, there is a sense among even their staunchest supporters that the dreaded Wara-wobblies (a strong start followed by an even stronger decline) might have set in rather earlier than usual this year. Compounding this pessimism is an almost universal acknowledgment that the Waratahs have not been playing the skilful and smart rugby you would expect from a team with the team of Wallabies and potential stars such as Kurtley Beale and Rob Horne."

Writing in The New Zealand Herald, Inga Tuigamala bemoans the lack of action from the NZRU in the recent SANZAR disputes.

"The Sanzar crisis is a major testing ground for the credentials of our top rugby administrators. Rugby is at a serious crossroads and by my reckoning, is simply in survival mode at the moment. It needs people with a vision and the ability to revamp the way it is run or else I fear the game many of us have treasured is in major trouble.

"The current Sanzar impasse is indicative of the problems. South Africa is sticking to its guns, wanting an even earlier start to the Super 14 seasons. Australia and New Zealand want a later start, and there are other issues of dispute. It's high time that the NZRU was much more assertive on the international stage."

Greg Growden reflects on the recent success of Australia's women's side at the Rugby World Cup Sevens - read his thoughts in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Women's rugby in Australia has long been the forgotten sister of the local game, but that all changed on Saturday when our sevens team won the inaugural World Cup tournament in Dubai. Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill, who attended the tournament, was one of many to yesterday praise the sevens team, which defeated New Zealand 15-10 in a final that went to sudden-death extra time after the game was tied 10-10 at full-time.

"...This victory will give Australian women's rugby, which has struggled for funding, support and exposure, an enormous boost. O'Neill, who is travelling back with the team which will arrive in Sydney this morning, said last night that the team had, "ensured it will forever hold a unique place in the game"."

Spiro Zavos is unsure that a "State of Origin" match between Queensland and New South Wales is appropriate in the era of Super Rugby, on rugbyheaven.com.au.

"John Connolly, the doughty and successful coach of Queensland in their glory days of the "it's great to be an Australian, and even better to be a Queenslander" attitude, has proposed a rugby union state of origin match. The idea has some merit but it really reflects a back-to-the-future obsession when the main game for Queensland was to defeat NSW.

"Super rugby, with the shifting of players from one franchise to another, has taken the edge out of the fanatical (for Queenslanders, at least) rivalry.

"Scott Fava, who is in the Waratahs squad, has played for all four Australian Super 14 franchises, for instance. The rise of the Brumbies, too, has meant that when Queensland beat NSW (for the rivalry is more passionate among Queenslanders than it is south of the border) the team and its supporters cannot indulge in unmitigated bragging rights as the best state side in Australia.

"The thought struck me on Sunday, while I watched the Reds run the ball incessantly at the bulky Cheetahs, that the bright young coach Phil Mooney and the QRU's high-performance manager Ben Whitaker are re-inventing Queensland rugby. The days of the closed-fist forward packs and five-eighths who kicked incessantly are gone. The enforcers are being morphed into the entertainers."

With the Super 14 season underway Spiro Zavos calls for the referee's merit panel to be rethought on rugbyheaven.com.au.

"In an email exchange with the journalist D.D. McNicoll, the retiring High Court judge Michael Kirby revealed that when he was a student at Fort Street High School he'd been a rugby union referee: "I refereed many games and could not sympathise with the advantage rule."

"This comment goes to the real issue of why SANZAR's noble experiment for this year's Super 14 tournament of an inaugural nine-referee panel based on merit rather than nationality won't work. The merit panel includes four South Africans, three Australians and two New Zealanders.

"The South African referees and the Australian Stuart Dickinson are, in my opinion, way ahead of the other merit referees in experience and quality. This raises the issue of what standard applies to the merit panel concept."

Writing in The New Zealand Herald, Chris Rattue vents about the bizarre events to transpire between Western Force coach John Mitchell and his employers.

"John Mitchell will be walking on egg shells at the Western Force, but the crunching sound you might hear will be coming from the grinding of Mitchell's teeth.

"Having decided that the former All Black coach was acting like a bad-mannered bull in a china shop, the Force decided to keep him on board in Perth but with the proviso that he mend his moody ways and stop knocking the tea cups over.

"Tricky business that, and I'll wager the crockery won't still be all in one piece by the end of the season. Mitchell has yet to be extensively quoted on this outcome, although he hardly sounds delighted.

"Coaches are like the rest of us. They are what they are, warts and all. To so publicly chip away at the bits of Mitchell that the Force don't like must seem like a stab through the heart to the coach. What other sport would dare manufacture such a bizarre and heavily regulated bob-each-way solution?"

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey has a "whatever will be will be" approach to coaching and life, which is unusual in the goal-oriented world of professional sport according to Brett Harris writing in The Australian.

"It is Hickey's proven track record as a winner that will be the main attribute he brings to the Waratahs, who are yet to win a Super rugby title. "There are lots of ways to win a footy match," Hickey said. "That's probably what I've learnt. There's lots of ways to win. What you have to do is look at the cattle you've got and work out the best way to use those players.

"When you look at the Waratahs squad, there is no shortage of talent. It's a matter of constructing a game that allows those players to use the talents that they have."

Rupert Guinness of the Sydney Morning Herald talks to the Waratahs' rugby league convert Timana Tahu on the eve of his second season in union.

"For Timana Tahu, the tactics and game patterns of rugby union were like a new language when he switched codes, but with one season behind him he has become an excellent student of the game.

"In a recent knowledge test of secret Waratahs' plays by the 14 NSW backs, the former Parramatta Eels rugby league star was one of only four to score correct answers for 12 of the 13 questions posed by NSW assistant coach Scott Wisemantel. And while he went into the exam confident his grasp of rugby science was good, his result - equal first - helped prove that while he has missed many games due to injury, his time out has far from stalled his progress as some might have suspected."

Saracens boss Eddie Jones takes a look at the financial situation down-under, and hopes for the support of the Sarries' faithful in the Independent.

"In Australia, the New South Wales Waratahs are facing a shortfall of A$500,000 [£227,640] in sponsorship – an unwelcome development that has already cost people their jobs. In Queensland, money has been tight for years, so this downturn will hit the Reds really badly. In Perth, the big investment from a mining company that allowed Western Force to sign up the likes of Matt Giteau, Nathan Sharpe and Drew Mitchell is fast drying up, due to a drop-off in trade with China. It's tough out there, wherever you look.

"It will be interesting to see how the downturn affects crowds. Premiership attendances have been holding up well and I confidently expect Saracens' hard-core support, which I'd estimate at between 6,000 and 8,000, to follow us through thick and thin. Their passion never fails to amaze me: the other night, while I was doing a radio show, someone sent through a four-page email on team selection, going through the team position by position and telling me the changes I should make! It's people in the next category – those who enjoy their rugby but pick and choose their matches quite carefully – who will determine whether we move forward or stand still."

Writing in the Observer, Jon Henderson sang the praises of the scrappy Wallabies after their much maligned forward pack delivered a collective black-eye to England.

""Once again Australia and England showed they are two nations deeply divided by a shared passion for getting stuck in to each other on the rugby field. Their collisions - this one scrappy but still fierce - are becoming an autumnal ritual of fists and mellow brutalness, but, given the result, we should on this occasion salute resilience in the face of shuddering intimidation."

Mick Cleary took aim at the lack of discipline from England in The Sunday Telegraph after Martin Johnson's young-guns went missing for much of Saturday's Test.

"Like a preacher from the pulpit, Martin Johnson will urge his players to keep the faith, to believe in the system and in their ability to make it happen. Too many players ditched the game plan in the heat of battle; too many fell by the wayside. Johnson wants believers, not flaky adherents.

"Johnson's frustrated tone made clear that he felt that if his players had obeyed instructions, they would have given themselves a great chance of landing a notable victory. Johnson dismissed the notion, though, that England had already run into their first spot of adversity, or that his side lacked leadership. He was certainly in no mood to lump the blame on captain, Steve Borthwick."

Ian Stafford speculated in The Mail on Sunday about the desire of Martin Johnson to be on the field again as the Wallabies delivered a reality check to his side.

"Reality has arrived in English rugby, served up in huge dollops by an Australian team who exposed Martin Johnson's side for what they are - a talented, young outfit with bags of potential, but with a pack failing to deliver yet again, and a new manager who must have been sorely tempted to rip off his suit, put on his boots and run out into the fray."

Paul Ackford previews England's clash with Australia in the Daily Telegraph and singles out the scrum as once again being a key point of contact.

"England screwed them at Twickenham in 2005 when Baxter was yellow-carded for deliberately collapsing the scrum, and the England forwards pulverised the Australian pack again in the World Cup quarter-final in Marseille when Andrew Sheridan delivered a performance of staggering cruelty.

"In my experience, no other side of Australia's stature and quality has existed at the sharp end of international rugby for so long with such a fundamental flaw to their game, begging the questions: how and why have they got away with it for so long? "

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Greg Growden reflects on Australia's late win over Italy in Padova, a game apparently decided by the narrowest of margins.

"The Italian protests [following Quade Cooper's late score] were just part of a confusing afternoon, which saw the match played on a field clearly smaller than the usual dimensions. The Wallabies team management had complained before the game that the length of the field was about five metres too short, the in-goal was minimal, and the width of the field had been tightened. But there was nothing anyone could do about that because the field was surrounded by an athletic track."

Writing for Rugby Heaven, Greg Growden pays tribute to one of the stars of the Australian wheelchair rugby stars who claimed silver at the Beijing Paralympics.

"Ryley Batt is nowhere near as well known as Lote Tuqiri or Stirling Mortlock, but at another level of the rugby code he is the ultimate world beater.

"For anyone who watched the ABC's excellent television coverage of the Paralympic Games in Beijing, Batt was the Australian standout. It took only a few minutes of watching any Australian wheelchair rugby match to realise that the youngster in green and gold was something extraordinary.

"Batt was the antagonist. The enforcer. The master of fearlessly smashing into opponents. The speedster. The try sneak. The man with guile. The one player each opponent wanted to nullify, but each time failed. And he came so close to winning Australia a gold medal, succumbing only in the final seconds of the final to the US."