KEY POINTS:
The weekend's rugby internationals in Wellington and Brisbane gave us the first real look at how the Tri-Nations sides are shaping and did much to ramp up excitement ahead of the most anticipated battles this season - Robbie Deans versus Graham Henry.
Was it Deans' work in his
short term in charge that drew the best from Matt Giteau?
The Wallabies five-eighth played his best game as Australia demolished an under-strength but still strong and physical French side. He played as if he was a clear second-best on the international stage behind the incomparable Dan Carter.
Giteau engineered the Wallabies' first try with a league-style cross-field kick to the right wing, handled in each of their other three tries, and goaled eight kicks from eight.
How much more can he close the gap with Carter, who remains New Zealand's trump card?
If Carter were to sustain an injury that put him out alongside captain Richie McCaw, how would the All Blacks' chances look then?
The Wallabies were clearly a new unit being run in during their first two games under Deans in the one-off against Ireland and the first test against France.
Now, in the space of a few weeks since the end of the Super 14, they are starting to look like they're ready to fire on all cylinders.
They kept getting better and better as the game against France progressed on Saturday.
If there is one area where the Wallabies may have an advantage over the All Blacks it is in midfield. Stirling Mortlock continues to provide the most solid defence and a no-mistakes attacking game despite the loss of edge in acceleration and speed that comes with age.
Giteau's long flat passes to Ryan Cross produced two tries, and the league convert is also a damaging defender and powerful runner with the ball.
Ma'a Nonu does not look anywhere near as smart on attack or defence, he is prone to cutting back towards the forwards traffic rather than looking to set away the speedy All Blacks wings and also making poor decisions in positional play when they don't have the ball.
But it was hard to find much wrong with the AB's performance.
They completely dominated the Springboks up front and outplayed them in the backs, despite the deliberate attempts to either take Carter out of the game or put him off it with repeated late and high shots as he delivered the down-field punts that killed them.
It's fortunate that the match officials' decision to deny Jerome Kaino a try when he touched down a Carter chip to the Springboks' in-goal did not decide the outcome.
Otherwise the crescendo of wailing and gnashing would have rivalled that which following the outcome in Cardiff.
It's hard to see how they could get a call so wrong, Kaino clearly a metre or more behind the kicker.
Why is it that the video referee cannot advise the whistler on the correct call? Otherwise, why is the technology there at all?
Rugby league has led the way in settling rules for video review of events leading up to and the act of scoring.
But its procedures still require adjustment to allow the video referee to make a call on forward passes, which at present he may see but cannot comment on.
What kind of leadership does it show when you're in a sticky situation with various options and your leader states that "if we wait long enough we might not have to make a decision"? None, I'd say. I'd be looking for a new leader.
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Justin Vaughan's lack of a stand on the Zimbabwe tour is a gutless cop-out. It is not good enough for New Zealand Cricket to say they are tied to ICC requirements and have to go to the strife-torn country unless directed not to by the Government.
Vaughan should have said: "We're not going, full stop. We're not supporting a corrupt and evil regime and we're not putting our players at risk in that country in a no-account contest that does nothing to advance the aims and aspirations of Zimbabwean cricketers nor the wider community."
And then he could have asked the Government to pay the US$2 million ($2.6 million) fine if the ICC imposed one and, if he did, the Government should pay it.
There is no excuse whichsoever for any sporting contact with Zimbabwe while Robert Mugabe retains murderous control.
