COMMENT
Apart from a misguided 12-month foray into rugby coaching, I've spent the past 15 years at the same place of employment.
The security guard at the boom gate has been here since I started and in that decade and a half, nothing more than the time of day has passed between
us.
On Thursday, he screamed as I drove out, "Who's going to win on Saturday?"
After recovering from the shock of realising just what impact this World Cup has had on Australians, I replied: "Wouldn't have a clue."
The cone of silence is back in place and may now remain there permanently.
For all last week's printed matter given over to in-depth analyses of why New Zealand would meet France in the final, you might question the point of reading newspapers or listening to expert commentators at all.
So what makes it any different leading into tonight's decider between the old enemies? Well, nothing really.
Just hours to go and, barring food poisoning, Jonny Wilkinson being kidnapped or George Gregan tearing a hamstring in the warm-up, the truth is the match has all the hallmarks of a 50-50 show.
Two teams who have been winning ugly, but were able to step up a notch when it mattered, suggests both have the commodity most precious at this stage of the tournament - mental wherewithal.
What else do they need? A handy goalkicker is a must and the evidence before us is that Elton Flatley and Wilkinson would kick their mother for three points.
The ability to dominate possession. Nobody expected the Wallabies to have as much ball against New Zealand as they did. It's a game person who suggests they can't get their share tonight.
Grab the fine toothcomb from the cupboard and examine the teams' abilities to counter-attack. Weigh up the relative strengths of the two back-rows, the halves pairings and the midfield combination. What of the front row?
The truth is that for every perceived minor advantage of one team in a certain area, the other will cancel it out somewhere else.
England were a better outfit in the semifinals because of the presence of flanker Richard Hill, fullback Josh Lewsey and midfielder Mike Catt.
The Wallabies have benefited at the business end of the tournament thanks to Justin Harrison, Lote Tuqiri and Stirling Mortlock.
At this stage, the most important thing for the coaches is to get their selections right, and Clive Woodward and Eddie Jones appear to have done that.
Say what you wish about Woodward, he is nobody's dummy.
Catt was a saviour against Wales and a rock against France and, as such, most coaches would accept his performances as proof the guy deserved a starting gig in the final.
But most coaches aren't Woodward, and only two have teams competing tonight on the biggest stage rugby has to offer.
Out goes Catt and in comes Mortlock's minder, Mike Tindall. A savvy selection, in my view.
Get the form guide from the pool matches, quarter-finals and semifinals.
Browse through it for interest's sake and then toss it in the bin.
The age-old saying that you make your own luck is impossible to dismiss out of hand. However, if it's interpreted as implying that luck doesn't play a part in such games, then it's codswallop.
The odd bounce of the ball or a fortunate call from the referee (of which the Wallabies got a few last Saturday night) can add up to unstoppable momentum at crucial times.
Ask any coach what he wants most and he'll surely answer momentum.
Who is going to get it tonight and how long will they hold on to it?
I'm not going to pretend I know, but when you're on the fence and it's a head-versus-heart contest, the heart always wins.
* Andrew Slack is a former Wallaby skipper.
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COMMENT
Apart from a misguided 12-month foray into rugby coaching, I've spent the past 15 years at the same place of employment.
The security guard at the boom gate has been here since I started and in that decade and a half, nothing more than the time of day has passed between
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