Andrew Slack: Smorgasbord follows diet of scraps

New Zealand are used to it, but we rugby followers in Australia are experiencing something totally foreign - overwhelming interest in our code.

It's true that Bledisloe Cup matches have grabbed the attention of our sporting fringe-dwellers over the years, but that aside, it's really only been true rugby devotees who have kept the fires burning.

With Australian Rules and league the historical pacesetters, rugby has endured a hard slog.

Consistent performances by Wallaby teams and two successful World Cup campaigns have clearly done a lot for the game, but the hard truth remains that Rules and league still dominate the week-to-week chit-chat that goes on through the winter months.

For the next six weeks, however, if you aren't into rugby, you aren't worth talking to. It's front page, middle page, comic section and obits space.

The Sunday newspaper here in Brisbane had 14 separate reports on rugby ho-hum for you dyed-in-the-wool All Black tragics, but believe me, we would sometimes be lucky to see that many articles on rugby in half a season. After a diet of scraps, it's smorgasbord time.

There's no better illustration of the interest in this tournament than what's occurring in Launceston, Tasmania.

Launcestions (if that's what you call them) have two sporting interests - their favourite son, cricketer Ricky Ponting, and AFL footy. Outside of that, well, there is no outside of that. Until now. Yep, Romania and Namibia are coming to town.

I don't have to tell you, but this is unlikely to be a preview of the November 22 final. Nevertheless, Launceston is abuzz with rugby talk and the match is a sell-out.

Tasmania is hardly a hotbed of Romanian and Namibian immigrants and the city's residents wouldn't know a tighthead from a cut pass. So Mayor Janie Dickenson has decreed that residents with even house numbers must support Romania while the odd numbers are Namibian for the day (it's unclear what allegiances are expected if you live in unit 7/12 Smith St).

It's an example of the fun and good-natured approach that all of Australia is adopting with this wonderful event on our shores, and there can surely be no downside for rugby in this country.

Having said that, the win-at-all-cost rugby types might be inconsolable should the pre-cup form of the top teams flow over into the business end of the tournament.

If that happens, there will be no pictures of George Gregan holding up the Webb Ellis Cup, because even those within the Wallaby outfit admit that our form, as revealed so far this week, has not been good enough.

Coach Eddie Jones and his team are obviously confident things can be turned around, but they are going to need a few things to go right.

As I see it, a successful defence could rest on the return of centre Stirling Mortlock. He first has to prove his fitness and then he has to play at his best.

Sure, we need to compete up front and all that. But in today's game, you have to have somebody in the midfield who can do something special with the ball once it's won.

Mortlock is our man. The Sailors, Rogers, Lathams and so on will have great tournaments if Mortlock does. If he doesn't, the Wallabies might be in for a tough month.

Nick Farr-Jones once said that the team who win a World Cup would have five automatic selections in any World XV.

Form can come and go over the next six weeks, but if you were picking a World XV today, how many Aussies would be certainties? The fact is, there wouldn't be a single one. There might be a few contenders, but I don't see a single certainty.

Everyone has an opinion - former players, media commentators, long-time followers, as well as the local baker and mechanic from Launceston. Never before has rugby been on every Australian's lips. It truly is incredibly exciting.

* Andrew Slack is a former Wallaby skipper.