Counterattack

Former All Black number eight Zinzan Brooke thinks the men in black can do it - just.

In his BBC website column, he writes: "Even though I'm trying not to be too patriotic, I just feel South Africa are still off the level they need to be to beat the All Blacks."

The absence through injury of flanker Joe van Niekerk would hurt the Springboks immensely, he said.

Then, displaying his true colours: "I think the Springboks have timed it perfectly to get into this kind of form, but I think New Zealand will win, in a very tight game."

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Namibia coach David Waterston just can't stop.

In Dunedin for his mother's funeral, he gave the International Rugby Board a piece of his mind.

"They have to do more to help the under-developed rugby countries. But they'll probably just put their blinkers on and ignore the problem."

Of that enormous loss to Australia, he said, "It could have been 200-0, to be brutally honest. We were running on empty."

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Australians do not hate the Poms, says Professor Carl Bridge, of the Australian Studies Centre at King's College London.

In fact, the Aussie torrent of abuse is nothing more than a circuitous compliment of the fraternal sort.

"It's because the English are seen as part of the family that they can be insulted ... It shows the respect and rivalry that exists," he told the BBC.

He said England coach Clive Woodward should be glad.

"For the first time in some years, Australians are really scared and worried. They think this England team can win the World Cup."

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At last the All Blacks' anthem singers have the right star system on their side.

A minor kerfuffle ensued when the suits tailored for tournament choir members Nick Afoa and Olivia Fraser were adorned with the seven-pointed stars of the Australian flag.

Cup director of ceremonies Andrew Walsh righted the "stuff-up" and Afoa and Fraser wore suits with five-pointed stars to sing God Defend New Zealand on Sunday.

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Marty Hulme, the Scotland fitness coach, yesterday denied any problem with Scotland players' overindulging in alcohol.

Persistent murmurings have it that a few players left out of the World Cup line-ups drown their sorrows. But Humes said he saw no reason for a curfew.

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