Andrew Slack in
The Courier Mail has concluded that the World Cup is "slowly but surely hijacking rugby".
The Wallaby coach John Connolly looks keen to limit the involvement of his players. He hopes that "most Australian Rugby Union officials are courageous enough an have the nous to understand rugby is bigger than the World Cup". A fair amount of sour-grapes if they ask me! They were so glad to have it three years ago - up until the point they lost it to England!
He does have a point when it comes to the possibility that New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France and England will send out their second XV's up until the qualifying rounds. But seeing at the performance of England lately, I doubt very much they can afford to do this to any great degree!
Personally, reading Andrew Slack's article he needs to relax, take a chill pill and watch the final from the last World Cup! If Australia say they're the best in the world they have to prove it. Not just say that the messure of a great nation is playing in a parochial tournament, otherwise they'll end up like the American's "World Series" of baseball.
