Ruck and Maul

THE Wallabies front row has been ridiculed for years. But it received support from an unexpected source yesterday - All Blacks prop Greg Somerville, who will confront it tomorrow night at Eden Park. When asked if he was aware of comments made by his direct opposite, Benn Robinson, that the All Blacks appeared staggered by the amount of clean ball the Wallabies were able to get from the scrum, Somerville gave the Wallabies a pat on the back. "It wasn't a total surprise to me," Somerville said. "I've watched what they did against South Africa and they scrummed really well there. The systems they are now doing are a lot better than what [they had in the] last year or two, and that makes the whole pack go better. The Aussies have always been good at getting good, quick ball in the scrum, no matter what's happening. You have always been able to put a bit of pressure there, but they have always been able to launch off their scrum. Still, we're backing ourselves to go better against them." Have the Wallabies been unfairly maligned? "Unfortunately, if you have a couple of bad performances, you get tagged, and the whole spotlight goes on to you," he said. "But when I've played against them, it has always been a genuine contest. Matt Dunning and the likes have been tagged bad scrummagers, but I've never had a day when I've totally dominated them. A lot of it doesn't come down to what the front-rowers are doing, but what's happening behind them. Once you get everyone in the pack knowing what's happening, it all becomes a lot easier. And it appears the Wallabies' front-rowers are getting a lot more support from those behind them."

Truth hurts for IRB

New Zealand Rugby Union chief Steve Tew has described a report critical of the International Rugby Board's decision to award New Zealand the 2011 World Cup as "superficial". However, there is a lot of good sense and home truths in the Putting Rugby First report, co-authored by lawyer Quentin Smith, chairman of English club Sale. It says the IRB is undemocratic and unrepresentative of the sport, leaving rugby stuck in a "ghetto" and preventing it from becoming a truly global sport. It cited the decision to award New Zealand the 2011 World Cup over Japan as an example of how rugby is failing to take advantage of Asian markets. Hear! hear! It was an appalling decision, and a pathetic example of the old mate's act at work. Despite Tew's weak fob-off, the IRB does need one big clean-out. The first to go should be several dinosaurs more interested in looking after each other than the good of the game.

Go lightly? No way

All Blacks coach Graham Henry continues to bob and weave, but he has lost the support of many New Zealanders. A common view was expressed by legendary New Zealand scribe Doug "It's a disgrace" Golightly in his weekend column. He talked about how Wallabies coach Robbie Deans had been a revelation in Australia, especially in terms of public relations. "Instead we've got a grumpy, surly, smug, sneering, over-the-hill headmaster in charge," Golightly wrote. And then in his midweek "Get Rucked" column, he gave Henry and his coaching staff another serve. He is not alone.

The one that got away

We are a big fan of All Blacks second-rower Ali Williams. His explanation to the New Zealand media for several dubious refereeing decisions in the Sydney Test was a gem. It went like this: "What do you say? We can only control the controllable. We tried to control them, but he [referee Craig Joubert] got away on us a few times like one of those wild fish. You've got a long line on a fishing rod but this one just snapped. You're not going to put words into my mouth, but it was a tough one to swallow."

Stirling drunk on life

Injured Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock was an animated spectator at the Sydney Test. Normally a very nervous onlooker, Mortlock said he was relaxed as the game approached. Before sitting on the sideline, he attended several functions, and admitted he was in a good mood. R&M asked: "Were you half cut?" "No, I wasn't. But I felt like it."

Rumours of the week

 Tah Man predicts he will finish in the top 10 in the City to Surf, following secret high-altitude training in the Andes.

 Who is the high-ranking Waratahs official who was a dancing flower at the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony?