Let the games begin...please
Last week, thoughts turned to sex. Or what is to be an All Black lack of it.
Under the natty headline 'No-sex All Blacks can only lie back and think of England' ran a story about how the New Zealand team management has decreed "players must sleep alone on the night before match". But wives and partners of the England team have all-access passes.
There followed the inevitable quote from a psychologist saying there is no hard-and-fast (sic) rule when it comes to sex and sport.
According to Professor Gary Hermansson, who works with New Zealand's Olympic team, the need for sex "rests on individual needs".
"Good sex can produce benefits to both parties in terms of relaxation, boosted self-esteem and reaffirmation," he says.
"Logically, you can say sex is physiologically relaxing and, done properly, very engaging, so that it will occupy your mind on something other than the game."
Done properly? Maybe such a comment hints to sex therapists becoming a regular part of a rugby team's support entourage from here on in.
Watch this space or England's on-the-field performances.
Kerre Woodham, she who shoots from the lip for the Sunday News, claimed: "England's Clive Woodward has turned coaching wisdom on its head by permitting wives and girlfriends of the English players to have all-access passes, presumably to make life as normal as possible for his players.
"Although, judging by the past records of some former English rugby captains, sex with the wife might be a novel experience.
"Only time will tell whether Carnal Clive or Monk-like Mitch know best. But my money's on the ABs."
One Miles Davis, a writer for the Sunday News, was less than thrilled about the prospect of six weeks of World Cup fever.
His column, entitled 'Too much foreplay, not enough climax' offers the opinion that the tournament is too long.
"Only a week to go till the Rugby World Cup starts," he writes, adding: "Does anyone really care about the early phases? Most of the tournament is a waste of time and money and does nothing to give rugby credibility as a global sport.
"It's fine to give lesser nations their day in the sun. But rugby's a professional game, not some feel-good charitable organisation.
"Those appearing at the World Cup should at least be competitive "Apart from the obvious lack of depth, the World Cup is far too long. Why does it take six weeks. The soccer World Cup comprises 32 teams as opposed to 20 and is finished in a month."
Davis takes a final swipe, saying: "For the foreseeable future we are condemned to five weeks of average foreplay to reach a one-week climax."
Australians, already fretting about its team's shaky build-up, have been quick to label the All Blacks as "mentally vulnerable" and unlikely to wrest the Webb Ellis trophy from the Wallabies' grasp.
One Australian newspaper published a story suggesting a member of the All Black squad was about to be outed as a homosexual.
But the rumour has not caused so much as a ripple back across the Tasman Sea as the All Blacks make their final preparations in what has been the wettest and windiest spring in 35 years.
The stress fracture in second row Ali Williams's foot is the major concern.
Ireland's number three position in the IRB's world rankings has puzzled many New Zealand rugby scribes who are anticipating difficulties ahead for the men in green.
Having to play against such formidable opponents as World Cup holders Australia and a fast-improving Argentina will not make Ireland's quest to advance past the pool stages an easy one.
However, the plaudits for Brian O'Driscoll are unstinting.
In the Sunday Star-Times '10 Reasons to watch the Rugby World Cup' column it is said of O'Driscoll: "Think Christian Cullen circa 1997.
"The Irish centre circa 2000 to present day has taken over the mantle of the world's most exciting player.
"Naturally, (Rupeni) Caucaunibuca could change all that but it's best to wait until he scores a hat-trick against France.
"O'Driscoll did that in Paris three years ago but he still remains startling. He scored a brilliant try for the Lions against Australia circa a couple of years ago.
"Ireland produced one great centre in Mike Gibson, circa the 1970s, but O'Driscoll has potential to be the greatest of them all. He's bound to run circas around someone."
O'Driscoll, along with Fiji's Caucaunibuca, Martin Johnson, Corne Krige and Wendell Sailor is rated one of five players who can make a difference and have the potential to be the star of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Let the games begin. Please.
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