PARIS, 30 September - Graham Henry toys with the media, Drew Mitchell takes a history class and Fiji make themselves at home.
Henry plays mind games
New Zealand coach Graham Henry was up to his old tricks again at a post-match press conference following his side's big win over Romania on Saturday.
In an effort to express his dissatisfaction with the intensity of the lighting, Henry whacked on his black sunnies and played it up to the media.
A few minutes later a French journalist, stumbling over his English, eventually asked Henry, "Are you stronger in the mind?" - referring to the present New Zealand team compared to four years ago.
Henry responded: "I always struggle in that department, but I'm working on it."
All Blacks leave no stone unturned...and no mess
Symbolic of their attention to detail at this tournament, the All Blacks have been winning new friends at match venues around France by mucking out their own dressing shed before hopping on the team bus back to their hotel. Classy.
Mitchell gets history lesson
Guess you can't call Australia wing Drew Mitchell a history buff, or even a rugby history buff.
Mitchell claimed two of Australia's six tries in Saturday's 36-7 win over Canada and now has a tournament-leading seven tries. His seventh try set a new single RWC record for Australia, overhauling David Campese's record of six tries, which he set in RWC 1991.
When told of the record, Mitchell looked puzzled by the news.
"Not me, mate," he said.
Fiji kava-up
The Fijians broke out their traditional root drink kava after the 38-34 quarter-final qualifying win over Wales in Nantes.
When asked how the roots, which form the basis of the non-alcoholic but mouth-numbing drink, were brought into the country, captain Mosese Rauluni said: "It comes in a powder form so the boys all have a kilo each and it's legal."
Welsh beds still warm
It's hotel shuffle time in Brittany. After Fiji usurped Wales on the field in Nantes on Saturday, they followed up by claiming their luxurious ocean-side resort in Pornichet. With the Welsh heading back to Wales and checking out of the hotel a day earlier than expected, Fiji replaced them as guests at Ker Juliette.
Fiji, about to face South Africa in the quarter-finals, will also try out the former Welsh training ground in St Nazaire on Monday.
Lote's on the line
Fijian captain Mosese Rauluni received a phone call of congratulations from Fiji-born Australian wing Lote Tuqiri after Fiji's 38-34 victory over Wales in Nantes.
"He phoned and said the Wallabies had been watching the game on the team bus returning from their match with Romania and when we scored the last try they all thumped the air with excitement," Rauluni said.
Destination unknown - part two
For regular readers...our pilot from yesterday's story 'Destination unknown' dined on pizza instead of haggis at lunch today, after Scotland defeated Italy 18-16 on Saturday night.
Number of the day
7 - the number of tries scored by Australia's Drew Mitchell at the RWC, eclipsing former Wallaby wing David Campese's Australian single tournament record of six at RWC 1991.
Quotes of the day
"In the beginning we struggled but finally the end has come for me, in every way and it's been a wonderful end to my career and it was a wonderful opportunity for my career. I am very content."
- Italy captain and scrum half Alessandro Troncon on the final Pool C match against Scotland being his swan song.
"We need more players in Europe but it is important they just don't come here and we don't keep an eye on them. We need to know if they are training properly, whether they are playing critical minutes or not playing. There isn't much point of coming to Europe to sit on the bench."
- Canada head coach Ric Suggitt on whether Canada need more players in Europe to bring up the level of the team.
RNS md/pr
