PARIS, 7 October - The Springboks coaching staff get physical while England's secret winning formula is revealed on a sleepless night in Paris.
Let's get physical
The players are not the only ones proving their fitness at this world cup. South Africa coaches Jake White, Allister Coetzee and Eddie Jones were spotted jogging along Marseille's sunny beachside corniche on Saturday morning.
A day earlier, Australia's defence coach John Muggleton was seen running the 10km from Stade Luminy in the Marseille foothills back to the team hotel.
Sweet success
The media were left in no doubt about the secret to England's success against Australia on Saturday.
Filing through the mixed zone at Stade Velodrome after the match, England players including Simon Shaw, Joe Worsley and Toby Flood fielded questions with packets of Jaffa cakes tucked under their arm.
They're not the only English sporting team to endorse the healing powers of the sweet treats. Manchester United and the Ashes-winning cricket team of 2005 also devoured the cakes.
Sleepless in Paris
France's stunning two-point win over New Zealand on Saturday in Cardiff coincided with the annual all-night cultural festival, Nuit Blanche (literally translated to 'white night' or 'all-nighter' in French), lasting from sundown until sunrise on the first Saturday and Sunday in October.
During Nuit Blanche, museums, art galleries and other cultural institutions are open for free.
Bernard Laporte's men gave Parisians one more reason to burn the midnight oil as the city hosted art exhibitions, music, film and dance performances and themed social gatherings.
Heaven or hell?
Reflecting the mood of a nation, rugby website rugbyheaven.co.nz changed its banner to rugby hell within minutes of New Zealand's 18-20 defeat by France.
Wallabies walkabout
The Wallabies went their separate ways on Sunday after their 12-10 loss to England in the quarter-finals, but for a small group of players, the party is just beginning.
Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Dunning, Stephen Hoiles and Morgan Turinui along with a few others have joined a Wallabies supporters tour.
"It's a last-minute thing," Barnes said. "We obviously didn't know what was happening and I wasn't expecting to go home."
Barnes plans to stay on the tour until the semi-finals in Paris.
Numbers of the day
31 and 358 - As in years and days - the average age of England's starting XV in their 12-10 quarter-final win over Australia, the oldest in RWC history. Six of the 10 oldest starting XVs have been from England.
Quotes of the day
"No, I don't think we will be favourites, because England beat Australia and they were playing really well. We always keep our feet on the ground and we will prepare for the next match with our feet on the ground."
- France's Sébastien Chabal keeping a lid on it after beating the All Blacks 20-18.
"We may have beaten the best team in the world today but next week is going to be another game, another tough game."
- France coach Bernard Laporte after the boilover.
RNS md/mr/pr
