Just got back from Oz - had an absolutely fantastic time.

Cold reason would have me backing ard mhacha's prediction of NZ v Australia and France v England, for the semi-finals. Same reasoning would then indicate an England v NZ final.

Cold reason apart I would not rule out Ireland against the French - or Scotland against Australia. The French have yet to come up against any hard opposition in this tournament (their match against Scotland was against a Scottish team on the night that would have had trouble coping against a Roedean mixed-infants XV), that they will come up against when they meet Ireland. Scotland always play one suberb game in any competition they take part in - they love being cast in the role of underdog. Their coach, is no fool, and has voiced no concerns, and the Aussies are not the side that won the last World Cup. I believe that Scotland could upset them - but as I said above that is heart and not head.

The 16 man thing was firmly the fault of the FMO; it occurred with just over 81 minutes on the clock; with an England player receiving treatment off the pitch; England had that 16th man on the field for all of 34 seconds. Some of the remarks I heard ranged from demands for disqualification of England from the tournament, through loss of their bonus points, to awarding Samoa a bonus point for a try they might have scored from a penalty awarded during that period of play. Hell they could have awarded Samoa a penalty try and it still would not have affected the result one iota. Fact was the FMO was in radio contact with the referee and should have called the ref's attention to it the second Lugar put a foot onto the pitch - he didn't.

Hrothgar, sorry I missed you - didn't get your PM until I arrived back home yesterday. Brisbane was fantastic as were the few days spent up at Noosa Heads - all in all a wonderful holiday, lots of very fond memories.