Suddenly everyone’s beatable. The World Cup is wide open.
Saturday night’s sensational performance from Wales in Sydney has given all eight sides left in the competition new hope. Sure, the All Blacks got up in the end to win 53-37 but it was hearts-in-mouths time for 60 minutes.
And when you consider that hosts and holders Australia could only edge past Ireland thanks to a narrowly missed David Humphreys drop-goal, the Webb-Ellis trophy really is up for grabs.
England arrived here as the world’s No 1 ranked team after those June wins Down Under against New Zealand and Australia, but their aura of invincibility has been shattered by rusty performances against a committed South Africa and big-hitting Samoa.
Then we all looked to New Zealand with their glamorous backs and huge forwards. Hah!
Joe Rokocoko, the Fijian flier on the All Black wing, scored two early tries but Wales simply refused to budge. Fielding almost a second-string line-up, they really shook the favourites.
Here in Brisbane last night, while England were finishing off their 111-13 trouncing of Uruguay, the announcer at the Suncorp Stadium blurted: “Next Sunday’s quarter final will be between England and Wales.”
But that was so nearly England versus New Zealand as Wales fought themselvses to a standstill on Saturday evening.
And of course, England can no longer expect a comfortable route in to the semi-finals against their neighbours, though they may have burned themselves out last night.
Two months ago, when England’s second string embarrassed Steve Hansen’s men in a one-sided warm-up at the Millennium Stadium, Wales were on the brink of sacking their Kiwi boss.
Yesterday Hansen’s a hero after coming so close to upsetting his home nation’s sacred All Blacks… and Wales are roaring “Bring on England!”
On Saturday night, as he desperately peered over some hoardings at television coverage of the Wales v New Zealand game during England’s post-match press conference, Clive Woodward said: “New Zealand or Wales, they’re both good sides.”
Rightly so. All the big guns have been given a warning now. The Irish effort in Melbourne on the weekend has silenced the mouthy Aussies. Wales have left the All Blacks stunned. England are on edge.
South Africa, following their 60-10 triumph over Samoa, are back in contention.
Only France, so cool in their demolition of Fiji, Scotland, Japan and the USA, remain uruffled.
With fly-half Frederic Michalak scoring points for fun, Serge Betsen and Imanol Harinordoqy dominating the back of the scrum and Fabien Galthie prompting the backs to ever greater feats, Bernard Laporte’s men are the new favourites.
With the quarter-finals settled, I still take England to beat Wales here next Sunday, but only just.
Australia will have few problems with Ian McGeechan’s Scotland here next Saturday, though we will pray for our northern neighbours.
In Melbourne next weekend, New Zealand are suddenly looking vulnerable to South African commitment while France face a serious threat from Ireland on the Sunday.
What a weekend it promises to be. I’m still predicting a Saturday semi-final between New Zealand and Australia in Melbourne in a fortnight, followed by England v France.
The final on November 22? England versus New Zealand, with an All Black victory engineered by the carefully groomed Doug Howlett. If he doesn’t break a finger nail before then.