Bank on the Wales

I was rather grumpy after last night's Wallabies V Wales game at Cardiff Arms Park - especially as I'm scheduled to be at the same venue in September '07 to witness a match between the same two sides to see which progresses to the semi finals of the world cup.

On what I saw of the 19-all draw, the Wallabies still have a long way to go if they want to match their world-beating feats of 1991 and 1999. I'm not talking here of the backs - who showed flashes of brilliance, especially when Matt Giteau and Stephen Larkham were on the field together. Chris Latham was brilliant at fullback - and the others will only get better once used to the new combinations.

The forwards, however, are still useless in the scrums and lineouts. That said, we do have some real size in the scrum now, and that's a good start. Also, if anyone knows how to develop a dominant forward pack, it's coach John Connolly.

If he can resist the impulse to reinstate George Gregan - who is cooling his heels back home in Randwick - as captain and halfback, the Wallabies will have half a chance come September.