The Wallabies peaked in Brisbane

Make no mistake about it. The Queensland Red’s players fresh from a Super 15 victory, and the rest of the team buoyed from a rare win over South Africa in the Republic put it together in a scintillating first-half performance to stun the All Blacks.

James Horwill raises the 2nd, and last trophy the Aussies won this year.

A lot was made of that performance in Australian media circles. A tide-turner, were the Wallabies the best in the world? The game was the players’ crowning glory of the season. The emotional force that was exuded in that game has left the Wallabies struggling ever since.

Let’s look at the World Cup performances. Against Italy they got out of the blocks in the second half, eventually running away with it. Against Ireland they got beat fair and square though blamed the ref. Then against the minnows, U.S.A and Russia, they experienced periods where they sunk to the level of these times, even periods where Russia put a considerable amount of points of them.

The Wallabies were rudderless and in cruise control. These performances are not hallmarks of a World Cup winning side, or even one capable of winning a semi-final.

The Wallabies then had a Springbok showdown, minus Frans Steyn. A lot has been made of Brussow; however it was Frans Steyn who held the Springboks fate in his hands. His shoulder injury against Samoa destroyed their chances. The Wallabies did everything they possibly could to lose that game, yet somehow came away with a win. Commentators of the game have praised the tenacity and courage of the young Wallaby team although the reality is they weren’t up to scratch.

These new Wallabies are supposedly the young, battle-hardened breed. Their performance though left a lot to be desired. They made the ageing Springboks look exceptional which is something the Wallabies should not be proud of.

Enough of the World Cup though, and back to the 27th. A good Wallaby outfit bet an understrength All Black outfit, forced to play Whitelock at blindside flanker and an off the pace Muliaina, at the Reds fortress in Brisbane.

Eden Park this Sunday may be a demolition. We are missing Dan Carter from that Brisbane 22, but we have back Kaino, Read, Dagg, Kahui and SBW. In those five players we have the distinct advantage.

The weight of history bears down. Long may the Eden Park Hoodoo continue

Spurned All Black finding the Highlander within.

It’s encouraging, it really is. The feel-good story of the competition. Given no shot in kahooe for the 2011 Super 15, after two rounds the Highlanders are shaping up as a mid-table finish.

Step up one key man. Adam Thomson. No one player has stood out more in this newly expanded competition.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph believes him to be a real asset to the squad.

"Adam has been inspirational to us as a player," says Joseph.

"He makes big plays at crucial times that changes games. We're rapt with him.”

Interestingly, the All Blacks pecking order looks like it will change relatively fast. Lumped behind Vito and Messam, two players who Thomson has outshone in the past two games, his omission from the 2010 All Blacks Tri Nations and End of Year Tour squads was eye-catching.

Obviously he was told he wasn’t up to the mark, and sent to work on his skills. King Kumara and his cronies must now be quietly pleased with how Thomson has responded.

He is in a rich vein of form and most crucially Thomson looks to be maturing into a world-class player. He also presents a much sounder option than either Messam or Vito, both players who are still prone to brain-explosions.

Yes there is the now much anticipated showdown on Saturday the 18^th of June between the SBW and Ma’a Nonu shows, but mark two other dates down in your calendars.

Friday the 29^th of April, and Friday the 17^th of June, the days which Thomson and Kaino will clash. These affairs are set to be gladiatorial.

They say players grow to another level when the put on the black jersey. If Adam Thomson can do this, Kaino will be in a real fight for his prized No. 6 jersey.