Wrap - Chile Peppers

1. There is something about the World Game that reminds you of the 100 metre final at the Olympics. There is glitter and glam and a great spectacle, but beneath it all...there is something that seems more sinister. Like Ireland getting five LBW calls against them in the Cricket World Cup, so it is that the Socceroos got calls that underlined their unimportance in this carnival.

Ange Postocoglou it must be said was found out in the opening exchanges. Save the criticism of your 'young' team...what about yourself - an A League coach only? 2-0 after 14 minutes...hopeless. This is all new for him too. The lack of experience showed as we looked more A-League than World Cup. Our error rate and lack of intensity in defence was staggering. There was no desperation...only later did it appear. Gus Hiddinck was up to it. Our second guessing and nerves were terrible.

In the end we were respectable, but lost. Having another World Cup goal puts Tim Cahill ahead of some of the real greats of the game at that level. A legend.

Netherlands will be a test!

If I hear again that we are a "work in progress"...or this  tournament is a "building block"...I'll vomit. This is it. Be ready or go home.

2. AFL. I went to the Port v Swans game on the weekend. A cracker of the game, deserving of a semi final. A big animated crowd. Buddy Franklin was in a different post code to the rest. He was awesome. His brute strength and power killed them. The Swans swarming mid field and busy defence may have helped us in Brazil. A brilliant game.

Can you believe this? There were crazy and angry mob scenes post game when the SCG green coats tried to stop people coming OUT OF the ground (to avoid a clash with the tiny Roosters v Newcastle NRL crowd) in the members. Nothing like a scuffle between two fifty plus blokes! They are a joke organisation.

3. Rugby. The All Blacks are getting a real test from the English. Still winning mind you...

In Australia, France seemed to respond to their shellacking last start. The penalty count is still killing the game. It can never be on TV as a strong product. Too slow and too many stoppages. Nice to see an Aussie skipper get through to the eightieth minute!

3A. Timing of games. Gotta say that the AFL time off rule when the ball is not in play ultimately adds excitement. The rugby play on after the bell also adds excitement. Time stalling and time wasting in the NRL is terrible.

4. NRL. Penrith are the thieves in the night this year, winning all games when Origin stars are out of action. They are really well placed now. So too the Roosters...professional! The Eels played tough and now will need to win six more and get to 30 points for a semi birth. Easier said than done. They are over achieving...

5. Noticed Joe Root hit a double ton in the first test v Sri Lanka. No trouble and no biff. Also noticed that there is no TV coverage of their cricket - like the IPL. Is cricket outpricing itself...it seems to be full of greedy gutses who quite happily kill geese that lay golden eggs! Sangakarra continues to rake in the tons. An amazing talent and record.

6. Martin Kaymer will have to do a Greg Norman to throw away the US Open. 5 shots to the good...dominant!

7. Surprising wins to the GWS and Melbourne clubs on the weekend. The lesser lights are jumping the Essendons, St Kilda's and Brisbane's...I wonder if these clubs had any of the 30 drug takers who evaded censure under the AFL's dope (doping) policy. This needs to change.