Time to support needy 'minnows'

Yet Samoan coach John Boe's words hung ominously over the wonderful action. "This team deserve to survive and we need international assistance to overcome the hurdles in our path," he said. That he and Pichot should have to make pleas for aid like this is rugby's disgrace.

This, remember, was a Samoan team without maybe 20 of their best players, either contracted to playing domestic rugby in New Zealand or Europe. Imagine how good they could have been if rugby's rulers had not failed in their duty to ensure the best were all there, whatever it cost.

Likewise, pondered Pichot, how might Argentina have fared if they hadn't been one of the less fashionable 'minnows' asked to cram all their games into 17 days just because TV demanded big teams be saved for weekend viewing? And was it any wonder that Italy, wearied by their fourth game in 14 days, lost 27-15 on Saturday to a Welsh team which had an extra week to complete its fixtures? That was absurd scheduling.

Samoa and both Latin nations have played better rugby here than Wales who, despite the spirit which saw them make an incredible 174 tackles in Canberra-will be dismantled by New Zealand on Sunday, by England in the quarter-finals and then go home. Better rugby too than Scotland who, utterly outclassed 51-9 by an increasingly polished-looking France, could find themselves missing out on the knockout stage if they play quite as ineptly against Fiji in Sydney on Saturday.

Maybe Fiji can still fly the outsiders' flag now. "The big unions must say they need teams like Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Fiji to become strong because if they don't, the game will never develop and you'll have World Cups with 80-point mismatches and no shocks like this," added Pichot. "The big unions have to invest in unions like ours. Do you know, we don't have another Test match now until next June? How can you get better like that? It's impossible."

Ultimately, Irish spirit, galvanised by the most wonderful green sea of support that this great cricket venue has seen and exemplified by Keith Wood's storming magnificence, just prevailed and, with a last-eight place assured, it would not be surprising after such a bruising encounter if they rest their talisman and others for Saturday's group decider against Australia.

For Pichot, the party was over, leaving him one last wish. "I hope little guys keep playing rugby, that's the most important thing," he said. "I want the faith to carry on."

Whether nurturing hapless Namibian or breathtaking Samoans, it's now time for the sport's rulers to demonstrate their faith too.