Goodwill messages

When it comes to sport Australia is more united than most. Pat Rafter's holy grail at Wimbledon received blanket page one coverage in two Sunday newspapers and generally the media will go with whatever is big at any given moment. Allowing for rugby's bitter union-league divide, there seems comparatively little sporting bigotry in this country, although being a relatively remote and young country perhaps sport satisfies a craving for recognition.

To boost spirits in the Colonial Stadium even further there was a video link-up to Rafter in London five minutes before kick-off at Colonial Stadium in which Australia's tennis God wished the Wallabies the best. Goodwill messages have been flowing back and forth between the Wallabies, Australia's cricket team and Rafter, with the Prime Minister also sending his best wishes to all of the above.

Asked by an English journalist about the contents of the supportive message from Steve Waugh and his fellow world champions, Rod Macqueen said: "aw mate, you wouldn't understand them, they're full of Aussie colloquialisms." What odds Poms and bashing getting a mention? Far from being an endangered species since the advent of professionalism, the Lions have become an integral part of the rugby calendar, albeit every four years. And for one very simple reason. Money. Nothing talks quite like the filthy lucre.