RUGBY WORLD CUP: Half a dozen security personnel and a rotweiller were on guard at Ireland's training session at the Central Coast Grammar school yesterday. It's a common practice at all the finalists' training grounds but it seemed somehow indicative of the shift in mood.
Maybe the grey clouds and continuous rain hereabouts have something to do with it. Terrigal's sandy stretch, darkened by the rain, remains largely unoccupied. There aren't even enough waves to entice that many surfers. You can also see the increased strain etched on Eddie O'Sullivan's face as the opening weekend of games looms, and in the agitated comments of Wallaby coach Eddie Jones, for whom the pressure as hosts and holders is most acute.
Not that the weather has influenced Ireland's training. "The weather has been wet alright, but we expect it to be dry at the weekend," said O'Sullivan.
"That's the forecast, so effectively we've trained as we expect to play. It's not the end of the world for us, we've played in the wet before." Each squad effectively operates in a bubble, consumed by their own matches, with little opportunity to take in the bigger picture save for encounters involving rival teams in their own pool. Friday's tournament opener between Australia and Argentina carries particular significance for Ireland, in that the outcome will clarify the lay of the land in Pool A.
Not that O'Sullivan is especially consumed by this match. "We'll probably have it looked at and watch it on TV, but there's plenty of access to videos and stuff," he commented yesterday.
When pressed further, he added: "I think Argentina will throw the kitchen sink at Australia in the first game. Anybody would in the first game. I think the Romanians will throw the kitchen sink at us. I think that's to be expected but I think Argentina are a pretty dangerous side and if they get it right on the day they could beat anybody in the world. And nobody's more aware of that than ourselves and Australia."
It's hard not to deduce that an Australian win would be the more preferable outcome from an Irish viewpoint, whereas an Argentinian victory would complicate matters, though again O'Sullivan was not inclined to go down this route.
"No I think we should only concern ourselves with things we can control, and that's the games we play. Whatever happens happens. We'll see the outcome of the game and then take it from there. But really we'll just focus on our own job this weekend, which is Romania."
At any rate, the fewer bonus points that are flying around in the Telstra Stadium on Friday the better. "I suppose as a rule you'd probably want teams to score less points in your pool than more. But I think you can tie yourself in knots with all that stuff. At the end of the day, what happens next Friday will happen no matter what I want, so it's a waste of energy really."
Jones, meanwhile, has expressed his anger over the limitations imposed on his squad in the build-up to Friday's opener due to the opening ceremony, even though he and the Wallabies have been aware since last January that they would have to conduct their warm-up indoors.
"But in terms of not being allowed on the ground full stop, we were only told of that last week. We've been told it's non negotiable," he bemoaned.
Effectively they will be obliged to stay inside their dressing-room for more than an hour. "It's a long time to be stuck in a room. Guys do like to get out and have a look at the ground. Players do like their routines.
"It would be hard to think that for the Olympic 100m final, the athletes wouldn't be allowed to go through their normal warm-up."
Of course, the same problem exists for the Pumas. A striking feature of the increasingly fraught build-up to this game is that whereas the Argentinians have arguably the most settled side in the competition, there remains much more speculation about Jones's preferred starting line-up. Indeed Ireland, not to mention England, New Zealand and others, are noticeably more settled.
The expectation is that big, ball-carrying secondrow Nathan Sharpe will be recalled at the expense of Daniel Vickerman. The calls for his return after four games on the bench have been led by John Eales and Toutai Kefu.
It is also anticipated that David Lyons will be flanked by George Smith and Phil Waugh in filling the considerable void left by Kefu at number eight.
Stirling Mortlock was yesterday ruled out the opener, handing Jones a late selection poser. The 26-year-old had been set to start the curtain-raiser at outside centre after proving he had fully recovered from shoulder surgery.
But he has been laid low for the last two days with a bout of gastroenteritis and failed to make a sufficient recovery by last evening's deadline.
Ireland, almost unnervingly, remain injury free. Marcus Horan was the only minor casualty yesterday, his training being curtailed by a slightly strained quadricep, which was purely a precautionary measure, while O'Sullivan confirmed that John Hayes was to resume scrummaging today.
Alastair Davis, from Dublin, and 18-year-old Colleen Shannon from Kerry will be part of Friday's lavish opening ceremony, comprising singers from each of the 20 competing nations.
After performing World in Union at the Olympic Stadium, the two Irish Youth Choir members will then attend all of Ireland's matches to sing Ireland's Call prior to each game.
The newly arranged "rugby anthem" features the voices of 2003 Eurovision Contest You're a Star personality Simon Casey, accompanied by members of Ireland's World Cup squad.
