A 39-21 triumph by the XXXX Wallabies over the flying Fijians in their opening fixture of the Rugby World Cup has convinced more than a few Australians that everything is ‘probably going to be alright,’ in a manner not dissimilar to the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude that dominated international politics pre-9/11.

Prior to September 2001, and after the fall of the Berlin Wall, there was a pervasive sense throughout international security climates that everything would probably just work out. After the destruction of WWII and the tension of the Cold War, dawn broke on the new millennium with a sense of optimism not seen for years.

And it’s that sense of optimism that is heartbreakingly returning to the most one-eyed of Wallabies supporters, as a scratchy win over Fiji is being taken as some sort of ‘dawn of a new era’, and a bizarre guarantee that the backrow combination of two opensides will work more efficiently than the CIA security services did in discovering Bin Laden’s plot to reign fiery terror upon the Western world.

You can hear it in the voice of Rod Kafer, an Al Gore-esque figure who thought the biggest concern was refundable education tax credits, rather than massive security issues, much like Kafer being more concerned with Beale’s body language rather than Nic White’s clear lack of readiness for World Cup footy.

And you can see it in the eyes of Cheika, the George W. of this outfit, who has an almost childlike amount of faith in his own ability to overcome a crisis. Listen up, Michael. This is not your year. And no amount of individual brilliance can overcome that.

No more to come on this pretty dud idea, that was somehow executed in a poorer way than it was conceived (two stars).