From the Touchline

A lighter look at Rugby World Cup 2011. Numbers 3 - Tries Sonny Bill Williams has scored coming off the bench for New Zealand, which is already a record for most tries as a replacement at one RWC. 9 - Against France, Israel Dagg became the ninth player to score at least two tries in each of his first two RWC matches. He is the fifth All Black to do so, joining Craig Green, Joe Rokocoko, Caleb Ralph and Richard Kahui. No player has scored a double or more in each of his first three RWC matches. 8 - Jonny Wilkinson individually outscored the opposing team for the eighth time in 16 RWC starts, equalling Australian Michael Lynagh's RWC record. He said it “We used to room together at the last World Cup. He was a farmer and he used to get up at 6am, wake me up and get me a cup of tea. I’m from the city - I wasn’t used to that sort of thing, I got up a lot later." - Japan coach John Kirwan on Canada coach and fellow former All Black Kieran Crowley. Russia down to the bare bones Clever advertising or just a bold message to the Russian Bears to put some flesh on their RWC 2011 campaign? Several shops on New Plymouth's main street have decorated their windows with the jerseys, flags and scarves of the five teams (USA, Ireland, Russia, Namibia and Wales) that have played at Stadium Taranaki in the past three weeks. The Naturopathic College of New Zealand has gone one step further, dressing two skeletons in Russian kit, including socks, boots and even head gear. "Considering a new career? Come in and discuss our course options," a sign reads. Given Russia may finish without a win, some of the players might be free to take up the offer. We know who ate all the pies The wonder was the hacks were able to file their stories at all. Having witnessed the scrum for the tasty treats brought out post New Zealand-France on Saturday night, From the Touchline half expected to see them all having a lie-down after filling their bellies. Samnieng 'Sammy' Hong, who has worked in the kitchens at Eden Park for 15 years, says the hungry horde got through 400 party pies, 400 sausage rolls, 300 spring rolls and 250 samosas. He says he caters for an average 350 media at big matches such as the Pool A showdown, which equates to almost four munchies per hack. Allowing for various non-carnivores and the diet conscious, we reckon some of the hungry scribes wolfed their way through eight or more party pies. No Fawlty changeover Running team hotels is a slick operation at the best of times, but Auckland's Heritage Hotel faced a tough Test of their own on Sunday morning. As New Zealand checked out, England players were checking in. Downstairs, porters loaded tonnes of bags into buses, while upstairs, chambermaids feverishly changed bed sheets and bathroom supplies. By all accounts, it was a smooth transition. One wonders whether Graham Henry left behind any of his coaching notes for England manager Martin Johnson to peruse. Drawing the line There is an interesting take on England forwards coach John Wells making changes to lineout calls between matches. "If you've ever seen Wellsy's lineout sheet it's like the Da Vinci Code," said England defence coach Mike Ford. "You look at it and think, man, it's another language. And he'll tweak it as he goes along with different options." Rice time with Quade Swimmer Stephanie Rice, a three-time gold medallist at the Beijing Olympics, has taken a break from training to join her Wallaby boyfriend Quade Cooper. Rice has joined the other WAGS as Australia chill out for four days in Hanmer Springs, where the Wallabies are licking their wounds after a defeat to Ireland and picking up several injuries in their win over USA. A hospital case ... if it were still open The battered and bruised Wallabies are making the most of the opportunities for rest and rehabilitation offered by their four-day camp. But this alpine spa resort north of Christchurch is also famous for a very different kind of rehab. Next door to the thermal pools where they took a dip on Monday is the Queen Mary Hospital which, until it was closed down eight years ago, provided treatment for alcoholics, drug addicts and soldiers suffering from shell-shock. University blues Ben Alexander is doing plenty of gloating to several of his Wallaby teammates after his club side Eastwood stopped Sydney University from notching up a seventh straight Sydney premiership title at the weekend. To the prop's delight, Dan Vickerman, Nick Phipps, Berrick Barnes and Luke Burgess are all University players. Scores were tied at 16-all after 80 minutes, with Eastwood eventually securing a 19-16 extra-time victory in one of the greatest finales in the history of the Sydney competition.