MONDAY MAUL

While there was a lot of froth and bubble, plus the occasional king-hit and eye massage, to keep everyone buzzing about the Wallabies' Test victory, it was what occurred in the curtain-raiser that really impressed everyone.

Achieving record Test wins, such as the Wallabies did over France at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, is nice, but there was still a level of reserve among the Wallabies after the triumph. That was due to what occurred across the Tasman in the Tri Nations opener between New Zealand and South Africa.

Now that was a mean Test. It was high-intensity, invigorating football, played by two teams who went out with the intention of destroying the other.

And while the Brisbane Test had its flashpoints, in particular when Wallabies second-rower James Horwill put his head in the wrong spot to get belted by Imanol "Oggy Doggy" Harinordoquy and Renaud Boyoud, it didn't match the fire of the All Blacks-Springboks slugathon.

Robbie Deans watched the first 30 minutes of the "curtain-raiser", and that was enough for him to know that while his team have grown in confidence by achieving three victories in his short reign, they are still sitting below their two Tri Nations opponents. That was why there were not too many "king of the mountain" quotes emanating from the Wallabies camp yesterday. It is still time to keep their heads down.

But at least Deans is quietly relieved that, after leaving the world's best five-eighth behind in his home town of Christchurch, he has, since arriving in Australia, been offered a terrific alternative.

As shown yet again in Wellington, Daniel Carter is something special. He orchestrated the All Blacks victory.

But Matt Giteau is not far behind. You could not say that this time last week, because Giteau had possibly his worst performance in the Wallabies jersey in the first Test against France, a rare blemish since stumbling during his Test debut at Twickenham six years ago.

Yet seven days on, all is forgiven, because Giteau turned it all around to have close to his best performance in the green and gold. Giteau won the second Test for Australia with a complete and often spectacular performance.

He was involved in all of Australia's four tries. His midfield kicks and goalkicking were faultless, and several of his shots at the sticks were difficult.

His chip kick across to Peter Hynes for the Wallabies' first try was perfect. His midfield passing enabled Ryan Cross to score twice, even if one of those was intended for Hynes, but was instead intercepted by the zealous replacement centre.

And in the middle of all this was the most extraordinary of pirouettes - the best by a Wallaby for well over 40 years. When Classic Wallabies talk about midfield spins they always mention what Peter "Charlie" Crittle got up to in the 1963 Australia-South Africa Test triumph in Johannesburg.

In the days when wingers were lineout throwers, Jim Boyce tossed it in. Rob Heming, well before lineout lifting, leapt from nowhere to grab it, and then to keep the movement going, Crittle charged at the Springboks defence. However, just before being tackled, he made his mad 360-degree hit and spin that completely bamboozled the Springboks. They held back, Crittle kept going and, shortly after, the Wallabies scored through John Williams.

Giteau is a lot smaller than Crittle, but he also succeeded with a little leap then a spin that opened up space in the French defence. Scouting nearby was Horwill, who took advantage of a flick pass by Giteau to score. It was a try, like Crittle's, that you will see replayed again and again.

It was also the type of try that had the Wallabies eagerly anticipating another Tri Nations. They fervently believe they can make a difference.

But Deans is holding it all back. He saw the curtain-raiser. He knows what's coming.