From the Touchline

A lighter look at Rugby World Cup 2011.

Numbers

836 - The number of caps in the South Africa starting line-up for their quarter-final against Australia on Sunday - the most of any team in Test history.

20 - Mils Muliaina will become the 20th player - and second All Black - to earn 100 Test caps when he lines up for New Zealand against Argentina on Sunday.

7- The number of points England's Jonny Wilkinson needs to replace Dan Carter as the leading Test points scorer. New Zealand's injured fly half is on 1,250 and Wilkinson is on 1,244 going into Saturday's quarter-final with France.

He said it

"He hasn't dropped one yet as far as I know and he's had a few. He catches them and everybody starts to wonder what he's going to do next, so maybe they won't kick it to him. He might embarrass them."
- New Zealand coach Graham Henry warns quarter-final opponents Argentina against kicking high balls to the unpredictable Sonny Bill Williams.

Lip service

The French media adopted a novel show of support for under-fire coach Marc Lièvremont at a press conference held at the team's hotel in Auckland on Friday.

Male and female journalists wore fake moustaches, mimicking Lièvremont who has been growing a 'tash for several days as part of a bet he had with France defensive coach David Ellis.

Lièvremont told the gathering he appreciated the sign of solidarity with him and his staff.

Skipper Smit-ten with Patrick

Springbok wing Bryan Habana was singing the praises of 20-year-old full back Patrick Lambie at a press conference on Friday, saying not only was he a talented footballer but he was also a fine young man off the field.

So much so that Springbok captain John Smit said Lambie was the only rugby player he would ever let his daughter go out with.

Vive la difference

With England set to renew their rivalry with the old enemy France in the quarter-finals on Saturday, manager Martin Johnson may be forgiven for thinking back to a few bruising encounters from his playing days that pushed the entente cordiale to its extremes.

However, Johnson would not have it any other way and responded to a question about France's enigmatic nature with a smile.

"They are different from the English, it's not a secret," he said with a rarely seen chuckle. "That makes them what they are and I think we all enjoy it. It would be pretty dull if we were all the same.

"We have all seen games when they have been in awful form and they have had games were they've been absolutely sensational."

Joey reporter

The media contingent at Australia's press conference in Wellington on Friday were on tenterhooks when they were told a special guest interviewer would be asking the first few questions.

Enter Will Genia, the Wallabies scrum half, to put some distinctly unprobing queries to teammates Radike Samo and James Slipper.

The message from our man in the scrum was simple: don't give up your day job Will.

Play misty for me

More on Bryan Habana. Reporters thought they detected Habana going a bit misty when talking about the impact on the team of what looks like a tournament-ending injury to second row Bakkies Botha.

But after a couple of mid-sentence pauses, Habana held it together and gave an eloquent, if slightly heart-rending explanation of how important Botha has been to the Springboks.

And as a show of support for his teammates, Botha is reportedly going to exit New Zealand and admire the team from afar. He will use the extra time at home to try and get fit for his stint with French club Toulon coming up.