Now that's a headache Andy Kelly and team wouldn't mind having.

Ireland have been as relaxed in the build up for Monday as they were before last Wednesday's stirring 34-16 win in Parramatta and continue to win friends wherever they go for their readiness to engage with the local community.

Ireland's hat-trick hero from their midweek victory over Samoa, Pat Richards, made a break from preparations for Monday's match on the Gold Coast to be best man at the wedding of his brother Kieran.

Fijians enter unchartered waters

FIJI captain Wes Naiqama has admitted the Pacific islanders know little about their opponents on Monday because they had been expecting to face Samoa.

"I haven't seen the game yet but from the scoreline Ireland must have played well to beat them," said Naiqama. "We can't look too far ahead, the semi-final is a long way off and we have to look at this game first.

"If we lose this one it's all over so all our energy and focus will be on Ireland."

Fiji have met Australia in the last two World Cups, losing 66-0 in 1995 and 66-8 in 2000.

What a Palava...

THE Australian media have been intrigued by the "honeypot" story involving Keith Senior and the busty blonde who sold her story of a tryst with the England centre to the Sun.

Charmyne Palava, a 36-year-old mother of three from the Sydney suburb of Coogee, claimed earlier this week that she met up with Senior just a couple of days before England's World Cup record defeat by Australia after contacting him through Facebook.

"Keith charmed me into bed even though he's not my type," she told The Sun. "He's a 10 between the sheets and has a great body for an old guy. He was like a machine."

Ms Palava is no stranger to the Aussie press – she pulled off a similar kiss and tell stunt with Australia's stand-off Johnathan Thurston in February.

Nikau stars in World Cup

FORMER Castleford and New Zealand loose forward Tawera Nikau is making his international comeback as a member of the Kiwi team in the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.

Nikau lost a leg in a motorcycle accident several years ago and has been an inspiration for disabled New Zealanders.

England beat Australia 34-26 in their first match of the tournament at Narrabeen Sports Centre in Sydney.

PNG have 100 points to prove

A LEADING Sydney bookmaker has given Papua New Guinea a 100-point start on the handicap coupon for Sunday's final Pool A match against Australia in Townsville.

Australia have opted to rest five players for the match against opponents who pushed England close two weeks ago only to lose heavily to New Zealand last Saturday.

The suggestion that the match at the Dairy Farmers Stadium will be a walkover has not gone down well with the Papua New Guinea team, especially prop Jason Chan.

"We will do everything we can to hurt them and make them regret putting those five players in," said Chan.

"We want to rub their faces in it, we want to smash them."

Australia loose forward Paul Gallen has insisted the world champions will not be taking Stanley Gene – whose rags to riches story has featured prominently in the Australian papers and television – and Co lightly.

"We don't want to just go out there and just win, if we do take it off a bit and don't stick to the structure things can go bad for us," said Gallen.

"We went to win and we want to win well. I know personally it's not had to get up for this game because I have played them twice, bother here and over there, and they're a tough team.

They probably just like being able to play for the full 40 minutes in both halves."

Tallis turns on critics

FORMER Australia Test great Gorden Tallis has blasted critics of the World Cup for not giving the host nation the credit they deserve.

Tallis, who will present the Australians with their Test jerseys before tomorrow's match in Townsville, said: "The attitude of some people really disappoints me.

"Australia has dominated but so we should. We have the best athletes in the world playing our sport, that's why rugby union continues to recruit from our ranks.

"Players like Greg Inglis, Israel Folau and Darren Lockyer could succeed in any sport but they love rugby league and to represent Australia in a World Cup is a massive honour.

"It isn't Mickey Mouse to them. They are living their dream and should be applauded for the way they play.

"Australia has been lauded for its dominance in cricket for the past decade but for whatever reason the rugby league guys aren't afforded the same respect."

Weakened France fear wooden spoon

FRANCE have a host of injury problems for their match against Samoa in Penrith tomorrow when they bid to avoid the World Cup wooden spoon.

Coach John Monie has lost his two recognised hookers James Wynne (elbow) and Julien Rinaldi (fractured cheekbone) to injury while half-back Maxime Greseque (hamstring) also misses out.

Samoa are missing their captain Nigel Vagana (knee) while David Solomona, the Bradford Bulls back row, is suspended after collecting a two-match ban for his sickening challenge on Ireland's Sean Gleeson on Wednesday.

Solomona was placed on report for striking Gleeson in the face with his elbow in a cynical 62nd-minute challenge which appalled many people in Australia.

"That was a disgraceful hit, he'd have been lucky to get away with a six-week ban had he done that in the NRL," opined former Australian Test half-back Greg Alexander.

Quip of the week

FOX Sports television commentator Andy Raymond during Wednesday's Ireland v Samoa match: " Wayne Kerr is a Wally Lewis."