A few subtle changes were in the air last week. Adverts featuring rugby players appeared on the screens and Billboards around the country. In Sydney, the Penrith Panthers and East Roosters Rugby League jerseys gave way for the Tri-colour, the Irish green and Scottish Thistle. The sporting shops have filled with world cup regalia.

This week the slow boil has erupted and now every newspaper has daily World cup updates, highlights are on the TV and Internet and every sports fan in the country, whether league, Aussie rules die hard or soccer fanatic, now are all experts in the game played in heaven.

The Australian Rugby Union has made a concerted effort to feed the fever and starve the other football codes. Even the lower market store Big W started selling lighter knit versions of the Wallaby jerseys for AUS$65, less than half the cost of the IRB logo-bearing replica versions in THE CITY.

If however, like me you wouldn't pay $150 for a full rugby kit let alone a jersey you'll never even play in, you can wait for the rugby fever to pass and do the Christmas shopping about the time all the surplus (and overpriced wear) is on sale at half price. Happy Shopping.

Mardo Gray, for 2K Plus International Sports Media