SOMETHING has stirred in Welsh rugby - OK I know in Wales you're either through the roof or the floor - but it could well be that the sleeping giant is waking up.

Having been positive all last week and urging Wales go for it, to take on the big guns, to bring them down a peg or two and show them that we do have some pride as a rugby nation, then how gratifying to see them giving it such a blast.

A crowd of over 80,000 in the Telstra Stadium, the former Olympic stadium, in Sydney on Sunday got caught up in the spirit of a wonderful Welsh display.

The signs could not have been worse, conceding a try after less than two minutes, but what happened then stirred the imagination not only of the thousands in the ground, but many more all around the world.

Wales, the country which lost 11 games in a row, took on, slugged it out and then got the better of arguably the world's greatest rugby nation for an hour.

They scored try for try, they racked up 24 unanswered points in 11 minutes (can you believe that?) and they really rattled the World Cup favourites.

It didn't last, it couldn't last in all honesty as Wales ran out of gas and the All Blacks prevailed in the final quarter, but self respect and pride had been restored.

The reaction of the crowd said everything. The masses of Welsh supporters in the ground were obviously on their side, but so were the Aussies who hate New Zealanders as much as the Celts and others dislike England.

Where else, when else have Wales been cheered off the field at half-time never mind at the end?

The atmosphere on the way back into Sydney city centre on the train, even if it was gone midnight by then, was electrifying. The Welsh sang the anthem, the New Zealanders applauded and then the Welsh pleaded for the haka.

That is what rugby is all about and how heartwarming it was. It could never happen in soccer where rivals fans have to be segregated. On Sunday it was almost arm-in-arm stuff among opposing fans.

So much for the thrill of the past few days. As Steve Hansen would say that's now in the past - but let us reflect on a rare moment of glory - the future is all that matters now.

And that immediate future is next Sunday when England, of all countries, provide the next opposition in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Dare we hope for a repeat, or even better? It is something we would not have countenanced only a few days ago, but now? Dare we dream?

New Zealand clearly thought they were out for a Sunday afternoon stroll, they underestimated Wales and they almost paid the ultimate price, though the outcome was one of the finest games of rugby ever played.

England, pragmatic England, will not make the same mistake. They have already been put on red alert by coach Clive Woodward, they will play a different type of game from New Zealand, they will drive, drive and drive again, though, of course, they can also move it wide with backs of the calibre of Jason Robinson and Ben Cohen.

England are nothing if not organised and structured, and they will approach it utterly sensibly. They will attempt to take Wales' sting and then sting them through hard men like Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio.

It will take a massive effort from Wales to come even close, but what this Welsh team, and their support group, have done is offer hope.

The burning question, apart from whether Wales can perform at the same level twice in a week, is what side will Hansen pick.

He has already admitted it's going to be difficult and in a private gathering yesterday evening you could see just that.

Suddenly Shane Williams and Jonathan Thomas have emerged as players of real standing who can do real damage at the highest level. New Zealand coach John Mitchell may have known little about them before the game, but that had hanged dramatically by the end.

I firmly believe Hansen should play both against England - how can he do other after their explosive performances against the All Blacks?

But if Williams plays then one out of Kevin Morgan, Gareth Thomas and Mark Jones will have to go while the emergence of Jonathan Thomas has made the back row congested and put real pressure on Dafydd Jones, who was man-of-the-match against Italy.

Alix Popham was another success against the All Blacks, making the back row even more of a problem while Robert Sidoli's performance against the All Blacks has put major pressure on Gareth Llewellyn, though Brent Cockbain has gone so far so quickly that he's become an automatic selection while Iestyn Thomas was also back to his best on Sunday. Stephen Jones seems to have found his best form again while Ceri Sweeney is really threatening, adding to a problem of the right kind.

And to those who totally rule out a massive shock next Sunday, they shouldn't forget that Wales weren't even at full strength against the All Blacks. No Iestyn Harris for a start.

So it's all to play for. This time the losers go home, it's the end of their World Cup, but Wales must go for it again and try to rattle the great tower block.

Can they do it? No-one gives them a real chance, but no-one did against the All Blacks and look what happened.

This time there is at least a glimmer, a chink of light that wasn't there a week ago. There is an air of expectancy and the nation awaits crossing their fingers and toes.

Could an almighty shock happen? Is it just a dream? It's going to be a hell of a time just waiting to find out, but the opportunity is there, England can be taken.