The crowd - perhaps 3, 000-strong, seated, hot and mildly expectant after waiting for some nine hours for this moment - had just been warned not to "dare" to even talk to their neighbours during the president's speech.

BBC: Zimbabwe: The land of nervous laughter

Back at the press base, where the 60-strong media pack have to suffer saunas, open-air natural hot springs, and an underground disco, the antics of the tiny but dedicated British contingent are gradually endearing themselves to the Italian media.

BBC: Home-from-home comforts

Given their hot and cold performances so far in the tournament, Australia would have wanted to get off to a strong start, but France defended stoutly for the first quarter of the game.

BBC: France 4-42 Australia

But I'm looking to be fully fit and available for selection when the Test series in Sri Lanka comes around and my goal is now to get strong, get my fingers right for that series, and give it a red hot go if given the chance.

BBC: Matt Prior

Given the continuing row over the West Coast mainline franchise, and some strong criticism about the level of public subsidy to the railways, this will be a hot topic.

BBC: Week ahead in committees