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Wales marched into Saturday's mouth-watering quarter-final against Ireland with such a barrage of world-class tries, and such panache and style, that talk of their winning the tournament is beginning to look less fanciful.
Not that the Welsh are getting carried away: "It's been very competent, but the real stuff starts now," warned assistant coach Shaun Edwards.
"We showed a very good attitude and never switched off but the ante steps up a bit now going into the knock-out stages."
As well as their new-found physicality, it has been Wales' ruthlessness and clinical approach which has impressed the most.
Yesterday, perhaps just to concentrate their minds a little, they even deliberately finished the match with 14 men, coach Warren Gatland deciding with just under 10 minutes to go that his outstanding skipper Sam Warburton deserved a rest. There were no more replacements left but Gatland took him off anyway as Wales avenged that traumatic defeat against the Fijians at the World Cup four years ago in the most emphatic manner.
Wales are on the case like very few Wales sides we have seen in recent years and a new generation of young stars -- such as Warburton, George North, Scott Williams, Rhys Priestland, Leigh Halfpenny and Toby Falatau -- are reaching new levels at just the right time and they are inspiring the older more established members of the squad. Wales are in a good place.
"We have some fantastic young players who are really beginning to make a name for themselves," said Gatland.
"We have developed a fantastic strength but we knew that before we came and it actually puts more pressure on some of the older players to step up.
Building
"Hopefully now it will be a little like four years ago when we saw with South Africa coming out of tough pool to win, it can potentially set you up very nicely for the knock-out stages. We know Ireland pretty well, of course, and will just continue building like we have been doing."
Ireland will have plenty to digest when they review the tape of this match, although they will also have noted the 11 penalties Wales gave away at the breakdown.
It was of little consequence against an outclassed Fiji but they need to eradicate those mistakes because Ireland will make them pay dearly.
The rest of the game, though, was all about Wales' intoxicating ability to fashion tries from anywhere and everywhere, typified by their second of the game when Priestland, Jamie Roberts and North displayed wonderfully deft hands close to the left touchline to send Williams scorching for the line for a score that stands comparison with any seen in the competition.
North, just 19, continues to impress as the young player of the tournament with his unusual combination of brute strength, pace, vision and daring, and already he is one of those rare players that draw a breath of anticipation every time he gets the ball. Stopping him at source will be a priority for the Irish defence.
Roberts also had a commanding game and although he left the field after 65 minutes feeling a shoulder Gatland confirmed that it was just a "stinger".
Given the news elsewhere this weekend that is a blessing and now it's all thoughts on Ireland, a clash the New Zealand public seems to be savouring. (© Daily Telegraph, London)
Wales --L Byrne; L Halfpenny, S Williams, J Roberts (J Davies 64), G North; R Priestland (S Jones 58), M Phillips (L Williams 54); G Jenkins (A Jones 73), H Bennett (L Burns 36), A Jones (P James 58), B Davies (A W Jones 40), L Charteris, R Jones, S Warburton (capt), T Faletau (A Powell 54).
Tries: Roberts 2, S Williams, North, Warburton, Burns, Halfpenny, L Williams, J Davies. Cons: Priestland 5, S Jones 4; Pen: Priestland.
Fiji -- I Keresoni; A Vulivuli (V Goneva 68), R Fatiaki, G Lovobalavu (S Bai 54), M Tagicakibau (N Kenatale 76); N Little, V Buatava; W Nailago (Somoca 65), S Koto (V Veikoso 40), S Somoca (C Ma'afu 51), L Nakarawa, W Lewaravu, R Nasiga (A Qera 61), S Matadigo (M Ravulo 54), N Talei (capt).
REF -- W Barnes (England)
