Experienced angler Brent Cockbain is philosophical about the one that got away and cautious about his chances of landing the big one when Wales plays England in a Quarter Final on Sunday 9 November.
The Welsh lock said the team was encouraged rather than downcast by its 53-37 loss to New Zealand after being ahead 37-33 with 20 minutes to go, because the players had proved to others as well as themselves that they were improving as a team.
Step in the right direction
"Everyone's very happy with the performance, another step up the ladder for Welsh rugby," Cockbain said during a team press conference on Monday, 3 November.
"We looked at the game as an opportunity to try to improve ourselves. It would have been very easy to go out with the attitude that 'this game means nothing and we'll field our weaker side and we'll concede 70 or 80 points and we'll concentrate on England'.
"But regardless of what happens this weekend now, we've played well on Sunday, learned a lot about the game and about ourselves.... what we can do... and (we have) a little bit more self belief."
Big challenge
The 202cm lock, brother of Australian backrower Matt Cockbain , is under no illusions as to the challenge posed by Tournament favourite England in the knockout match at Suncorp Stadium and readily concedes that while Wales might be on the way up, England is already there.
"We've been building for a while, but they're on top of the rugby tree, Cockbain said. "They're one of the best in the world (and) have been for a very long time.
"You've got to be out there with the attitude that you can win, but yes, it will be difficult. It'll be a mountain to climb."
Gone fishing
In his days playing club rugby in Brisbane Cockbain never passed up a chance to go fishing, no matter what the weather or the hour of the day, and he says it's the same in Wales.
"Just cod, bass, off the rocks sort of stuff, salt water stuff, a little bit of fly fishing," he said. "A few of the guys are keen on fishing as well, so it's great."
Cockbain packed the fishing rods with his football boots on this trip and managed to do some fly fishing when the team was in Canberra, albeit without success.
His parents will be flying to Brisbane from north Queensland for Sunday's match and he hopes to be able to take some time off after the Rugby World Cup to wet a line before returning home to his family in Wales.
But before then, he has bigger fish to fry.