Even without contract man from Philadelphia, the team is playing great - finally delivering on a promise we've been trying to believe in for 30 years.

We've tough and smart, with the gorgeous play of Patty Mills and Joe Ingles making up for the anti-aesthetics of Dellavedova and Bogut (Siri, what's the opposite of beauty?).

Sure the commentary has been awful (guys: nobody says "three-ball" - nobody), but in Australia we're used to that.

Our great play has not been flukey, we can still improve, and in this Final four-style tournament this team could go further still.

Take me there. Tip-off is imminent. We're all revved up; there's the French singing their wickedly powerful song.. It's an air of freedom and brotherhood. They sing it loud because they love it and they would sing it with their dying breath.

And then.

On comes the Casiotone beeping out a weak ditty called Advance Australia Fair. Sounding like a ringtone from an early Nokia, our national song whimpers out of the speakers with all the gravity and pride of a Fisher-Price singing toy.

It's like a novelty anthem. Oh, that's the Australians, the crowd will say, they've got a song too. That's nice.

It's a song well suited to a national team with a silly name like the "Boomers". It's a kids' song, and it's boring. It says we're a young country - but indigenous people were thriving 60,000 years ago.

It's the Socceroos' "spew jersey" of national anthems. Remember that?

It's increasingly becoming mandatory in Australia to stand for the anthem before an event. Is anyone at all moved by the song, rather than the obligation?

For there's the rub. It's not stirring or motivational, like an anthem should be. In fact Wallabies fans took to singing a different song - Waltzing Matilda - for motivation before games. A much better anthem.

If there's an Australian who feels inspired to put their body on the line in conflict or in sport, motivated at all by this song, and what it means, let me know.

Sure, it's not pompous like God Save the Queen. But that's about the only thing our song has going for it.

Perhaps now His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex is in town, here's a chance. Edward, mate, you're close to our head of state. They say you're her favourite. Is there anything you can do about the song?

Or is it the price we must pay for starting a penal colony before realising it's the most beautiful country in the world?