Gig played on 20/12/06

If you thought Robbie Williams was a superstar in the UK, let's crunch some numbers around these Australian dates. Nine shows at an average of 50,000 punters a night is 450,000. That, in a population of 20 million, means that over two per cent of Australia has seen this tour. And it's not just ex-pats and travelling Poms making up these numbers - the accents around the Telstra Dome are distinctly Kath and Kim. But then Aussies like their heroes to have their fair share of arrogance and vulnerability. Take cricket legend Shane Warne, for example.

So it's a shame that all these people get such a perfunctory, paint-by-numbers show in return for their dollars here this evening. It's a show that peaks in places. Robbie drops a great version of "Tripping", by far the best song on last year's "Intensive Care", and "Feel", arguably his most sublime single. They show what a great singer he can be when he's not gurning or bantering with the audience. But the between-song shouts of "Come on!" and the looks of incoherence when he talks about the Aussies "battering us" at cricket indicate that this crowd aren't here for cosy repartee.

There are only two really surprising moments. The first is when he wheels on best mate Jonathan Wilkes to sashay through The Bee Gees' "Staying Alive" like two old drag queens. But it's all too reminiscent of a chat show host who can't do his thing without his straight man. The other is that he only plays the title track from new album "Rudebox". Not a declaration of confidence in his 'new direction'. But, of course, Robbie's an entertainer. He knows the fans want the hits, so he duly obliges once again - "Strong" (with the words on the big screen, karaoke-style, as they have been for years), "Let Me Entertain You", accompanied by a blizzard of fireworks, and "Angels" where, as always, the crowd do all the work for him.

So, despite all the fireworks, the massive stage, the singalongs, it all feels like someone going through the motions. You can't hide from a massive screen and it shows a tired man. Yet he's only played a few dozen gigs this year, to mass adulation everywhere. But that's the crux of it. This isn't a bad show, just a weary one. It's time for Robbie Williams to disappear, recover his energy and his appetite. The masses may still come, but even an end of the pier show can't go on forever.

by Simon Ward