Half empty ? The bloody thing's overflowing at present . If the rugby World Cup was being played in South Africa, there may be some cause for concern. But given it's not, there’s no show here. The All Blacks' last three trips to the Northern Hemisphere have produced unblemished records. Look for the same thing to occur this September.

Add to this the fact that Graham Henry will be taking a freshened, reconditioned, fully-fit squad (save two locks) which will also provide skipper Richard McCaw with two previous All Black Test skippers in Rueben Thorne and  Anton Oliver - which means he will be the best-supported skipper we have ever sent to a World Cup tournament.

In addition to this, the All Blacks have in McCaw and Daniel Carter two players who can command the title ‘best in the world', plus a host of others who would command a starting place in any World XV line-up. And I haven’t mentioned the fact that every other major Test-playing side in the world at present is in relative disarray.

Australia have a coach who is neither respected nor liked by half the team, and they have been forced into a co-captain situation and haven’t had a tight five for the best part of five years. The emperor has no clothes on there, for sure.

England have a coach with one foot in the grave, are weak beyond No.8 and appear to have put all their eggs in the Jonny Wilkinson basket.

France will go into the tournament with five consecutive hidings from the All Blacks behind them.

South Africa appear to be our main threat. But the Luke Watson selection scandal (imagine Jock Hobbs telling Henry whom he can select?) and the fact that the Springboks have a less than enviable track record in Europe, means their Super 14 momentum will soon be lost.

Ireland appear to be the only genuine dark horses. But their winless history against the All Blacks surely means they will not progress should our paths cross.

History can also be a good indicator of the future. In 1999 two New Zealand sides played out the S12 final and we all know what happened on the fateful day in Twickenham. Fast forward to 2003 where the Blues and Crusaders fought out the S12 final only to see the All Blacks dumped out at the World Cup semi-final stage by the Wallabies. So no Kiwi sides in the Super 14 final this year is a positive omen.

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