During the course of the Tri-Nations via The Roar, I stumbled upon the fact that the Wallabies are going to be nigh on an unstoppable juggernaut come WC 2011. So who are the biggest threats to this Australian team taking their rightful place at the top of the Rugby universe?
New Zealand have been building solidly but are an aging side, reliant solely on Messers McCaw and Carter. Not to mention the choke they have on premature exits from the Rugby world's biggest stage.
South Africa are merely awaiting the return of their injured brigade led by the incomparable Du Preez and the wily (but clean-living) Brussouw to implement properly their kick-chase-pressure game-plan that saw them come and conquer all last season. But can these sides live with the pace and invention of the Reds-inspired Wallabies?
The Northern teams too have pretensions. The mercurial French can beat anyone on their day and Martin Johnson is waxing lyrical about his superbly-conditioned England squad who are now ready to deal to the Southern teams when they venture to Europe.
Wales and Ireland too are making confident noises and the Scots could fairly claim that in a knockout competition it can come down to the rub of the green.
Will the weather and the late starts play a part come crunch time? Will Australia be the first name to appear three times on the WWE trophy?
