Sport: RWC win could yet prove a pipe dream

So what have we learned from the Tri Nations circus so far?
That any one of three teams in the competition can still win the Rugby World Cup, that's what.
As impressive as the All Blacks' scoreline was against an under-strength South African line-up in the opener, it was just that: a woefully weak Springbok selection.
The Wallabies were then dispatched comfortably enough, if you go just by the scoreboard again (30-14), but they did land more points than the All Blacks in the second half don't forget.
Again, no reason to put the grocery bill on this week's TAB quote of $1.62 that the AB's will break their 24-year World Cup hoodoo on October 23.
Whether you believe in curses or not the stats don't lie; only England in the soccer World Cup can hang their head lower when it comes to falling spectacularly at the final hurdle.
Yes, there was some impressive hustle in the Bledisloe Cup win, and an organised defence.
But if the Crusaders' top trio of Dan Carter (pictured), Richie McCaw, and Kieran Read hadn't played out of their skins at Eden Park, the result would have been a lot closer than the Three Wise Men would care to admit.
Let's also not forget New Zealand had more than a little help from the green and golds in the form of James O'Connor's off-target boot and an absolute all-round shocker from the Reds' Super 15-final hero Quade Cooper.
Cooper was as abysmal as Carter was freakish.
Disturbingly, less than a month out from a competition in which the whole country is demanding nothing less than a clean-sweep, we're not going to be any the wiser about the AB's chances after the return Tri Nations clash in South Africa on August 21 either.
Predictably, coach Graham Henry is returning the sentiment dished up by his Springboks' rival Peter de Villiers and resting all his heavy-hitters.
We can only hope - no pray - that we get something resembling a serious dress rehearsal for the RWC final against Aussie in Brisbane on August 27.
We all know we've got a better talent pool than any other rival in this RWC, but as we've so painfully seen from 1991-2007 it's heart that wins at this level, not flashes of brilliance.
Just pick a team and stick to it. Rest be damned - they can take the rest of the year off for all we care after October 23 if they win.
Last week, Henry told a Bledisloe Cup breakfast he has an escape plan prepared in case the All Blacks don't deliver on the overwhelming public expectations.
We're paraphrasing here, but the tale involved living like a beatnik on a diet of vino and wild herbs.
"I'll have a little beret and a big beard, smoking marijuana and drinking red wine, and I'll be in the south of France somewhere," Henry jested.
Nice to see you can have a chuckle about these things Ted: too bad the rest of us can't feel so relaxed.