Cup time nears, but do we care?

By WYNNE GRAY

Unusual isn't it?

A week out from the start of the eighth season of Super 12, a year in which huge fascination will conclude at the World Cup final in Sydney late November, and the buzz is minimal.

Trial games at Waitakere and Mt Maunganui pulled decent crowds, as you would expect at venues that do not have any of that action for the rest of the year.

In previous seasons, those games might have been dissected as if they were trials for the All Blacks or meaningful pointers to what would happen in the next three months.

You still get the odd pockets of over-zealous interest from those who can never see past the pig's bladder, those who are burning up about whether Sam Tuitupou, Jason Shoemark or Lee Stensness will be the Blues second five-eighths or how the Chiefs will operate without Deacon Manu.

But in a year when the All Blacks have a decent show of matching their cup triumph from the inaugural 1987 tournament, rugby's relevance has taken a back seat ... for now.

It will not be long, though, before discussion rages about the merits of certain players, coaches, teams, styles and refereeing.

It is just that the America's Cup and the World Cup of cricket have locked down interest.

When you have to don a hat and slap on SPF 30+ sunscreen just to watch a rugby training session at this time of the year, it is easy to appreciate the attraction of cricket and yachting.

Throw in tennis, golf, motor-racing and cycling and the lull in rugby interest makes sense.

But a week away from the Super 12, it may take the Six Nations series to reignite the rugby flames.

That competition starts this weekend with the boom or bust test: England hosting France at Twickenham. This international is likely to decide the series champion although Ireland, in a confident mood after their recent win against the Wallabies, will fancy their chances.

England and France are in the top line of favouritism for the fifth World Cup, where they sit on the opposite side of the draw from the All Blacks. There is a chance the All Blacks could meet England in a quarter-final, but if New Zealand reach the final they are more likely to meet England or France.

Before those possibilities, both nations travel to New Zealand mid-year for solitary tests.

England are difficult to beat at Twickenham and embellished that record with their victories against the Tri-Nations sides last November.

France showed mixed form against the All Blacks but were forceful enough to beat England in Paris last year. It may be too early for rugby for many but you can be sure the All Black coaching staff will be watching intently.