KEY POINTS:
There is an overwhelming case for reducing the number of World Cup teams in 2011, but before that happens, safeguards are needed so the Pacific Island participation isn't cut.
Having endured the dubious charms of rugby Portuguese, Japanese, American, Canadian, Italian, Namibian and Romanian style, it is clear
that rugby's obsession with spreading its word should not come at the expense of seeking quality cup tournaments.
Ireland and England have been bad enough, for goodness sake, so rugby hardly needs to plumb the depths below that.
The World Cup needs a reduced minnow cap so it is more competitive, rather than providing sporadic contests. Charity should stay at home. A reduced tournament might even encourage the constant selection of full strength teams, although it wouldn't be a surprise if the IRB clung to the 20-team formula in its bid for world domination.
Unfortunately, the IRB may fail to see how one-sided matches detract from the tournament by turning it into a drawn-out bore.
As for All Black wing Joe Rokocoko's reported comment that playing a team like Portugal was a "breath of fresh air", World Cups aren't supposed to be about frivolous enlightenment. They are supposed to be blood-and-guts battles for ultimate glory. For a breath of fresh air, Joe, try a holiday in Fiji.
A big concern, however, is that should the IRB realise that 20 teams are too many, it will wield its scalpel in the wrong direction.
The top three teams from each of the four 2007 pools qualify for 2011, which means Samoa has already missed automatic qualification. The IRB has, apparently, yet to decide how many teams will take part.
My strident plea here is for the New Zealand Rugby Union, the 2011 hosts, to make it clear that Tonga, Samoa and Fiji must all be part of the next tournament.
It should happen anyway, but nothing should be left to chance. It is inconceivable for a tournament in the heart of the Pacific to be missing one of those teams.
Samoa (1987), Tonga (1991) and Fiji (1995) have missed one tournament each when 16-team formats were used. Yet struggling Romania, Japan and Canada are among those who have been ever-present, with Home Countries teams who have often been poorer contributors than the under-resourced Pacific Island sides.
Put it this way. How many great Scottish World Cup moments can you come up with compared to, say, great Samoan moments?
The 2007 tournament has struggled, despite the fabulous crowds, because it has been full of poor, kick-oriented rugby and lopsided results. Tonga's remarkable testing of South Africa in Lens yesterday morning was even more remarkable because Tonga didn't play all that well to take the second favourites to the limit.
Tonga qualified for the World Cup by playing a ridiculous repechage against Korea in west Auckland. So I'm getting in first here and sounding an alert, because the IRB is an old boys' network which treats the Pacific Island countries on a par with rugby outposts, rather than treasuring them as they should.
The Samoans and Tongans have made an interesting contrast at this tournament. Samoa, by their World Cup history and Pacific tournament results, were more favoured and had to face a stronger South African combination. On paper, though, Tonga and Samoa looked fairly even and the Tongans have created the better impression, including a victory over their neighbours.
Samoa have already been patronised by some of the British press after rallying against England but, really, they lost out on a golden chance to score a historic win over the ponderous, vulnerable champions.
Here again you must cry foul, as mega-rich England had eight days to prepare for the game compared to Samoa's six.
Tonga, with an ad hoc game revolving around first five-eighths Pierre Hola, inspired a fantastic atmosphere at Lens, rocking an arrogant second-string South Africa who forgot to knuckle down to the basics. Their minnow status may even, you fear, have affected the refereeing call of a forward pass which rubbed out a try to prop Soane Tonga'uiha. Had the pass been from, say, Dan Carter to Carl Hayman, you suspect it would have had a greater chance of being ruled as good.
Tonga, Samoa, Fiji - they are glorious contributors to rugby, both in the quality of their players and at the World Cup. It was Samoa who almost caused the boilover of 2003 against England, and they remain the World Cup's darlings.
The lure of the All Blacks is always going to be one major problem for the island nations. While some British writers paint a picture of the All Blacks dragging heartbroken footballers out of their island huts, the fact is that many Pacific footballers dream of wearing the All Black jersey.
The Super 14 contract rules also work against the Pacific nations, and the All Blacks are cynical about capturing fringe test players. What, for instance, was achieved in selecting Auckland prop Saimone Taumoepeau for the All Blacks in 2004/05. He was hardly persevered with and is heading overseas. Surely Taumoepeau should have played for Tonga in this tournament, and there are other similar cases.
And yet, that black jersey, with attendant financial advantages, holds power over the island players.
The IRB should move heaven and earth to promote rugby in the Pacific hotbed. Instead of sucking up to Japan and deluding themselves in other places, they could start by giving due respect to the power of Pacific Islands rugby by guaranteeing the region three World Cup places.
Samoa, Tonga and Fiji deserve it, and rugby deserves it.
