John Drake: Cup format needs to follow the round-ball code's example

It's time for the IRB to get some teeth, but don't hold your breath.

People are calling for teams such as Namibia to be eliminated from the World Cup, but that's a knee-jerk reaction.

It would be better for the IRB to address the real problems, but life is too comfortable for the fat cats of world rugby and I don't expect any real changes will be made.

I would advocate a soccer approach, where the hosts automatically qualify for the World Cup every four years, and the rest have to qualify in regions, with home and away games. That means everyone is treated on an equal basis, and would solve the problem of New Zealand refusing to play test matches in the islands.

Once teams have qualified, the IRB should put money their way to help them prepare properly - even if that means spending money to help get players released.

And they must enforce the right of the smaller countries to have their best players available.

It's ridiculous that a player such as Trevor Leota, who should be with Samoa right now, keeps playing for Wasps, whereas his clubmate, Lawrence Dallaglio - a key member of the English side - goes to the World Cup.

As with many of New Zealand's provinces, the minnows don't want charity. They want the ability to stand on their own two feet, something that is denied them right now.

The trouble is, the IRB really only represents the heavyweights of world rugby.

The game has skidded backwards in places such as Canada and the United States since it turned professional.

This World Cup really brings into focus the scale of the game now. New Zealand continue to produce great players, as the NPC has shown, but tough times and decisions lie ahead.

When you see a guy like Leon MacDonald heading overseas at this point in his career, it makes you ponder what the future holds.

Getting to the top in this country is like getting a high-class degree in rugby, which sets you up for the big cash overseas.

There is a lot of logic in the rule whereby New Zealand players have to be based here to be eligible for the All Blacks.

But how long can that last. There is fine talent coming through, but what happens when outstanding current players, the Doug Howletts or Richie McCaws, head overseas in their prime.

There will be a public outcry, the pressure will go on, and then who knows.

New Zealand have already dabbled with this issue, when Kevin Schuler returned from overseas briefly before playing for the All Blacks again in 1995, and attempts were made to get Graeme Bachop back on board in 1999.

And the scale of the tournament in Australia has shown New Zealand to be not up to World Cup hosting standards.

We've already seen from the sub-hosting row that we don't have as much clout in world rugby as we thought we did. It's not all doom and gloom by any means, but this tournament casts an imposing shadow over rugby in New Zealand.