KEY POINTS:
Some may think this sounds a little negative after such a fine test win by the All Blacks last week but I am afraid I have an issue with world rugby and this constant, unyielding focus on the World Cup.
The All Blacks are as good as any
team I have seen. They have developed the world's best coaching set-up, team structure and have managed to create fine buy-in by the players. They are the fittest side around. They are the strongest. They are the fastest and, technically, are better than any other team.
But if you take a world view - and that's what we are getting in Europe at present with England, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, France, the All Blacks, Canada, Italy, Wales, the Pacific Islanders, Scotland and Ireland all playing here - I have to say I feel a little cheated.
As a fan - and that's what I am now - I am annoyed that I am not seeing George Gregan, for example, on the Wallaby tour so I can compare him against new halfback Matt Giteau. I am irritated that Jake White has brought his second-string Springboks up here. I want to see the best against the best and make my own judgements.
I feel strongly that rotation is undermining world rugby. Even as we accept the quality of this All Black side, we have to admit that overall the quality of world rugby has gone down. And I can't see things changing.
The good news is that it looks likely the All Blacks will lead world rugby for some time now.
I don't think other countries will be able to match Graham Henry's rotation abilities as they just don't have the depth.
The bad news is that many will try and, as a fan, it is not pleasant contemplating international rugby in between World Cups at the moment.
When you speak to Kiwis, they are interested in only two games next year - the semifinal and final of the World Cup. They don't talk about the quarter-finals and they certainly don't talk about pool play.
That means the IRB has got two big problems right now - breathing some life into the World Cup and finding a way to build decent international competition between World Cups.
There is a lot of work that has to be done at IRB level if they are going to sort this out. It's a big challenge and a huge job and it needs to get under way smartly. No international game can afford to be leaking quality for any length of time. Fans won't stand for it.
Having said all that, it could have been so different. Think back almost two years to the day to November 20, 2004. The All Blacks edged out Wales 26-25.
It was a fine match but the All Blacks were a little lucky to win. Things could have been different if the Welsh had chosen to attack the All Black line at 26-22 - they had scored two tries that day - instead of goaling a penalty to make it 26-25.
Rotation may not have arisen if that game had been lost. But now a bigger issue has arisen.
