KEY POINTS:
The immediate Rugby World Cup future is black - All Black.
Probably the shortest-priced favourites in the tournament's history, New Zealand are widely expected to end their painful 20-year wait and succeed England as Webb Ellis Trophy holders.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has an enviable pool of players at his disposal, so much so that a New Zealand second XV would probably beat the other 19 competing World Cup countries.
The bookmakers have effectively labelled this year's World Cup a no-contest, while official International Rugby Board rankings see New Zealand a proverbial mile ahead of the rest.
Henry's squad is drawn in comfortably the easiest qualifying group - Scotland, Italy, Romania and Portugal should prove mere cannon fodder - while Ireland and Australia are their likely knockout stage opponents before meeting possibly South Africa in the final.
Several All Blacks - Dan Carter, Carl Hayman, Chris Jack and Richie McCaw, among others - would walk into any current World XV. Basically, it is a team at the peak of its powers.
Complacency has been touted as perhaps the All Blacks' only obstacle to global domination, although they will also have to cope with unprecedented expectancy levels as the rugby world awaits any tiniest possible slip.
If New Zealand get it right, the door should be shut in the faces of their three main rivals - South Africa, Australia and France.
At least the Wallabies proved they are beatable, toppling them in Tri-Nations combat earlier this summer. Such events though, are rarities, and there is no point pretending otherwise.
South Africa, the 1995 world champions, look best-equipped to halt New Zealand's seemingly relentless title march.
They possess the necessary power game to match New Zealand's physical prowess - expect back-row giant Schalk Burger to be a dominant figure - while Bryan Habana is arguably world rugby's deadliest finisher.
Where the Springboks could fall down though is through their lack of a quality fly-half playmaker. Bath-bound Butch James holds coach Jake White's key to number 10, but he will not terrify McCaw and company.
Only a few months ago, the jury was out on Wallabies coach John Connolly and Australia's ability to mount a meaningful World Cup bid.
But it was always a dangerous game to write off a nation with such impressive World Cup credentials - winners in 1991 and 1999, runners-up behind England four years ago - and they could again make a strong push.
Backs Matt Giteau, Stirling Mortlock and Lote Tuqiri should prove influential performers.
It is whether or not Australia's front-five can handle the heat of battle and provide sufficient quality possession that poses a significant question mark.
As for France... Frankly, who knows?
Coach Bernard Laporte will quit after the World Cup to take up a French government post in sport, and it is fiendishly difficult predict what his legacy will be.
Home advantage could give Les Bleus irresistible momentum but, unlike the All Blacks, they are in a group of serious difficulty, given Ireland and Argentina are both lurking.
It is possible France might not even reach the quarter-finals. Alternatively, they could win the tournament, but has it has always been thus.
Outside of France, Ireland look the best-equipped northern hemisphere challenger, and they will have readily digested a simple equation that promises to make or break their World Cup hopes.
If Ireland finish second in the group, they will hurtle headlong into a quarter-final clash against New Zealand. Win the pool, and the Irish would be set for an appointment with Scotland or Italy.
England's demise since winning the World Cup in 2003 is well-chronicled, losing 22 of their subsequent 37 Tests.
They will arrive in France as probable quarter-finalists, but no more than that, unless they can put behind them the inconsistency that has dogged them for too long.
As in 2003, South Africa will provide their key group opponents, although some pundits believe Samoa could give them the hurry-up in Nantes on September 22.
Like England, Wales should also progress, although it has to be said their record since Gareth Jenkins took over the coaching reins is dire.
Many astute followers of the Welsh game are convinced Jenkins does not know what style of play he wants from his players, and such indecision at World Cup time could prove costly.
Their pivotal pool game is against Australia in Cardiff, with England or South Africa probable quarter-final opponents.
Scotland, meanwhile, cannot take the runners-up spot behind New Zealand in Pool C for granted, with ever-improving Italy set to push them all the way in St Etienne on September 29.
Somehow though, everything seems to be a side-show to New Zealand's coronation as world champions. Surely, they can't mess it up again, can they?
- PA SPORT
