Except for the odd worrying exception, we rugby fans in Godzone have substantial reasons to be optimistic about the chances of Richie McCaw lifting the William Webb Ellis trophy aloft on October 23rd, 2011.

First, and of real significance, I believe at this near half-way point between World Cups, the All Blacks cannot claim the “world’s best” mantle right now.

At nearly every other half-way stage in the past, the All Blacks have unerringly peaked only to be embarrassed at the most important tournament of them all.

Whatever any out-of-date ranking may have it, South Africa currently has the most impressive artillery on the international battle-front.

The Bulls’ thrashing of the Chiefs and the Springboks’ searing favouritism to beat the Lions by a 3 to nil margin are testimony to the fact that their World Championship status from 2007 is still very much intact.

And I am not in any way unnerved by this state of play.

Of course, I’d love to see the All Blacks maintain their fabulous Tri-Nations record by taking out this year’s tournament.

On the other hand, whatever transpires between now and 2011, I for one would warmly welcome the All Blacks becoming no more than co-favourites, come World Cup time.

I never want to see our men in black have the pressure of those ridiculous $1.50 odds to win hanging over them as was the case before the 2007 tournament even started.

Complacency is all that can emerge from that false scenario.

Next, apart from their silly, meaningless title, the Junior All Blacks squad just chosen, shows considerable depth in our ranks is now mostly a reality and not just a forlorn wish.

So much so in fact, I’m confident our best XV from the group just announced could beat every other international team right now, with the exception of the All Blacks and the Springboks.

A team that comprises such rich talents displayed by the likes of Israel Dagg, Lelia Masaga, Rene Ranger, Luke McAlister, Victor Vito, Bryn Evans, Jamie McIntosh and Aled de Malmanche to name a few, is one formidable unit.

The odd worrying exception to this rosy scenario that I referred to in my opening gambit is simply confined to the conspicuous lack of depth in the positions that our two injured megastars occupy.

In fact, it would appear that in direct proportion to the extent that Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are so massively dominant at open side and first-five, these positions are the two where the cupboard is comparatively bare in their absence.

For example, there is now no player of Nick Evans calibre to substitute for Carter and to a lesser extent, nor is there any fetcher of Marty Holah’s ability at his best to fill in for McCaw.

Stephen Donald and either Tanerau Latimer or Adam Thomson may well be the next best alternatives at the moment, but they are many, many orbits in class away from their stellar peers.

That’s why, given McCaw should come right after a confrontation-free June, our most fervent wish has to be that a fully-fit Dan Carter returns as the wonderful asset he was before he received that ghastly injury, a ruptured Achilles.

There’s never a guarantee that champions always regain their full lustre after such a serious set-back.

Hopefully, Carter’s relative youthfulness and sheer class will prove our fears were of no consequence.

Your thoughts on the above are most welcome.