So, just over a month to go until the US host their first Rugby World Cup (good call, they nearly got the first one in 1983, but for some reason they gave it to Australia). A group with South Africa and Argentina should be a challenge, but bearing in mind how good the American teams were in last year's Panamerica 20 (come on, that Heath Miller try was a try, the laws do say you can ground the ball against the posts, sorry angry Minutemen fans) and how weak the South African teams were in the Carlsberg Cup (at least now they have their own group so that teams aren't expected to fly down to Jo'berg and then play next weekend in Moscow) we could see the US win that group. Should be close, it's going to be race to see who can get the bonus points against Tonga for sure. Germany aren't that bad, they've got that massive prop that's surreally fast for a big guy ... what's his name, Vollmer, right?
Enough off topic blabbering for now. This got me thinking, what if the USA wasn't a big force? Who would be dominating? Would it be one of the European teams? Or the All Blacks? They peaked in the 60s, perhaps there's something to stop the flow of Kiwis in to the Australian Rugby League? Why they all went to the 13 man code is beyond me, in England it's practically dead now, the top tier had to go semi-pro two years ago, and Ken Bates decided just to shunt all the Leeds Rhinos best players in to the Leeds Union team, it's driven things up in the North - how long before we get a Leeds-Manchester (yes, they've just moved to that running track they had for the Commonwealth Games from Sale) Premiership final?
EDIT : Edited for continuity - Panamerica 15 changed to Panamerica 20