Which is of course why the northern hemisphere teams have won so many world cups and tour so well...QUOTE]
The Northern Hemisphere teams have figured in all but one final ... They just didn't win as many
If things had been different it could have been only 1 Southern win! Apart from 87 and 99, all the games have been very close and could have gone either way.
87 - NZ vs France
91 - Aus vs Eng
95 - NZ vs SA
99 - Aus vs Fra
03 - Aus vs Eng
07 - Eng vs SA
As to the touring - when they send their full sides, which isn't very often, they go alright in the South. In 2003 England sent their full squad and beat NZ and Oz. Last year France sent their full side and upset NZ. This year England finally sent a full compliment again and they beat Oz - although that was largely thanks to Matt Giteaus ineptitude, not due to ENgland ability, and the fact that the Aussie scrum was an embarrassment.
Realistically with the way the global season is players are burnt out by the end of their respective domestic seasons and many do not tour as they need surgery or simply need a rest. The ONLY reliable yardstick is a World Cup as that is the only time there are no excuses and all the best players should be on deck.
Australia will have a few back next year. The fitness of Horwill will be key and as will whether QC (Quade Cooper) learns to tackle by then...
Everyone has written off South Africa already but they have some brilliant players to come back from injury including Heinrich Brussouw who was the best forward in the world in 2009!
New Zealand - can they hang on after it seems they have peaked to early again. If Carter goes down that would seem to be their biggest problem. They have great cover everywhere it would seem apart from at 10. They would also struggle if McCaw gets hurt.