ABs are good, but a long way from great

We've asked it before and we'll ask it again.
Just how good is this current All Blacks rugby side?
Beating the Lions 3-0, sending the Aussies packing in their Bledisloe Cup matches and edging out the Springboks for the Tri Nations Trophy is an impressive curriculum vitae by any standards.
But there's still the nagging suspicion that the ABs have been made to look better than they are by the standard of their opposition.
The Lions were dreadful, the Aussies are as weak as they been for what seems like donkey years and while the 'Boks are obviously on the improve they are a long way from being world beaters, aren't they?
Perhaps then we should be content to support the theory, that, yes, the ABs are top of the pops but a time when the vast majority of their arch rivals are on the downward spiral.
If the ABs were as outstanding as their record would suggest you'd expect them to dominate any World XV, wouldn't you?
But in all honesty how many of the current crop would you promote as leading contenders for such a side?
Flanker Ritchie McCaw for one, lock Chris Jack for two and possibly first-five Dan Carter for three.
Utility back Aaron Mauger could be somewhere thereabouts I suppose because of his versatility, as would prop Carl Hayman, who can hold up either side of the scrum, and you can imagine hard-nosed loosie Jerry Collins coming off the reserve bench as an impact player.
And of course, if the World XV was to follow the trend and perform some kind of war dance before their matches then ABs captain Tana Umaga would be a possible contender for his vigorous leadership there.
Missing from those names but certainly making steps in the right direction is Hurricanes halfback Piri Weepu.
I must admit to being one of many who questioned why Weepu was being seen as Byron Kelleher's understudy ahead of seemingly more talented players like Jimmy Cowan, Steve Devine and Kevin Senio.
Well, with Kelleher on the injured list Weepu has grabbed his opportunities with both hands, so much so that Kelleher, who waited for so long for Justin Marshall to retire, might find himself warming the reserve benches on a regular basis again.
Kelleher may have a slight edge on Weepu in passing skills (and it would be slight) but Weepu chooses his options better, especially when he decides to act the part of fourth loose forward in attacking situations. There is a lot of Sid Going about him, and that is high praise indeed,
I have to say too that Blues lock Ali Williams has literally come on in leaps and bounds.
Once labelled the Clown Prince of New Zealand rugby because of his perceived inability to take life seriously on the field of play, he has become a reliable second fiddle to Jack at lineout time and an industrious worker in all other facets of the forward game.He could have a long future on the international scene, and I never thought I'd say that!