Richie McCaw. Photo / Getty Images
The All Blacks will win the Rugby World Cup.
Forget the fact that they are some of the finest specimens on the planet.
Set aside any smarting from recent nailings by South Africa and Australia.
Disregard John Key's tongue-in-cheek statement that the Prime Minister was male the last time the All Blacks won.
The All Blacks will win the Rugby World Cup simply because it's time!
The energy of this nation is behind our boys. We accept that the best-laid plans can come a cropper and stranger things have happened - like Argentina coming third at the last one.
But I am sure that, like me, you are sick of getting ribbed by Poms, Aussies and Japies about choking.
I recently toured Alaska's Inside Passage, which was beautiful but marred by choking jibes from a South African gym instructor.
I don't know if he thought he was being funny, or in his odd way just flirting, but by the end of the cruise I wanted to deck him.
Before the cup, I have no tolerance for the doubters. Sure, if the boys falter, by all means give it to them but until they do, we should put all whinging in a box.
New Zealand is fired up for quite a spectacle. With almost 100,000 visitors (at least 35,000 from Australia), regions have embraced their surrogate teams, cars are being pimped and kids are frenzied. Irrespective of whether you like rugby, if you have a sporting bone in your body you will be gearing up for the testosterone fest.
Even local soccer players who moan about the minority status that their beloved football receives from our media will be watching because they love competition between the best in the world.
And the ultimate showdown, is a trans Tasman duel. It is fuelled by the fact that the arrogant Aussies just won't accept that we are better than them.
There is plenty to see and from a female point of view, the eye candy is delightful so let's objectify the players.
Hot picks are Sergio Parisse from Italy and Mike Philips from Wales. Japan's Cook Islands centre Ryan Nicholas is Aussie born but Kiwi made and worth watching. However, make sure you see these boys in early games because as you know we won't see much of them after that.
Frenchmen Alexis Palisson and Morgan Parra offer a metrosexual element and South Africa's Victor Matfield is good to watch in an alpha male, caveman kind of way.
Closer to home Australia's Quade Cooper has a "Matthew Ridge bad boy" thing going on and for those still fixated on Justin Beiber,there's always party boy James O'Connor.
The Irish team is full of fun, led by the talented Brian O'Driscoll, but if you like the idea of making Ireland your home, Shaun O'Brien is the one. He's looking for a lovely Kiwi girl to take back with him.
Yes the world has a lot to offer and I am sure a lot more will pop up during the games but cards on the table, the All Blacks are where it's at!
Seriously, how can you go past Richard Kahui, Dan Carter, Anthony Boric, Sonny Bill Williams, Cory Jane, Zac Guildford and Conrad Smith? You can't because the All Blacks are the hottest team here!
And if I had to choose the hottest man at this World Cup, it's a no-brainer, it would be the man at the top. No, not Graham Henry ... Richie McCaw.
Richard Chambers said it was an “absolute honour” to lead police.