David Leggat: Mystery guests to weave World Cup magic

So now the guessing games can begin.

Chris Moller yesterday said the identity of three of the five-strong New Zealand Rugby Union delegation to present the country's World Cup hosting bid next month will stay secret.

New Zealand, Japanese and South African delegations roll up before the International Rugby Board in Dublin next month to pitch their cases to host the 2011 event. The IRB makes its decision on November 17.

Japan and South Africa will be led by significant political figures: Japan's former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, now president of that country's rugby union, and South Africa will, inevitably, have Nelson Mandela at their table.

This presumably means the Prime Minister has been asked to be on hand. She has never been, shall we say, noted for her fondness for the national game, despite her desire to get from Timaru to Wellington with indecent haste for a test last year.

Helen Clark's office isn't confirming anything, other than that a video of her addressing the IRB council has been made.

Moller ducked and dived like, er, a politician when the topic of who will be in Dublin was raised on Radio Sport yesterday.

"We hope there will be an element of surprise on the day," he said.

Moller and NZRFU chairman Jock Hobbs will be two of the five. The pair are off to do some serious lobbying over the next few weeks.

There are 21 council votes, but it's obvious where five - two each of South Africa and New Zealand and Japan's one vote - will go.

Each delegation will make a half-hour presentation, followed by 15 minutes of Q and A.

The magic number is 11, but who will weave the magic for New Zealand before IRB president Syd Millar and his mates in Dublin? And do big names really matter?

It is generally accepted that Sebastian Coe, now Lord Coe, played a significant hand in London pipping Paris at the finish line to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

He even had that renowned Olympian David Beckham, plus Prime Minister Tony Blair in tow for the sprint home.

Two-time Olympic 1500m champion Coe, so the story goes, called in all sorts of favours in a bid to win the day. And clearly did it expertly.

But will the IRB voters see through the showbiz aspect in making their decisions? Mandela is a remarkable man, but on purely practical matters, as opposed to tugging at emotional strings, could he really cadge enough votes for South Africa?

So who will sit with Hobbs and Moller at the New Zealand table?

If you're thinking rugby, presumably the likes of Sir Wilson Whineray, rumoured a good bet for this country's next Governor General, Sir Brian Lochore or dear old Piney would be top of the contenders. Men of standing and clout in the rugby world.

You can forget Jonah Lomu after his remarks - whether ill-judged or simply honest, or taken out of context - giving Japan a pat on the back last month.

If you're thinking political muscle, it has to be the PM, for all her fondness of the arts over rugby. Sports Minister Trevor Mallard would mean nothing to Syd and his chums.

Think wider.

What about Sir Edmund Hillary? After all, he knows a fair bit about climbing big mountains.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa could sing up a storm. Peter Jackson would direct a beaut presentation.

Forget Olympic champions, after the way rugby got the heave-ho from the International Olympic Committee this year.

Maybe Benji Marshall, whose mid-air double sidestep borders on the miraculous. It might take a miracle to get this decision.

Silliness aside, there are all sorts of options. But if the faces aren't underpinned by a strong presentation, if the spadework by Hobbs and Moller in the next few weeks doesn't press the right buttons (translation: if they can't offer enough to the various voters in rugby terms) it won't matter who's sitting beside them in Dublin.