The Rugby World Cup kicks off a year from Thursday with pundits already wondering whether host New Zealand can maintain its majestic level of play.
The mighty All Blacks have won every game they have played in 2010, drubbing No. 2 Australia and No. 3 South Africa in the Tri-Nations tournament.
"Just look at the way they're playing at the moment, I think they're the No. 1 team in the world, it's quite clear," said Canadian coach Kieran Crowley, a former All Black himself. "The question everyone will be asking is have they peaked too early?"
No. 14 Canada will get a firsthand look at the top-ranked hosts on Oct. 2, 2011, in Wellington in its final Pool A game.
Canada opens Sept. 14 against No. 16 Tonga, before taking on No. 4 France on Sept. 18, and No. 13 Japan on Sept. 27.
With only the top two teams in each of the four groups advancing to the quarter-finals, the Canadians will need an upset of near biblical proportions to move on.
But finishing third in the group means automatic qualification for the 2015 tournament, a prize in itself for an amateur rugby country like Canada.
Rugby Canada CEO Graham Brown is expecting wins, if not miracles.
"My expectations — certainly shared by our board — are that we will go into the World Cup and beat Tonga, beat Japan and give France and New Zealand a go for their money," said Brown. "Or at least put a highly competitive and organized team on the field against them. That's the reality.
"But we will beat Tonga and we will beat Japan."
Canada went 0-3-1 at the 2007 World Cup, finishing last in its pool after an unlucky campaign that saw few breaks go its way.
The only time Canada has advanced out of the first round was in 1991 when it lost 29-13 to New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
Crowley has had more success placing some of his players overseas — Chauncey O'Toole with the Glasgow Warriors and Adam Kleeberger with Auckland in New Zealand are the two latest examples — and says he is generally happy with where the program is one year away.
He saw progress at the summer Churchill Cup, where Canada finished runner-up to England 'A,' but has wanted more from some of his players in the national championship.
"I'm happy with where we're at but we've still got a lot of room to go."
Canada's pre-tournament plans include the Americas Rugby Championship in October, featuring B teams from host Argentina, Tonga, the U.S. and a Canadian side made up of domestic-based players.
The full national squad will tour Europe in November with games against Belgium, Spain, Georgia and Portugal.
In 2011, the Canadian team will take part in the Churchill Cup, play two games against the U.S. in early August and then tour Australia before the World Cup.
Canada will leave three weeks early and play Australia 'A' and a provincial side before moving over to New Zealand.
Brown calls it "a great plan."
"We've had the best structure. Before we were struggling nine months out (to put it together). We've had this plan in place now for close to 16 months."
New Zealand may traditionally rule the rugby world but it only has one World Cup title to its credit, from 1987 when it served as co-host with Australia. South Africa (1995 and 2007), Australia (1991 and 1999) and England (2003) have won the spoils.
Crowley says he has no worries about being seen as the enemy in his return home under Canadian colours.
"I suppose one won't know the feelings on that until it actually comes," he said. "But I know the Canadian national anthem, so I'll be singing that one."
The Canadian coach sees Australia as a team on the rise.
"They have a lot of young, exciting players. Will this World Cup be one too early for them? Maybe, I don't know."