Welcome Melbourne. Hello Super 15. World Cup, here we come.

How good is this?

Rugby, in all its typically convoluted glory has again hit its stride. Even the drongos in the northern hemisphere now realize there is an upside to making the game enjoyable to watch.

Blessedly, 2011 can and almost certainly will be about skill, beauty and courage rather than the fluff, fuss and confusion of a sport without a compass.

So, let's get to it.

After an unsettling summer that culminated in a rightful focus on Shane Warne's inability to kick the winning goal from directly in front with no opposition around him, Melbourne folks will be relieved to get back to the sturdy business of the AFL.

But here's some informed, though possibly criminally-biased information for the discerning citizens of the great sporting Mecca of Melbourne: You now have the best oval ball competition in the world in your terrific city of functional and cost efficient trams. Please, take a crazy chance. Put on the desert boots and get out and see the Rebels. (Bet the Super 15 marketing team wished they'd come up with that).

OK, the new Melbourne franchise won't be the most attractive Aussie team in the comp: worst case scenario is they become the equivalent of the Italians in the Six Nations, living off scraps and makings the most of their solid forwards. And that certainly could be the reality if the Rebels lose a couple of banner names to injury.

But they won't be only Australian team to struggle if squad depth is tested. The Western Force had a horror run last season with injuries and got a right spanking in the process. New coach Richard Graham will be praying his first XV remains upright for a good slab of the year otherwise things may get very ugly pretty quickly.

The Brumbies have potential match-winners all through the first choice run-on side, but the loss of a player such as Matt Giteau, Rocky Elsom or Adam Ashley-Cooper for an extended period could cut very deeply.

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie, on the other hand, has enjoyed a great pre-season with a host of players putting their hands up to be considered for selection.

The Reds will want to convert the promise they showed last season into a top four finish this year and they have the personnel to threaten every side in the comp. The wildcard is Quade Cooper, of course. So much of Queensland's style and success depends on the dancing feet and sure hands of the No. 10.

If Cooper is ‘on', the Reds will be the Aussie side to beat, if not, the all round menace of the Waratahs will likely see them claw to the top.

As always, the Waratahs are promising to play entertaining footy and they have the flyers to do it, but ‘caution' is their coach and playmaker's shared middle name.

Chris Hickey is a clever rugby guy and Berrick Barnes is a great talent, but if they again opt to try and take the safe route towards the Super 15 finals - playing for field position and penalties and hoping the tries will come -- they may be run off the road by a bunch of teams oozing enterprise.

The running game is back and even the enormous South Africans are itching to play ball in hand.

Despite the (welcome) change in the competition's structure, expect defending champs, ‘da Bulls to be bullying anyone and everyone who comes to their less-than-picturesque city of Pretoria, while the Stormers and New Zealand's unmatched Crusaders squad will be there again, no doubt, at the business end of the season.

It's too early to speculate extensively on the World Cup in New Zealand in September and October, but it's safe to safe the All Blacks will be the team to beat. No pressure, of course, on the perennial WC chokers, but they'll have to carry that favourites tag around for the next eight long months (and the suspicion they peaked too soon).

Meanwhile, the Wallabies' mixed performance in Europe - especially their loss to a brazen England side - may prove to be a blessing in disguise. The Poms will be all atwitter about their excitement machine and fancy they have Australia's measure, but the chances of England ambushing the Wallabies again are slim, although it needs to be said their halves combination of Ben Youngs and Toby Flood is outstanding.

In the interim, things are bubbling along nicely for Australian coach Robbie Deans with key questions about the Wallabies' style of play and players being answered in 2010. If key personnel can stay healthy through the long season, Australia may be the biggest threat to New Zealand in the WC, particularly with South Africa retaining their controversial coach and Martin Johnson guaranteed to be in charge of England.

Ireland may bounce back and the French are, well, the French, so the going will be tough, but Australia's young guns are set to shine.