Pay disputes, racism allegations, club versus country rows, drug test scrutiny and disciplinary crackdowns have spiced the lead-up to the fifth Rugby World Cup, kicking off here next month.
Now it's almost time for the on-field fireworks to begin.
New Zealand, the inaugural 1987 champions, and England, the home of rugby but yet to hold aloft the Webb Ellis Trophy, are the favorites on the back of their outstanding lead-up form.
Given New Zealand's close proximity to Australia, the All Blacks may have the edge on England, even though Clive Woodward's team won for the first time in New Zealand and Australia last June.
Yet for all their potency, there are some who point to the All Blacks' inability to seal the deal since winning at home 16 years ago.
New Zealand were knocked out in the semifinals by Australia in 1991, and again by France in 1999. In 1995 they met South Africa in the final before losing 15-12 after extra time.
Former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones believes the All Blacks will choke under the pressure.
Woodward, never short of confidence, is convinced his England players can cope with the pressure of being one of the favorites to bring back the Webb Ellis Trophy from Australia.
The Six Nations Grand Slam champions have beaten all their main rivals in the past year and go to Australia atop of the International Rugby Board rankings.
"The pressure that is put on England by the media and the public is nothing compared to the pressure the team puts on itself -- everyone is very focused and no-one wants to let the others down," Woodward said.
Australia have lost four of their last five Tests and doubts over whether there is enough cohesion in the backs and authority and impact in the forwards.
"There's no sense of panic, I think we've got a great sense of calmness about it, that we've picked the best players in Australia," coach Eddie Jones said.
Australia's significant advantage is that they are playing at home, before their own fans and are familiar with the conditions, expected to warm to hot in some playing centres, particularly in Brisbane and Townsville.
France, two-times beaten finalists, are not effusive about their chances.
"The English are better than us," said coach Bernard Laporte, whose team had three consecutive away losses to Argentina and New Zealand in mid-year.
Overlooked center Thomas Castaignede was more scathing in his assessment, saying: "Les Bleus will need all the help they can get, be it paranormal, spiritual, extraterrestrial or celestial."
South Africa, the 1995 champions at home, have been distracted by damaging racism claims ahead of their blockbuster Oct. 18 pool game with England in Perth.
An inquiry into alleged racism within the Springbok team has been put over until early next year so the team can concentrate on the World Cup.
The SARFU appointed retired judge Edwin King to undertake the probe after lock Geo Cronje was expelled from a World Cup training camp for refusing to share a room with his black teammate Quinton Davids.
Ireland, in the same group as Australia and rated above the Wallabies at number three in the world in the new IRB ratings, have been hit by injuries with centre Jonny Bell (Achilles tendon) out and fullback Geordan Murphy breaking his leg in a warmup win over Scotland.
The Pacific island teams have been rocked by a damaging club versus country row with at least five players forced to put the club first.
Samoan Trevor Leota and Henry Tuilagi, Fiji's Simon Raiwalui and Jacob Rauluni, and Tonga's Aisea Havili have withdrawn from the 20-nation tournament to honour club commitments in Britain that clash with the tournament.
Namibia have also been hit with four of their squad playing professionally in South Africa withdrawing.
A pay dispute was finally brokered in July among players of the leading rugby nations after the IRB rejected their demands to pay prizemoney, saying this would reward the richest rugby-playing countries at the expense of others.
The IRB is paying some 11 million dollars (7.5 million USD) to the 20 participating nations, the first time it has shared its profits from its premier event.
The IRB has appointed the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) to carry out drug testing for the first time at the World Cup.
ASDA has said random checks would involve around 300 tests during the tournament.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said it will monitor the drug testing despite not having been invited as official observers by organisers.
The World Cup has also adopted a soccer-style totting up process which will put players getting three yellow cards in front of a disciplinary panel with the expectation of receiving a one-match ban.
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