Are the Northern Hemisphere teams any threat at the World Cup?

From the warm up games then no. 
They may win a one off game against the Southern Hemisphere, but I don't see them winning more than one game against the Super3 in the knockouts. 
If these teams don't dominate their opponents breakdown, they have no plan B, or the backs to implement it. They have some decent ball carriers but not enough skill to link with the backs enough. 

Wales look to have lost the plot. France are poor at best. Ireland are mostly average joe's with a good coach.Scotland and Italy both remain jokes in bad taste. 
England are probably the biggest threat, but they don't look like a settle outfit yet with the continual changes. Dumping Cipriani was a good move, he was bound to do something stupid and create controversy for the host nation. He castigated another member of the squad, only to be caught drink driving at 5 in the morning one week later. 
Given the games are going to be on harder football pitches and in Autumn, I dont give these teams much chance. The ball should get cleared quicker from the base of the rucks than in winter time so it should be more open. 
The draw will be a big factor depending on who would be in the other semi, if SA and NZ meet in the semi.
Argentina could be a dark horse. They have a well rounded team that could surprise many of the higher ranked teams

 The POMS however boring with their big pack will be the biggest threat coming from the north but not a big enough threat to win the WC. Argentina could be the surprise, they're a quality side and should command respect. Stepping into the breach my prediction is  either NZ or the Boks to win the RWC.

Yes if the English pack gets going they can be a juggernaut. In 2007 they started the tournament terribly, but then got stronger game by game to make it all the way to the final and push South Africa close. 
Ireland are the only other realistic option of being good enough over 3 games to go all the way from the Northern Hemisphere .All Blacks are easily the favourites. Hopefully their is an upset against the All Blacks instead of the Boks meeting them in the semis

 You could make the argument that finishing the runner up in our pool, playing the Aussies in the Quarters...a European team or the Bargies in the semis....and the ABs in the finals where I believe we have the best chance to beat them, is the best path to the WC.

A big gamble that could pay off handsomely. 
If the Boks lost to in the quarters it would be a total disaster and wishing they played the All Blacks in the semis even if they got beat. 
Going home as semi finalists is better than losing in the quarters, but avoiding the All Blacks at all costs may be the most reliable way of winning. 
If any other team wins it might be because they avoided the All Blacks, and someone else knocked the All Blacks out before the final.

Team spirit dictates you go out  and win all your games. And that's what we should do. But it's odd that doing so probably makes it  harder to win the whole shooting match, even if it makes a semi  more likely.

England was considered a borderline joke in 2007 and they ended up knocking out both France and Australia to make the final. You never know in knock-out rugby. Pressure can wreak havoc with a favorite much more so than with an underdog.

 "Pressure can wreak havoc with a favorite much more so than with an underdog."
Someone needs to tell the AB' s.

 Never count out the NH. There was only one occasion where a NH side did not feature in the final. That was in 1995 between us and NZ. The jackpot is that, in all honesty, we were very very lucky to even be in that final.

Argentine is in the SH Denny

It's best not to ignore Ireland

The Bargies are in the SH, but Denny is justified in disowning them. Most Latin A merican countries claim they aren't even in South America.

 Has it come to this that Bok supporters want to avoid the Mighty All Blacks ? I can hardly beleive my eyes please tell me it isnt so !

 It's best not to ignore any country really. It is rude in the extreme and plain stupid.
As for England being simply forward dominated; one can tell who hasn't actually seen any of our matches recently ! 

Shark your rugby ignorance shines bright....I take it you missed France dominating England into submission but for the last 10 min a few weeks ago.
Wake the fuck up 

I have watched the first half of that game. France is beginning to look good and Michalak like a man on a mission. Remember all those Sharks fans who disowned him. By contrast Ford is looking increasingly like a mental midget....can that kid lead a team to a WC win. I doubt it.

No wardrad rather avoid them until the final. We have lots of key players coming back from injuries and they need to peak for the final and win!

 "Argentine is in the SH Denny"  Nothing wrong with my GPS Seba....my resposte was in 2 parts....for one I tipped who I thought would win the RWC and in two I agreed with Sharkbok about  the Bargies causing an upset, although I must agree I wasn't clear enough. Heaven knows what the French are going to do, I guess they wouldn't know either but therein lies their magic......as for the boring POMS, I expect  they'll be competitive on home soil. Just my thoughts.