Paul Vaughan, the chief executive of England RWC 2015 poses during the launch in Auckland - or is it Alan Partridge? © Getty Images

Pop quiz. What have the following things got in common - a dalek, a helter skelter and a wind turbine?

Answer: Rugby World Cup 2015

Let me explain. Images of these seemingly random items were used along with a host of others (including shots of the Gherkin tower, a Mini, Nelson's Column, the Houses of Parliament and the Angel of the North) to help launch the build-up to the next global gathering that will take place in England (and Wales) in four years time.

The venue for drinks reception was The Cloud, the multi-purpose venue on Auckland's Queens Wharf that is also a second home for the international media. Unsurprisingly there was a large contingent of the UK media in attendance, keen for an insight into RWC'15 and if that came with a free feed and the odd drink then so be it.

Paul Vaughan, the chief executive of organisers England RWC 2015, was our host for the evening and he kicked things off ("Tonight is the first step in a four-year journey to deliver what we believe will be the biggest-ever Rugby World Cup") before introducing IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset who set the ball rolling towards the tournament with a few words of encouragement. That was about as official this low-key presentation got with the stage then given over to Kiwi TV reporter James McConie (a regular on Sky Sport's highly-entertaining Crowd Goes Wild) and a trio of former internationals - John Kirwan, Lawrence Dallaglio and Will Greenwood (the latter two having already been signed up as ambassadors for RWC'15) who shared a few World Cup memories.

The comic talents of McConie helped lift proceedings with highlights including his labeling of Vaughan as Alan Partridge and one particular straight-faced inquiry to the English members of the panel: "Will there be looting?"

We had hoped for a little nugget or two - maybe confirmation of when the tournament will kick off but no. That is one of many details still to be confirmed with tournament organisers, the IRB and SANZAR reportedly at loggerheads over the schedule. The structure of the southern hemisphere season will take on a new look as of next year with Argentina's introduction into what will become the Four Nations. That competition is set to be played out in August and September every year which clashes with the proposed September 4 start date for RWC'15. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina, who are already concerned by their financial plight, will no doubt want compensating should they be 'forced' to shorten their competition in four years time.

Uncertainty regarding the schedule could also impact on what stadiums are used for RWC'15. St James' Park, Old Trafford, Anfield, Elland Road, Ricoh Arena, Wembley, Emirates Stadium and St Mary's were all listed in the Rugby Football Union's bid document as potential venues but as football stadiums they may be being used by their primary tenants. There will be no such concern about the other proposed venues - Leicester's Welford Road, Gloucester's Kingsholm, Twickenham and the Millennium Stadium.

English rugby appears to be struggling for clarity on a number of fronts of late and just as we have more than one review into recent events to look forward to, we also have a second RWC'15 launch to take in later this week - this time an official handover from New Zealand tourism chiefs to their counterparts from England.