KEY POINTS:
Record-breaking All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick says he is so disillusioned with international rugby that he often feels more like watching soccer.
In a heated critique of the negative effect the Rugby World Cup has had on the game, Fitzpatrick hit out at the lack of action over
the dilution of international rugby - and says even the All Blacks are contributing.
The situation has been worsened by the growing power of northern hemisphere clubs, luring All Black stars to play in Europe, where they cannot be selected for New Zealand.
Fitzpatrick, the most-capped All Black, a 1987 World Cup winner and skipper of the 1996 All Blacks who became the first to win a series in South Africa, said rugby was under threat of losing its core fan base because of weakened international teams.
"The unrelenting focus on the World Cup - to the exclusion of other meaningful test rugby - and the growth of the power of the northern hemisphere clubs makes me think that there is only one end for the international game.
"It will become like soccer. Club rugby will be where the power and credibility is. The international game will be insignificant - except for once every four years at the World Cup."
Fitzpatrick criticised the International Rugby Board for not taking action and said his own disillusionment had grown to the extent that he was struggling to get interested in last night's All Black test against France.
"I love rugby and love watching it. I am more of a fan than ever, now that I am retired. But I couldn't be bothered watching England play South Africa last week. It wasn't a contest - the world champions get beaten by almost 50 points. What's that doing for world rugby?
"As a kid, I saw teams like the 1971 Lions and special players such as Gareth Edwards. Well, the 2005 Lions came and went and I didn't see any Gareth Edwardses there to inspire a fresh generation of rugby stars. And we are sure not seeing them in this current crop of internationals.
"Why would Little Johnny want to play rugby if he was watching the current internationals, with weakened sides, rotation and emphasis on one set of games that occur every four years?"
He said the northern clubs' money and moves to control the game in Europe had seen All Blacks in their prime, like Carl Hayman, attracted. "He will stay for three years, make about a million quid and then go back to New Zealand in 2010 to try to qualify for the 2011 World Cup team. I am not criticising Carl. From a player's perspective, the north is the place to be now.
"Club rugby is staging the real contests while international rugby is mucking around with weakened teams and fixtures."
Fitzpatrick added: "I find myself thinking I'd rather watch Chelsea or Manchester United.
"Ordinary people like me love rugby and the All Blacks - and we are finding it hard to watch. What must everyone else be thinking?"