KEY POINTS:
There's something more enjoyable about watching the Northern Hemisphere sides squirm in their backyards.
All sorts of bilge is written about the might and power of rugby in the north, about the standard of their competition - but when it comes to these World Cup exams, they have
flunked.
Especially against sides from the south who are able to play at a much higher tempo. The Wallabies and Springboks were far too sharp for Wales and England, while Ireland were almost embarrassed by Georgia and the Scots have looked limited.
Let's hope those struggles continue for the benefit of the game.
Downunder, we have to endure annual mid-year visits from second-string visiting sides shorn of players by injury, club commitments or fatigue - which put the international programme into disrepute.
Now we are getting more of the same results at the World Cup.
Clubs in England and France have such full schedules they have been forced to import an overload of foreign help. Subsequently, national sides in Europe have less choice of players for crucial positions.
Argentine, Italian and New Zealand props litter the French competition, and France's national side suffers, while England's midfield woes are underlined with their selection of Mike Catt and ageing league convert Andy Farrell.
If the problems persist throughout this World Cup, they must have some effect at the November meeting of those administrators, coaches, club owners, players, advisers, broadcasters and rugby brains who are supposed to thrash out some solution leading to an integrated rugby season.
They cannot ignore the crisis. They must persuade those attending that the rugby calendar has to be pruned and that internationals be put back on the pedestal they used to occupy.
Otherwise we will get more mush between the World Cups, like we saw this season with an awful Welsh side in Australia and a sub-standard French side in New Zealand.
If that is going to continue, New Zealand should suggest they will host or visit the Pacific Islands instead, as long as the IRB guarantees those nations will have all their players released from their European or Japanese club duties.
A mass of blazered men are stalking the turf in France, Scotland and Wales during this World Cup. You hope they are using their time in between matches to chew the fat with their counterparts, to discuss the remedies needed to restore the lustre of internationals and to dovetail the hemispheres.
Otherwise you can picture it now: the November meeting breaks up with all sorts of frothy IRB statements about the full and frank discussions, the concerted purpose of the meetings and the need to work together.
In other words, no decisions. Chance lost. No change.
