If Europe’s leading rugby nations wanted to do something radical to close the yawning gap on their southern hemisphere rivals, they might want to think about switching their showpiece competition to a different time of year.
A time of year when that hoary excuse about the conditions dictating the way matches are played becomes redundant. A time when players get a dry ball to throw around, a fast deck to play on, and some sun on their backs to cheer them up.
It might be nice, actually. Perhaps it could infuse some joy into rugby that is crushingly dull at present. After a World Cup of misery for the northern nations, a tepid, skills-light opening to the Six Nations was just what they did not need.
Never going to happen, of course. The Six Nations championship has long been established in February-March, since well before it had six nations even.
At this time of year, there are no other major sporting spectacles to clash with, no international events of note to bite into the audience figures.
But, anyway, is the weather really a valid excuse for the type of fare served up in the Calcutta Cup last weekend, for example? Does it never rain in Auckland, then? Does it not get cold and windy Wellington? The All Blacks seem to cope.
And it is a long time since major matches were played on slow, muddy tracks, either.
At the current rate, Europe’s under-par national teams do not need to worry about clashing with the best international events other sports have to offer. There is a threat within the union code itself, namely sevens.
As with Test cricket and Twenty20, aficionados would never countenance the abridged format as challenging the original one. A handy means for getting new eyes to the game, yes, but an actual threat? No chance.
That was supposed to be the way with Twenty20, too. It has not really panned out that way, though.
OK, so it is wholly unfeasible nations such as Wales, England, Ireland and the rest would ever pass over the XVs game in favour of sevens. The rivalries are too entrenched, the longer format too much loved and, perhaps more pertinently than anything else, it is more of a game for all than sevens ever could be.
But in emerging rugby nations, the short form will undoubtedly become the format of choice. Olympic inclusion has so obviously been a game-changer, even before the first competition in Rio this summer has even taken place.
The standard of competition in the Sevens World Series has been a level above anything that has gone before. As an indicator of that, Sonny Bill Williams, who has played two tournaments with New Zealand, won two as a sevens player, has not even been one of the outstanding players.
With a gold medal on offer, there could become a point when sevens stops being merely a development tool, and become an end in itself.
Preview
West Asia Championship
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Hurricanes
Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Doha v Bahrain
Muscat v Al Ain Amblers
By overtaking them in recent seasons, Abu Dhabi Saracens pinched a place in the top-flight of Arabian Gulf rugby that Dubai Exiles had regarded as a right rather than a privilege for most of their existence.
The expansion of the cross-border competition this season meant no one had to worry about not being involved. Still, though, times have changed again.
Saracens might still rank as defending champions, but Dubai’s oldest club are now the team to beat again, as they are riding high in the UAE Premiership and have a 100 per cent record in the West Asia Championship.
The Abu Dhabi side will have to win at The Sevens this afternoon if they are to maintain their lingering hopes of retaining their title.
Doha will attempt to right their course, having suffered an end to their long winning streak last time out against Exiles, when they host Bahrain, their familiar rivals from the Gulf Premiership.
Abu Dhabi Harlequins will put their 100 per cent record on the line again when they play fellow title-hopefuls Dubai Hurricanes at Zayed Sports City.
One of Muscat or Al Ain Amblers could be celebrating a first win of the campaign after they meet in Oman.
UAE Conference
Dubai Hurricanes II v Dubai Exiles II
Jebel Ali Dragons II v Dubai Wasps
Dubai Sharks v Heartbeat Tigers
Arabian Knights v Al Ain Amblers II
UAE Community League
Abu Dhabi Harlequins III v Al Ain Amblers III
Dubai Hurricanes III v Jebel Ali Dragons III
Dubai Sharks II v Arabian Knights II
Beaver Nomads v RAK Goats
