As if the odds are not stacked enough against the smaller nations at the World Cup, the way the tournament group schedule is drawn up ensures that their stay will be temporary.

The likes of Namibia, Portugal, Romania, Canada and the United States, and to a slightly lesser extent Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Japan and Georgia, have to battle against the top 10 countries in the world with largely amateur or semi-professional squads. The schedule shows that they are in France merely to make up the numbers and give the lie to rugby union's claim of being a world sport.

There are three prime days for the broadcasters: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Virtually every one of those slots this month is filled by matches involving the so-called foundation unions - the four home unions, France, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

All the fixtures being played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays involve Samoa, the United States, Tonga, Canada, Fiji, Japan, Romania, Portugal, Georgia and Namibia. Italy have two midweek matches and Argentina one, meaning that on several occasions, the weakest teams in the competition will only have four-day turnarounds.

Wales and Scotland also have a midweek fixture each, against Japan and Romania, but that is their penance for having two group games at home. New Zealand's four pool matches are being played at weekends and so are Australia's, while France, England, South Africa and Ireland all have at least one game on a Friday night, French television's prime slot.

So in group C, Portugal's four fixtures are spread out over 16 days, one less than Romania, while the All Blacks have 21 days before the start and finish of their pool programme, a pattern repeated in the other three groups: France play their final game 23 days after their first; so do Argentina, but they must tackle Georgia four days after taking on the French while the hosts have a nine-day break before their second match.

At every World Cup, the International Rugby Board makes cooing noises to developing countries. Aid is promised and duly delivered, but it amounts to no more than fattening up a calf for slaughter. Small wonder the Italy coach Pierre Berbizier muttered this week about the fairness of a schedule which favours the strongest, those better equipped to deal with short turnarounds, although the loudest squealers have been South Africa, who have to play Samoa on Sunday and England the following Friday.

It is all about keeping the broadcasters and the sponsors happy and ensuring a maximum financial return. In doing so, the board is accentuating the gap between big and small. "We could play two games in four days because we have two teams," said the New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith. "It would not be ideal, but we could handle it. It is not for me to say if the minnows are getting the thin end of the stick: you will have to ask them about it."