England forward James Haskell says summer rugby best way to keep pace with NZ

England's James Haskell says they live and breathe rugby in New Zealand, and also play it in better weather.

The secret is out − superior weather and a preference for the oval ball over the round one are the key factors behind the All Blacks' dominance of world rugby.
England loose forward James Haskell, who spent a successful season in Dunedin with the Highlanders playing Super Rugby in 2012, has revealed the reasons he believes back-to-back world champions the All Blacks continue to rule the international game.
Steve Hansen's New Zealanders have lost just three tests in the last four years and have just become the first All Blacks side to claim the global crown on foreign soil, as well as the first team to win consecutive Webb Ellis Cups and first to lift the title three times.
And in a telling comment as English rugby continues to naval gaze following their pool stage exit at the recent World Cup they hosted, the rugged forward has suggested a move to playing in summer might be the most feasible response as the game in the north looks to keep pace.
"Culturally in New Zealand they live and breathe rugby," Haskell told reporters at a visit to the barbers in London to launch the fundraising 'Decembeard' campaign. "First and foremost everyone wants to be a rugby player, no one wants to be in The Only Way Is Essex or a footballer.
"It helps when the whole nation is geared towards one thing. They play touch as soon as they can walk, in good weather.
"If they don't make their Super [Rugby] team, they play club rugby. The surfaces are better and I didn't have one wet weather game.
"The only change I can suggest if you want us to compete is to make rugby over here a summer sport.
"Then we can play in dry weather and play a style of rugby we want to play. There's no point wanting to be like New Zealand because we're not them.
"There isn't a miracle answer, but if we encouraged more people to play touch, focus on the skills and play in the summer, things would change."
It's difficult to imagine the northern hemisphere nations changing over a century of tradition and moving their season to summer, but Haskell's comments indicate the impact the southern hemisphere dominance of the World Cup has had.
For the first time all four semifinalists at the World Cup were southern hemisphere nations and the rugby played by finalists New Zealand and Australia was vastly superior to anything dished up by the northern nations.
Haskell's comments will no doubt please New Zealand Rugby which continues to campaign for a global rugby season that would require some realignment of schedules in both hemispheres.
So far that's met with staunch resistance from the northern nations who say their competitions are entrenched.
But maybe there is some sense in moving the northern season away from the harsher weather months, and into more user-friendly conditions. Just don't hold your breath waiting for their administrators to make decisions based on the good of the sport and its fans.