The Six Nations Championship reaches a thrilling climax this weekend, but it is hard to escape the fact the ending could be somewhat unsatisfactory.

Not for the first time, the TV schedulers have had their say and to be damned with sporting integrity.

What a Saturday is in prospect for rugby lovers, with the three protagonists in the hunt for the title playing one after the other – Wales in Italy at 12.30pm, Ireland in Scotland at 2.30pm and England against France at Twickenham at 5pm.

Fantastic for rugby fans who want to watch three great games. But with the three-way fight likely to be settled by points difference, can it really be right Stuart Lancaster’s side will know exactly what they need to do against the French?

If Chris Robshaw does lift the trophy at Twickenham on Saturday it would, of course, be a welcome boost for England in World Cup year.

They may have been stifled by the Irish in Dublin, but there has been genuine cause for encouragement – not least the victory over a Welsh side in Cardiff.

It will not have gone unnoticed among our friends across the Severn Bridge that Warren Gatland’s men will again play before England when their final World Cup Pool A games take place on Saturday, October 10.

On that occasion, Wales face Australia at Twickenham at 4.45pm and England could know the result they need against Uruguay in an 8pm kick-off in Manchester.

In football, it has been commonplace for many years for the final round of games at a World Cup or European Championships to kick-off at the same time.

It certainly has not lessened the drama in the Premier League either, think Manchester City pipping United to the title with one last waft of Sergio Aguero’s boot in 2012.

But the Six Nations Championship and Rugby World Cup deserve their place among the elite occasions on the sporting calendar and it is time organisers ensured fair play when they compile their fixture lists.