SHANE DE BARRA

Last updatedWed Apr 08 14:50:45 UTC 2015

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Robbie Henshaw crosses for Ireland's match-winning try against England in this year's Six Nations.

OPINION:

The Cricket World Cup probably came at a very good time for the rugby forces up north. It's not that Kiwis, Aussies and South Africans completely ignored what was going on in this this year's Six Nations Championship, but it came and went without much comment.

That would have suited the powers that be up there just fine. Yes, they're justifiably irked at times by this part of the world's often arrogant and short-sighted views on the brand of football played up there - and reluctance to rate it - but in a World Cup year that ignorance is bliss to northern souls.

So what happened while you were sleeping? Well, while Brendon McCullum was blasting sixes into the stands, the evergreen Paul O'Connell was soaring high in the Irish lineout to lead his side to back-to-back Six Nations titles. Yep, two in a row for Ireland, it's been a long time since that happened. That Ireland only took the title on points points difference, however, showed just how competitive Europe's main event was this year. England were a collapsed maul from taking the title while Wales were left to rue one bad half of rugby against their Saxon neighbours. And France? Well, they learned to run the ball again, even if it took them four games to do so.

So with all that in mind here's what I think is a fair reflection of the how the teams should stack up with bookmakers less than six months out from the Rugby World Cup.

1. NEW ZEALAND

Read the original:

De Barra: Europe looming as All Blacks' main threat at World Cup