by David Nicholson

There are just 15 months until the Rugby Union World Cup and recent results from New Zealand, South Africa and Australia make for grim reading but not all is yet gloom and doom.

England went into their third test match with some confidence after they had run the All Blacks close in the first two matches of the series.

But English mistakes in the opening moments of the game were seized on by ruthless opponents who were quicker in mind and body and that was game over.

The English defending in the first half of the final match was woeful and the world champions needed no second invitation to punish the men in white.

Wales got close to South Africa in their final tour match but still managed to lose by a slim margin against southern hemisphere opponents after leading into the final minutes. 

France were woeful in Australia and lost their Test series 3-0.

But what have the northern hemisphere hopefuls learnt for next year’s World Cup on English and Welsh soil? 

Winning is a tough business and involves taking your own chances, competing for 80 minutes of rugby, without lapses in intensity and keeping the errors to a minimum.

One of the key differences the three NH tourists have had with their respective hosts is that at decisive moments in the game SH teams know how to overcome their opponents.

Home advantage in international rugby does count and has been calculated as being worth on average about 10 points.

That bodes well for England’s World Cup chances in their Twickenham fortress but they have now conceded a psychological advantage to the men in black.

The autumn rematch will be fascinating and will be a must-win game for coach Stuart Lancaster’s men.

His decision-making in selecting the right combinations will also be crucial as he needs to know his best formation and have a settled side.

Wales have a good first team but simply do not have the strength in depth. They also lack the belief that they can win against SH opponents.

France were awful in Australia but who knows what may happen next week, let alone 2015 with Les Bleus.

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa will all enter the World Cup believing they can win it. The northern hemisphere sides will hope they can and that is a crucial difference.