THE squads have been pruned to 31 players, the warm-up friendly Test matches are finished and the Rugby World Cup (RWC) waiting is almost over.

But just what have we learnt from the series of friendlies that the northern hemisphere sides have gone through?

The first lesson learned is that the top four teams — England, France, Ireland and Wales — can all beat each other on the day, while Italy and Scotland will not cause many sleepless nights.

In a twist from the usual home advantage Ireland and Wales beat each other away from home with neither side looking that convincing.

Meanwhile England and France both looked the part on home turf.

After a dismal Six Nations where England humiliated the French in the final match at Twickenham, the most unpredictable side in world rugby have suddenly started to look fabulous.

Their forward play against England in France made mincemeat of Les Rosbifs and mercurial fly-half Frederic Michalak looked to be back to his best.

Les Bleus’ form will have unsettled any watching New Zealander, as the All Blacks’ RWC bogey team have hit some form.

The French have reached three RWC finals, but have never lifted the Webb Ellis Cup.

The RWC hosts looked seriously out of sorts in Paris, with the usually reliable English forward pack misfiring at the scrum, line-out and in the loose.

Against Ireland, coach Stuart Lancaster put Geoff Parling and Tom Wood back into the pack and the team performed better in the set-piece and loose play.

Lancaster will be relieved that full-back Mike Brown is back to his imperious best after his concussion, was secure under the Irish aerial bombardment and looked sharp moving forward with ball in hand.

The sparkling backs looked full of invention, speed and fire. None more so than winger Jonny May, who was scorchingly quick and eager to get to the try line.

On the opposite wing Anthony Watson also snaffled a try, out-jumping Simon Zebo to take a fine catch and try in England’s win over Ireland.

Lancaster also now has some real impact players to fling into matches and rugby league convert Sam Burgess is beginning to repay the faith the coaching team have placed in him.

When Burgess came on for the final 20 minutes he mesmerised the Irish defence and they were so worried about him that it created space for England’s backs.

But the biggest casualties of the warm-ups have been Ireland and Wales.

The Irish were undefeated until first Wales in Dublin and then England at Twickenham sent Joe Schmidt’s men into two defeats on the bounce.

Schmidt’s tactic of accurate aerial bombardment from the boot of fly-half Jonny Sexton failed against England and the men in green did not seem to have a plan B to cross the try line.

The third-best side in the world have not suddenly become a poor team, but two losses on the bounce have halted their winning momentum and does not bode well.

Optimistic insiders from the Irish camp are speaking about fitness levels and match sharpness not yet being right and that they will peak at the RWC itself. Irish eyes will have to hope they are right.

The Welsh looked to have discovered some good form in beating Ireland away from home, but against Italy at the Millennium Stadium were woeful.

Although Italy played well it was sloppy Welsh play in defence and attack that allowed Italy to almost spoil the send-off party.

In fact, it was Italy’s indiscipline that cost them the match, with Leigh Halfpenny punishing their indiscretions.

The usually flawless Taulupe Faletau was well out of sorts and Wales butchered several chances to score tries.

But it wasn’t just the poor performance that has sent Wales into mourning after their series of friendlies.

The loss of their peerless full-back, Halfpenny, and their first-choice scrum-half Rhys Webb has seriously wounded a squad that does not have much depth.

The recriminations began instantly with fans, media and former players queuing to kick coach Warren Gatland for his temerity to play first-choice players in the final warm-up.

If the unflappable Kiwi thinks this chorus is harsh he will be unsurprised at the din in the valleys if his side fail to make it out of the so-called Group of Death.

Scotland had a poor Six Nations but coach Vern Cotter seems to have turned a corner with his men.

His team lost both away games to Ireland and France but played well and did not lose by more than one score.

They beat Italy in Torino and than put 48 points past the Azzurri at Murrayfield — a much more convincing performance than Wales managed against the same opponents.

Cotter seems to have sorted out his back line and the Scots now look to have developed a potent attacking force, that does not get white- line fever as they near the try line.

In scrum-half and captain Greig Laidlaw,they also have an accomplished goal-kicker.

Some Scottish noses have been put out of joint with the dropping of loyal forwards such as John Barclay for New Zealand import John Hardie in the back row.

Hardie qualifies under the grandparent rule, despite never having set foot in Scotland before, and only having 60 minutes under his belt for the national side.

But the canny coach has gone for bulk in the forwards and his pack managed to give Les Bleus trouble.

Cotter may have more to smile about from the friendlies than his fellow Kiwi coaches of the other Celtic sides.

Italian skipper Sergio Parisse is a pearl in a team that cannot do without him. He is the world’s best No 8 and the back-row giant proved that clearly against Wales last weekend.

Parisse made a fine interception and almost managed to go the whole length of the pitch in the opening minutes, which led to Italy’s first try.

Unfortunately for coach Jacques Brunel the master is now facing a battle to recover from a leg injury that could cost his side dearly if he doesn’t make the RWC.

The tournament would be the poorer without Parisse but Brunel will be a relieved man that his side rediscovered the awkwardness against Wales that makes them so difficult to play against.