IRB rankings: The All Blacks' astonishing dissection of European champions France at the weekend ended any dispute about their right to sit on top of the world rankings, while Ireland, after victory in their three autumn tests, remain in sixth place.
The new IRB rankings list the world's top nine as New Zealand, Australia, England, South Africa, France, Ireland, Argentina, Wales and Scotland - an order that looks pretty close to the mark after an enthralling few weeks of test rugby.
The All Blacks left their best for last. After a routine humbling of a limited Italian side and coming within a point of losing their 51-year hoodoo over Wales, they enjoyed a a record five-try 45-6 defeat of Six Nations champions France in Paris on Saturday.
France's November campaign summed up the difficulty of drawing any real conclusions on the balance of power between the hemispheres. The Six Nations champions started out looking like world beaters as they downed Australia 27-14 to stretch their 2004 unbeaten run, but the next week they lost 24-14 to Argentina.
The good news for France is that England's narrow 21-19 defeat to Australia on Saturday showed the world champions are still on a learning curve after losing much of the squad that won the World Cup.
News that Jonny Wilkinson hopes to be passed fit in the next week to return to action will hearten new coach Andy Robinson.
South Africa started their tour with hopes of securing a grand slam over the Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England, but never got close.
A defeat to England at Twickenham may not be such a bad result - it was their sixth in a row against them - but they will be unhappy to have lost 17-12 to Ireland in Dublin.
But after the Six Nations, the defeat in Dublin may not seem such a bad result as Ireland have clearly moved up a level.
Now boasting one of the best back lines in rugby, Ireland have also developed the ability to play for 80 minutes, as they showed in their dramatic last-minute victory over the Pumas on Saturday.
"In the past, Irish teams wouldn't have been able to grind out that result," said prop Reggie Corrigan.
Argentina's victory over France was the upset of the month. But their position on the periphery of world rugby will be illustrated this weekend when they take the field against the Springboks in Buenos Aires. Eight first-choice players have been withdrawn from their squad by their French and Irish clubs who have European matches at the weekend.
The Wallabies were considered the weakest of the big three tourists and that they subsequently managed to beat England proves how dangerous it is to write them off.
Meanwhile, the Vernon Pugh Award for distinguished service went to 1959 British and Irish Lion's captain Ronnie Dawson at Sunday night's IRB awards in London. Dawson was also a former president of the IRB.
Gordon D'Arcy was denied the world player of the year award by South African flanker Schalk Burger, while Dublin University's Jamie Heaslip was beaten to the under-21 award by New Zealand's Jerome Kaino.
The Springboks won team of the year award, while their coach Jake White was also honoured.
IRB AWARDS: Player of the Year: Schalk Burger (South Africa). Team: South Africa. Coach: Jake White (South Africa). Under-19 Player: Jeremy Thrush (New Zealand). Under-21 Player: Jerome Kaino (New Zealand). Sevens Team: New Zealand. Sevens Player: Simon Amor (England). Spirit of Rugby Award: Jarrod Cunningham Vernon. Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Ronnie Dawson. Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Jim Fleming. International Women's Personality of the Year: Donna Kennedy. Development Award: Guedel Ndiaye. Chairman's Award: Marcel Martin.
