By Nick Mulvenney
London - Two thirds of the way through the November internationals in Europe there can be no doubt that the world order in rugby has been picked up by the scruff of the neck and given an almighty shake over the last two weekends.
Some Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans will still contend that the balance of power has not conclusively shifted north, but they cannot hide from the fact that only the profligacy of France's Francois Gelez prevented a sweep for the European sides against Tri-nations opponents for the second weekend in a row.
Had flyhalf Gelez put over one of the two late penalties France had in the 20-20 tie at the Stade de France on Saturday, New Zealand would have joined world champions Australia - who went down 32-31 to England - and South Africa - 21-6 losers to Scotland - in defeat.
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Coming a week after Ireland shocked Australia, England overcame New Zealand and the French crushed South Africa, these results mark a profound change in the expectations of the European nations.
"Two years ago, if you'd suggested to a Frenchman that we would draw with the All Blacks, we'd have taken that," France centre Thomas Castaignede wrote in his column in Monday's Guardian newspaper.
"The fact that we were bitterly disappointed on Saturday night is a measure of how we have progressed, and in what we expect of ourselves."
The gainsayers are right in saying that the New Zealand party is understrength, the Springboks a pale imitation of the formidable sides of the past and matches played on the quagmire pitches of the European autumn are no indication of how things will go on the flat, dry surfaces of Australia at next year's World Cup.
But it was not just the defeats, however, but the manner of them that has marked the shift.
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