Here is your rugby evening news for Sunday July 17. Sir Clive Woodward believes Six Nations teams have put down a huge World Cup marker after their summer tours and warned the southern hemisphere giants should 'be worried.' England beat Australia, Ireland stunned New Zealand and Wales pushed world champions South Africa strongly before gallantly falling 2-1.
The countdown has begun ahead of next year's 2023 tournament in France and Woodward says the Six Nations is the perfect launchpad for European sides to prepare.
In contrast, he reckons, the big guns from down under will be looking over their shoulders. "What is clear is the Six Nations is now the ideal preparation for any World Cup success, not touring the southern hemisphere.
That has never been the case previously, but now it is," said Woodward in a column for the Mail. "With the exception of Italy, every Six Nations game allows for a real opportunity to prove your World Cup credentials.