Australia coach Michael Cheika was a charming, articulate and insightful guest of the BBC studio for Saturday's Six Nations finale in Paris. He saved his most salient point until after full-time, stressing that the tournament had been about moving on from the recent World Cup rather than stewing on scars.

Following their failure to reach the semi-finals last autumn, each side needed to hone individual identities and develop a playing style with which to trouble Argentina, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

June tours will provide a definitive answer as to whether the gap has closed. For now, here are six tactical trends highlighted by the Six Nations.

Power runners making plays

This was a typically abrasive Championship and collisions were a valuable currency. But the ability for forwards to mix hard carrying with decision-making and distribution also proved vital.

Mako Vunipola's slick intervention led to a sumptuous try for Jack Nowell that helped down Scotland. Then, when Ireland arrived at Twickenham, they were met by some varied, accurate attack from England.

Billy Vunipola brought the ball into contact 17 times that day. However, in this passage of play, two passes caused the visitors huge problems. We begin as Ben Youngs arcs around to resource the ruck and Owen Farrell calls for George Kruis to take a direct route: