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After a surprisingly entertaining final weekend of autumn internationals, Oval Talk looks at some of the issues and things we learnt from the November series.

Ireland, Australia and New Zealand were good value for their victories over South Africa, Wales and France, with only the Scotland-Argentina game coming up short in terms of real quality.

Just as well really, as this autumn's series of games were in danger of finishing amongst the least distinguished in memory, with defences spread across the field, aimless kicking and the pesky breakdown dominating proceedings like never before.

In no particular order, OT lists 10 things that have become clear, or even more clear, in the last month.

1. Dan Carter is the best in the world

Even when he's below his best - as he was against England - the All Blacks star (pictured) is a class apart from all his rivals at fly-half, with the possible exception of Australia's Matt Giteau. For OT's money, he is the sport's best pound-for-pound player - better even than his skipper and IRB world player of the year Richie McCaw. Carter was back to his sublime best as New Zealand ran in five tries against France; he landed four penalties and two conversions, made a number of searing breaks and tackled well above his weight as the All Blacks confirmed their status as the leading side in world rugby.

2. Rucking must be reintroduced, and soon

OT never understood why rucking was outlawed in the first place (something to do with mums not allowing their little Tarquins to take up the game) but it should be readmitted immediately to help clear up the mess at the breakdown. IRB lawmakers deserve shooting for the way they have allowed defences and kicking to dominate the game - due to the complete Horlicks they have made of the breakdown - and the return of rucking could be the answer to rugby's burning issue. Simple: carrier and defender must release the ball in the tackle and teams can only secure possession by driving over the ball. Rucking was never as dangerous as it looked (who cares about a few stud marks?) as well as being one of the game's fine spectacles: just ask Finlay Calder, John Jeffrey, et al.

3. England are not as bad as some think

One only has to look at how Australia despatched Wales and New Zealand thumped France to see that England's losses in November were not as catastrophic as made out in some quarters. Of course that does not mean all is well in Martin Johnson's camp - far from it - but England conceded just three tries in three games this autumn, which is two fewer than France shipped against the All Blacks, and one less than Wales did against the Wallabies. England clearly have much work to do, but we will get a much better view of their problems if critics lose the assumption that England deserve to be amongst the world's best. With the exception of Lewis Moody and Simon Shaw - and possibly Jonny Wilkinson - England did not have any proven world-class performners available this autumn, so why did anyone think they were likely to beat two of the world's top teams?

4. Wales are much, much better with Ryan Jones

Jones is in top form after an indifferent 2008-9 season, and his absence was a significant factor in Wales losing heavily to the Wallabies. Not that Wales would have won had their skipper been fit, but nor would they have let in three early tries and seen the game slip from their grasp within the first quarter. Jones is the heartbeat of Warren Gatland's side, not to mention a pretty decent number eight.

5. Ireland have two number 10s

Declan Kidney's decision to start with Jonathan Sexton against the Boks ahead of veteran fly-half Ronan O'Gara was considered a gamble in some quarters, but the decision paid off nicely as the Leinster youngster stood up superbly well. There's no guarantee Sexton will be Ireland's first choice for the 2011 World Cup, but he gives them a welcome extra option in the play-maker's role, to go with the new hard edge added by the likes of Jamie Heaslip, Rob Kearney, Stephen Ferris and Tomas O'Leary. Happy days for Kidney's side.

6. Australia could be favourites come 2011

Despite a torrid 2009 that reached its nadir when they lost to Scotland, Australia have the personnel and coaches to be a real force at the next World Cup. Australia's form in the Tri-Nations was patchy to say the least, but they have a young and highly-talented squad who will only get better in the next two years. Props Ben Alexander and Ben Robinson, open-side David Pocock, scrum-half Will Genia and full-back James O'Connor have all been fully incorporated into the Australian ranks this season, and it looks just a matter of time before coach Robbie Deans knocks the Wallabies into a real force on the world stage. They were certainly too classy for Wales last weekend.

7. Rugby is becoming boring

The November internationals were not as bad as this season's Guinness Premiership has been to date, but there was plenty of evidence to further suggest that entertainment levels in rugby are slipping. Due to laws that favour defences, teams have become over-reliant on kicking, much of it aimless, and game-plans based on forcing the opposition into making mistakes. How can it be good when a player worries about beating his opposite man because he might become isolated and concede a penalty? The IRB have a lot to do - but the real worry is that the responsibility for fixing the mess lies with the same officials who got rugby into this sorry state in the first place.

8. Ireland will never be able to replace Brian O'Driscoll

Ireland's skipper had a quiet game against South Africa by his high standards, but it was his crunching tackle on Boks full-back Zane Kirchner with the last act of the game that made sure of the win. It was typical of O'Driscoll to have such an impact, and no-one has done more than the Leinster centre to help Ireland remain unbeaten in 11 games this season. O'Driscoll is still only 30 and will be around to lead Ireland in the 2011 World Cup, but he is a once-in-a-generation player and head coach Declan Kidney will be praying he remains injury-free for the next two years.

9. Argentina have strength in depth

Argentina may not have had the best of autumns, losing to Wales and England before beating Scotland, but they were competitive in all three games despite being without several of their star performers. When the Pumas finished third in the last World Cup many feared they could plummet down the rankings when the best of that generation reached the twilights of their careers. But they proved in November that they have talent coming through and could again be a force in 2011.

10. Steve Borthwick is still not a world-class

England's captain is an admirable man and has not shirked from the barrage of criticism thrown his way since he took over as England's leader at the start of Martin Johnson's reign. But the captain should - at the very least - be one of the first names on the team-sheet and even Borthwick's staunchest admirers would fail to argue this is the case. England may be short of choices when it comes to the captaincy, but they are not short of alternatives at lock. Simon Shaw is a shoe-in until he reaches pensionable age, while others might argue that Nick Kennedy, Courtney Lawes, Ben Kay and Louis Deacon are better options that Borthwick for the second row.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport