1) England positive but Wallabies a pale shadow
England’s autumn ledger reads as follows: P4 W3 L1; tries scored 10, tries conceded six. They have looked both excellent and sluggish at times but the overall end-of-term report has to be a positive one. If the Vunipolas return fit and firing, Manu Tuilagi and Joe Cokanasiga stay intact and Owen Farrell adjusts his tackle technique, they will be tough, at the very least, to beat in 2019. The Six Nations already has the makings of a wonderful tournament, with England’s opening fixture against Ireland in Dublin a potential humdinger. If the Harlequins’ trio of Chris Robshaw, Danny Care and Mike Brown make it back into the starting XV for that fixture it will be some achievement; England, with Farrell at the helm, are increasingly entering a new phase. Australia? The Wallabies are currently a pale shadow of the World Cup winning sides of old. Watching their forwards on Saturday was like going snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, diving under the water and discovering almost all the coral has died. Robert Kitson
• Match report: England 37-18 Australia
2) Fiji can give Australia headaches in Japan
A year ago, Guy Novès was sacked as France’s head coach after a draw with Japan so his successor Jacques Brunel will have had a fitful night’s sleep after Fiji recorded a 21-14 victory – their first over Les Bleus in nine attempts. More than half Fiji’s players and all their points scorers at the Stade de France earn their livings in the Top 14 and they maintained their focus after a strong start having failed to do so earlier in the month at Murrayfield. France were virtually at full strength but failed to score a point in the second half after leading 14-12 at the break. Fiji, who lost to a late penalty in Dublin a year ago, are in the same World Cup group as Wales and Australia – just what the wavering Wallabies could do without. Paul Rees
3) Ireland have much to thank Schmidt for
Ireland have much to thank Joe Schmidt for following the news that the 2019 Rugby World Cup will mark an ending to his hugely successful reign as their coach. But perhaps one of his greatest gifts to the side could be the farsightedness of offering a berth to a disgruntled Andy Farrell after England could not find a place for him on their coaching staff. Farrell will now take over from Schmidt to provide Ireland with the sort of continuity that the All Blacks have and which other teams crave. Only time will tell whether Schmidt’s decision “to finish coaching and prioritise family commitments” is a fudge to reduce speculation on whether he secretly harbours ambitions for the New Zealand job – if or when it becomes available. Tom Bryant
• Match report: Ireland 57-14 USA
6) England’s depth hands higher-ups contracts poser
The Red Roses might be behind France in the Women’s Six Nations pecking order but they are a long way ahead of the rest. England will be handing out 28 15-a-side contracts in January and have enviable strength in depth. The obvious candidates will be rewarded – Katy Daley-Mclean, Sarah Hunter, Marlie Packer, Abbie Scott and Lydia Thompson, whose second-half hat-trick of tries sank a young Irish side that included a 16-year-old schoolgirl. But the newer faces, the Saracens pair, tighthead Hannah Botterman and the 20-year-old fly-half Zoe Harrison, have also impressed this autumn along with Zoe Aldcroft, an athletic lock from Yorkshire who is thriving under the tutelage of England’s new forwards coach Richard Blaze. Everything in the red rose garden may not be perfect – and it has to be said that the standard of place-kicking from both sides was lamentable on Saturday evening – but Simon Middleton’s England are progressing nicely. Ian Malin
• Match report: England 37-15 Ireland