RWC: South has the clinical edge

All Black prop Charlie Faumuina (right) impresses with his mobility in the quarter-final match against France at Millennium Stadium. Photo / AP

The northern teams aren’t so far off, writes Gregor Paul in Cardiff, they just need to sharpen up in decision-making and fitness.

An all Southern Hemisphere semifinal line-up gives the impression that the rugby played on either side of the equator is vastly different.

But the situation is not as extreme as it looks. The Northern Hemisphere hasn't had a great tournament but it's not lagging miles behind. Nor is it simply that one brand of rugby is better than the other.

There are common traits in all four Rugby Championship sides that were prevalent in the quarter-finals. Under pressure, all four executed better when they needed to.

There was a clinical edge when chances were created. South Africa didn't play much rugby against Wales but they grafted themselves into position. One poor defensive read by Welsh wing Alex Cuthbert and Duane Vermeulen flipped an offload for Fourie du Preez to score.

The chance came and they pounced. Unlike Scotland who were on the verge of pulling off a brilliant upset when they made a dumb choice to throw to the tail of the lineout with two minutes left.

The ball was overthrown, spilled and then the players in front of it ruled offside. Chance of a lifetime lost when flat ball to the front and a time-wasting pick and go was all it would have taken.

The other Southern Hemisphere commonality - and linked to better decision-making - is their base conditioning.

The Irish front row in particular were carrying spare tyres, as were the English. This is a sport all about marginal gains and if the tight five can last a bit longer and get around that bit better, it makes a huge difference.

The All Blacks had the world gasping against France because their props - Charlie Faumuina and Joe Moody - were so comfortable on the ball.

It's partly true they are both naturally gifted that way, but they were only able to show that because they have worked tirelessly over the last six months to get fitter.

Now that they have better aerobic capacity, they can move and think and execute better because they are not battling fatigue.

All Black coach Steve Hansen made that point about Moody, in explaining why the little known Crusader was able to play so well against France.

"A lot of that reflects on the hard work he has done," said Hansen. "I think fitness has probably been his biggest handicap or lack of it. He's one of the strongest guys in the team and he can play rugby. But the limiting factor is how long how can play for because he hasn't been fit enough.

"He has turned up in magnificent condition and he has got the reward for it. He scrummed well, he played well, did his job at the lineout and carried. Those skills go when you don't have the ability to get to the right places because you are not fit enough."

Those are probably the only common differences. Wales certainly didn't look like a team without ability. Injuries hurt them harder than anyone else and still they looked fit, skilled and organised. They just lacked belief and accuracy at critical times.

The Scots lacked defensive line speed but that was about it against the Wallabies. Ireland were also hit hard by injuries but their biggest issue is that they don't take enough risks.

England and France have bigger problems and are thesis topics on where they have gone wrong, but they have players and resources which means they have hope.