Six Nations could be tougher to win this year than the Rugby World Cup | Robert Kitson

Europe holds the balance of oval-ball global power and whoever prevails over the next six weeks – most likely Ireland – will lay down a serious marker for JapanEven a few years ago the notion that the Six Nations might be harder to win than a World Cup would have been ridiculous. Suddenly that is how it feels: whoever lifts the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan this year will not have met more highly-ranked opponents in more hostile surroundings than they will encounter on the cold playing fields of Europe in the next two months.Take Ireland, the defending champions and the second highest ranked team in…