The Six Nations is second division rugby compared to that of the southern hemisphere where the Super 15 franchises and the national sides play in the same manner, said France coach Marc Lievremont.
However, the 42-year-old added that despite a difficult Six Nations for his side and for him personally, he felt that the French would be the northern hemisphere side to beat come the World Cup in New Zealand later this year.
France failed to repeat their Grand Slam exploits of last year after being beaten by eventual champions England and going down to a humiliating and historic defeat at the hands of Italy.
But Lievremont insisted that coming out of the tournament with a convincing 28-9 win over Wales and with a two-month training camp prior to the World Cup they could well be the team to be feared.
“Certainly,” he said in answer to whether the Six Nations was second rate compared to the southern hemisphere rugby.
“It is difficult to compare the two types of preparation. They spend six months together. They play half as much rugby as us. They are based in five franchises (Super 15) in each country who play the same style of rugby. That has always been the case, it is not a revelation.
“From time to time, we manage to match them, to beat them.
“The North is also another type of rugby.
“One would have thought with the new rules we would have a game with more rhythm, with passing moves of longer length, but there are also equally as many matches as the one on Saturday (against Wales) which is a physical battle, with a huge amount revolving round the scrum, a kicking game and unpredictable bounces of the ball.
“I am convinced that we will be ready physically, that the two months of preparation will allow us to evolve and to progress both technically and tactically.
“We are without doubt the country that is going to benefit the most and make the most progress in these two months of preparations,” added Lievremont, who admitted to being moved by the manner in which his players had reacted to the Italian humbling in the win over the Welsh.
Lievremont, who was a member of the French side that lost to Australia in the 1999 World Cup final, said that he was having a devil of a time in choosing his final 30 players for the World Cup, which he will announce on May 11.
“No, I am not ready,” said Lievremont, who last week had said that several of the players from the Italy match would never wear the national shirt again.
“On a human level, it is always painful, and it will be on this occasion.”
Lievremont, who by dropping veteran centre Yannick Jauzion and icon Sebastien Chabal for the Wales match would seemingly have ended their international careers, said that the players had been served a warning by the Italy reverse and they had learnt from it.
“We lost against a team that wanted victory more than we did,” said Lievremont.
“The essential thing is that the players weren’t caught napping a second time. That they reacted like men.”