Playing field not level - O'Sullivan - Sport in brief

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Teams from the RBS 6 Nations have endured a slow start to the tournament with Ireland, who struggled to see off Namibia 32-17, the most disappointing and in contrast New Zealand, Australia and South Africa have raced out of the blocks and O'Sullivan insists the Tri-Nations gives the trio the ideal World Cup preparation.

"The Six Nations sides have hardly played since March whereas all of the southern hemisphere teams have played throughout the summer," he said. "They have had a summer of rugby we haven't had and we've had to put all our eggs in one basket preparing for the World Cup."

He added: "If we were to play games during the summer in preparation for a World Cup that's fine, but the problem is that by May or April the players are running on empty.

"You just can't kick on during a summer. The northern hemisphere sides all took the same route here by resting players during the summer tours.

"We've all struggled out of the blocks with maybe Scotland the one exception.

"England, Italy, Wales and ourselves have had a tough time so far.

"But New Zealand, Australia and South Africa have started well after come off the back of their Tri-Nations."