Failing to win the Six Nations doesn't mean England won't go further in the World Cup than their Six Nations opponents.

The winner of the Five/Six Nations have been the best performing side amongst those nations in just four of the seven following World Cups.

The first occasion was when France won what was then the Five Nations in 1987, the year of the first Rugby Union World Cup.

Les Bleus made it all the way to the final of that tournament, losing to New Zealand in Auckland.

Second placed Ireland only made it to the quarter-finals, as did bottom side England, while fourth placed Wales made it to the semis.

In the following World Cup year, 1991, the Five Nations champions once again proved to be its best performers in the World Cup, as England were beaten finalists to Australia.

Second placed France made it to the quarters, while third placed Scotland reached the semis.

The following World Cup in 1995 saw two Five Nations sides reach the same stage.

England, as Five Nations champions, and France, who finished third, were both knocked out at the semi-finals.

Scotland won the Five Nations in 1999 but were only the tournament's second best placed side in the World Cup that year, with France making it to the final despite finishing bottom of the Five Nations table.

Chris Robshaw talks to Referee Nigel Owens

In 2003 England famously won both the Six Nations and the World Cup.

However, in the last two World Cups, the best performances by Six Nations sides have not come from its champions.

France won in 2007, but were knocked out in the World Cup semi finals by England, who had only finished third in the preceding Six Nations.

In the last World Cup year, England won the Six Nations, but France made it to the World Cup final, losing to New Zealand.

In only half of the six years that a Five/Six Nations side has reached the final has that side also won the Five/Six Nations.

They were France in '87, England in '91 and England in '03.

The other three Six Nations finalists were France in '99 who finished fifth, England in '07 who finished third, and France in '11 who came runners up.