Former England international and BBC rugby commentator Brian Moore bags referees like they're politicians -- even when they're just doing their job, he'll give them a gobfull.

Famously, Moore went out and got a referee's certificate this year and no doubt some whistleblowers hoped becoming ‘one of them' might induce some empathy from the 64-cap hardhead.

Instead, it's as if an assassin has won membership to a gun club. With access to all that ammo there's no limited to the damage he can cause.

Armed with an apparent knowledge of all of rugby's laws, he fires off opinions about rulings in games with irritating frequency. During France's dogged victory over England in the last Six Nations game at the weekend he was using a machine gun.

It's pretty clear Moore thinks New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence is something akin to a war criminal and the commentator's largely gratuitous (and sometimes blatantly incorrect) criticisms were borderline slander.

Lawrence, like Jonathan Kaplan, has a tendency to referee one team more than the other but as France capped a memorable tournament with a 12-10 victory, Moore's jibbering took the focus off a much improved England performance.

Notably, though, amid Moore's flood of bitching and groaning was one gem. He was on the money when he explained, after a disintegrating England scrum was penalised in the first half, that Lawrence could have nabbed either team for indiscretions because there are so many laws.

"He is picking any (scrum) law he wants," Moore belched. And that, is of course true, and necessary, because as the Six Nations once again demonstrated, rugby has too many rules and is too inconsistent in its interpretations of them.

Referees have no choice but to pick their moments to intervene. As hard as Alain Rolland might try, it's impossible to stop play ever few seconds, which is precisely what would happen if the game was adjudicated to the letter of the law.

The use of ‘dreaded' southern referees in the north's premier tournament ensures the great divide between the hemispheres has been reinforced -- South African ref Craig Joubert's rather harsh interpretation of the "new" emphasis at the breakdown in the Ireland-Wales match was fodder for the critics.

Which is a shame, because for the first time in years, there are indications the north is, if not rapidly closing the gap on the south, willing and increasingly able to play the same game.

Grand Slam winner France was a revelation, mixing adventurous running play with intelligent kicking. Far and away the best team in the tournament, les Bleus prove set piece excellence does not have to come at the expense of a pack's mobility.

Most surprising was their discipline and structure -- two words not usually associated with the French. Led brilliantly by backrower Thierry Dusauter, France played complete rugby, surviving nervous moments again the English and the erratic Welsh through a mixture of guile and doggedness while picking the right time to play expansively.

The tight five is a match for the best of the southern hemisphere and Manol Harinordoquy was a standout and perhaps head of a class of impressive No. 8s in the tournament.

Ireland stumbled against gritty Scotland -- "who doesn't," howl the Wallabies -- but other than a shellacking by the French, the 2009 season winners performed admirably.

The Irish play the most ‘southern hemisphere‘ game (in attack and defence) of any of the Home Unions and despite five eighth Jonathan Sexton's meltdown in the final game, the gentle replacement of the revered but tackling-challenged Ronan O'Gara as playmaker, suits their game nicely.

The Welsh underachieved the most. They scored the second most points, but let in more than any other team other than Italy. If they can fix those defensive frailties, their tour to New Zealand in June could be a competitive affair.

England, despite finishing third, was pretty horrible, except against France (when the Red Rose had nothing to lose). The Poms are to the Six Nations what New South Wales is to the Super 14: Annoying, even if you're a fan.

Scotland was indeed brave and clearly the high standard of the Magner's Celtic League -- a far superior competition at the moment to the English Guinness English Premiership -- is helping lift the standards of the national team. Scottish No. 8 Johnnie Beattie was terrific.

The Italians, who finished last again despite shocking the Scots, will have two regional teams in the Magner's League next year so they will be hoping for a similar positive flow on. They've made some strides under Nick Mallett without sacrificing their traditionally strong set piece. Former Australian rugby league star Craig Gower's contribution at No. 10 is significant, but he needs runners who can break the line out wide.

Comparing the play in the tournament with the standards and approach of Australian franchises is a little like lining up apples and oranges -- or at least mandarins and oranges - but allowing for the different playing conditions, atmosphere and expectations, it's clear Aussies still play with greater pace and certainly the New Zealand and South African teams are demonstratively more powerful in their approach to breaking the advantage line.

But there's plenty of lessons for Australia teams. Six Nations re-starts, lineouts and, as usual, mauling technique are vastly superior. In most matches the French kicked to attack rather than merely to get out of danger.

The Wallabies would match up well across the park against the best of northern hemisphere talent, although the second row (and lineouts) has to be a big concern. There's no shortage of aggressive, northern tall timber. NSW may have uncovered a potential winner in Kane Douglas but the loss of James Horwill this year after Dan Vickerman's exit last year, is enormous.

Overall, the perennial argument of who would win a north vs south battle is worth a bit of attention this season after years of barely being worth considering.

If only the game, the global game, could play the one set of laws at any one time -- refereed with consistency and common sense. That would probably make everyone happy. Well, maybe not Brian Moore.