Prior to the remarkable quarter final results of the sixth Rugby World Cup.

The theme of this tournament has been how the Anglo-Saxons and Celts have given way to Polynesians and Latins in Rugby Union.

The victories of hosts France and reigning champions England at the expense of pre-tournament favourites New Zealand and Australia respectively, should not mask the seismic shift that has taken place in the sport.

It is not a matter of Argentina, Tonga and Fiji being lucky, or having one off teams at the right time. No, real and lasting changes have occurred and they will remain. The underlying cause of this re-ordering of world rugby strength is the professionalistion and globalisation of the game and the societal changes on both sides of the Tasman Sea. There are various suburbs in New Zealand cities like Auckland that are now very strongly Polynesian (islands within the Polynesian triangle scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean). These islander communities are providing a wealth of big, strong and fast rugby players, who are the contemporary face of New Zealand and ultimately Australian rugby.

None of the leading players of Argentina, Tonga, Fiji nor Samoa (who were eliminated at the pool stage) play rugby regularly in their own countries. Instead they ply their trade as professionals in the premier rugby club competitions of the world in Europe and Australasia.

It is obvious that what has protected the UK nations and kept them in the top flight of world rugby has more to do with the handicaps visited on the emerging nations - lack of funding, coaching and strong regional competitions - than anything else.

The market for rugby talent has done its job. The world's best players, from wherever they hail, have found their way to the world's best competitions and the world's best coaches.

The poor funding available for Pacific Island and South American rugby development has become irrelevant. The sponsors and national unions in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Europe are paying for the development of their players now.

There couldn't be a more delicious irony. Minor nations, blatantly neglected by an IRB dominated by the traditional Home Nation powers, have turfed two out of the knock-out stages of the World Cup.

Changes in the law have also contributed to the rise of the new powers. The ball is now in play more and a premium has been put on aggressive defence and physical power at the tackle and in the backs. Consequently the explosive athleticism of the Pacific Island nations becomes all the more effective. The discipline and organisation engendered by professional coaching has done the rest.

With these fundamental forces at work, this is unlikely to be a flash in the pan for Argentina, Tonga, Fiji and Samoa. What will happen is that even more Pacific Island and Argentine players will gain contracts to play club rugby in Europe and Australasia and a larger pool of international-level talent will be developed to the benefit of world rugby.

Official Ruby World Cup website