Josh Lewsey has dismissed claims that the southern hemisphere has stolen a march on the rest of the rugby world. New Zealand's series victory over the Lions has seen the southern hemisphere Super 12 tournament held up as an example of the modern style of play.
"(Europe's) Heineken Cup is the best non-international competition in the world," the Lions star told BBC Sport.
"We need to learn the lesson, but developing a gameplan can take a while. Time's something the Lions don't have."
Lewsey was a key member of the England team which won the World Cup in 2003 to become the first northern hemisphere team to triumph on the global stage.
But with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa occupying the top three in the IRB world rankings and the All Blacks sweeping the Lions aside, many believe the southern hemisphere has regained its former dominance.
The Super 12 competition, played by provincial teams from the three southern hemisphere countries, has been criticised in the past for not developing front-five forwards of Test quality.
Excellent performances from the All Blacks pack in both Tests has seen some observers claim Super 12 provides the best preparation for the elite game.
Lewsey, though, insists the Lions' problems against New Zealand are a sign of a team struggling to gel in a short space of time rather than a broader indication of a gap in playing standards. "What the second Test proves is that fortune favours the brave," said Lewsey.
"If you look at the (northern hemisphere) competitions, the Six Nations was won by Wales and they played the most attacking rugby.
"Club teams and established international teams are together for a few years. The Lions only have a few weeks.
"It's getting harder and harder for the Lions to win in the professional era. In terms of having a settled team, which is what all country's benefit from, it takes a while to develop on a Lions tour.
"The Heineken Cup mixes up tight rugby with the expansive game - the teams that tend to do well are those who are brave enough to play some football like Toulouse and Wasps.
"The way New Zealand play is nothing new - it reminded me of the way England played four or five years ago.
"A couple of years before the World Cup we were playing the most expansive game in the world and were the best team in the world. If you play like that you can always tighten up but it's harder to do it the other way around."
MMIX
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The way New Zealand play is nothing new - it reminded me of the way England played four or five years ago
