"I think you're missing the point of Austin's article a bit. What he says - and he's right about this - is that in the northern hemisphere defensive play has advanced far more quickly than attacking play. Defences are so well organised amongst the top teams that it's very very hard to break down. I think he's right about that. Having said that, where I think he's wrong (as you say) is in judging how much of a spectacle it is. I was at the game (I'm a Quins fan), and it was far from the dull defensive affair he makes it out to be - it was close, gripping, with a lot of possession for Quins but Saints always looking very very dangerous on the break. The stats make it look like a dull game, but it wasn't at all." - Ian Betteridge