As the Rugby World Cup continues on its glacial progress to the knock-out phase, does the shake out from the group stages signal the decline in northern hemisphere rugby?

Of those who watched England v Tonga, Wales v Fiji and Ireland v Argentina, how many can seriously say that the minnows from the southern hemisphere do not play a far more exciting, direct and simply far more enjoyable style of rugby than the tired, heavy footed, boring northern hemisphere teams? Their players are physically as big as those from the north but they have retained an athleticism and speed that is sadly lacking from most of the beefcakes that trot out on to the field for the northern teams.

I am sure once the six nations starts the merits of the game in the north will be over hyped as usual, but I do not think that many will forget easily the contrast, that is plain for all to see, between the fast, inventive, high impact style of southern hemisphere rugby and the slow, contrived and boring rugby northern hemisphere teams have to offer.