Well done JJB.

I am not a big fan of this game. Especially as we are playing on the Sunday. I think they should postpone all the SL games and have this, that way teams can still play with their star players. 4 players out for England and no Buderus, Webb or maybe Leuluai for the Exiles. I will NOT be going to this game as it is too far for me to travel, and I'll be going up to Leeds on Sunday as well.

I think it would be better for this to be a stand alone fixture. With games from teams also on the same weekend might put alot of people off from attending

imagine if england lose to a load of has beens and never weres. i can hear the scorn from australia now

I think it will just confirm there low opinion of our competition if it happens

Good description for the majority of the England squad as well

I don't like pantomines.... I won't be attending.

I think the strengths and weaknesses will mirror England playing against the Aussies.
They always have far superior backs. We always have a pretty decent pack. I think it will be the same for this game. We have the better pack, they Exiles have outstanding threequarters and a couple of handy half backs.

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to be fair will be better viewing than the usual mid season thrashing of France

I agree with that, but it still isn't good to have 6-7 star players out!

Some players can play back to back, but as said before would prefer if it was a fixture on it's own rather than in with a round of super league more for the fact that would improve support for the fixture

I reckon they will all back up, apart from Kylie if selected.

I agree. Whilst not ideal it's not that much different to the cluttered Easter weekend.

Here's a question - although the Exiles side will be more skillful than our regular mid-season opponents, does anyone think that the game will be intense? It's not a test match, is it?

Agreed, everyone is saying we will be without 6/7 guys...no we won't. Even more so if every member of the 22 man squad gets some game time.
Yes I think it will be intense. The exiles guys won't want to roll over at any point. They will be treating it like a test match, pride is at stake - they won't want to get beat.

Think it will be intense. The orgin exile players this is international football for them now

I think it'll be right up Bluey's alley to be a one-match motivator getting the Exiles charged up for the night. It'll certainly be a more intense dressing room than McNamara's...

If ex-SOO veterans like Buderus, O'Meley, Fitzgibbon and Menzies can be persuaded to roll back the years and get into a SOO mindset for one last time, then yes the game should be intense.

However if England lose to a fired-up ANZAC veterans team, which they well might, it would be another stick to beat British RL with.

Surely Webb won't play as Brett Hodgson will start, with JJB and Leuleui potentially coming back?

Peacock named as captin for exciles game

I'm not aware of very many occasions (if any?) where our pack has proven to be better than that of Australia.

Sounds like one of those urban myths to me.

That to me that is poor form from the selectors.

Peacock is struggling to regain form enough to warrant selection in a poor Leeds team at the moment. Yet can go straight in to an international team and be the captain.

If I were in his shoes I would be a little embarrased by the decision.

Does anyone really care?

As an enthusiastic bona fide supporter of international RL, I have to say that this exhibition game does not interest me in the slightest.

Well.. good point really.

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find it more interesting than the usual pointless French game