Good hard test for first match of the tournament. All that tackling in the first 20 minutes definitely took its toll. Full back did some good work in defence but being able to catch a bomb must be a prerequisite for the position I would've thought. Not sure about MoM but will go for Hill despite "that" lapse!

A bit harsh that.

New Zealand 'B' and 'C' might be a more appropriate moniker

Well thankfully that was Samoa and not Australia or New Zealand. The ball control, discipline, and line speed will need to improve next week. he pundits were praising the 2 hookers but I thought they were quite poor with their distribution, and they seemed to get bumped off in defence a lot. Hopefully we've got some of the mistakes, and rustiness out of the system and can improve next week because we're in trouble if we don't.

Individually all the props were good, and really carried well but, the back row was shocking overall. We really, really missed Flanders and Burgess.
The backs did OK given limited ball, both wingers returned well, and both centres defended very well I thought. Tomkins however looks like Richie Mathers defending kicks at times, and I'm not sure we can afford to carry on playing him there.

I thought Tom was better than George actually.

Smith made the pass of the night (a blinder) to Tomkins for Watkins try. He's not going to beat defender after defender but with very limited ball he was excellent today and offered a nice balance alongside Widdop.

He above anyone (anyone of the players who's places aren't guaranteed anyway)deserves a shot next week.

Whinos fans in "replace Tomkins with serial miscreant at full back and get rid of other Tomkins and Matty Smith cos we hate Wigan" shock opinion latest.

I can't understand the negativity of posters sometimes and I'm sure it is mainly emotion.
Plenty of positives.
1st big positive. I've just seen an international game of Rugby League.
Great atmosphere Samoan Fans made it a special occasion.
I look forward to PNG being in the mix.
In play TV replays at last! So no need to miss the action, just need to make the replay the smaller screen rather than the live action.
England weathered the storm, they were rusty to say the least and tackle completion was poor. Well done the forwards for doing the hard graft and really saving this match. Graham and Hill are machines.
In soccer and Rugby Union England also play indifferently and win. The difference is it doesn't worry the fans, maybe its because they play lots of games during the season. When did England RL last play?
Negative was, we need a full back!!
Sam Tompkins into the Centres and Zak Hardacker to get the number 1 shirt is an absolute no brainer.
With so little prep time England always look vunerable first game up. Well done Samoa, came so close to winning but I think NZ and Australia will aim to do the basics much earlier to counter them better than We did and control the game.
The sheer joy of being able to see the game I love for the next month or so on weekend mornings outweighs any thoughts of worrying about the performance.

Other than a couple of kicks, Smith was awful, especially in defence. The drop goal attempt was pathetic

Front Rowless Australia "B" in for a TRY early doors.

6-0

what was he thinkng!

What seems frustrating, whether its rugby or football, is how the England team seems to be going backwards in terms of progress, in comparison to the "developing nations".

Thankfully, it's not everyday they are made to look clueless in defence by a Wakefield Trinity Wildcats player.

At least there's lots of room for improvement next week against a team with a massively inferior front row.

Australia look worse than England so far. NZ are not exactly flying either. NZ should be 20points up by now.

Tomkins in the centres is one of the most ridiculous suggestions. It should be the other way round, Hardaker for Shenton, Tomkins 1 with the same half backs for "continuity". I would be surprised if McNamara changed the halves after all the time he bleated on about continuity with Sinfield and Chase.

Tomkins had a perfectly decent game and needs to play in the position several coaches have decided is his best (full back) not new positions of which he has much less experience, just because armchair pundits think 'he looks like a ( insert latest position here )'.

Smith had a perfectly decent game. Fluffed a drop kick, it happens.

Nothing significant to criticise there for their first serious run out. Lots of errors, but that's what they were, errors. Not the result of stupid tactics, nor people out of position.

But, as long as there's a Wigan player in the side, Leeds fans will moan about them. If you really want to unbalance the side by making a place for someone, see if Sinfield will come back.

NZ are doing far too much lateral stuff. If they straighten up and play direct they should be able to make inroads against this Aussie pack.

Widdop was MOM for me played a steady game at 6, not sure of our back row of Tomkins and Westerman. Clark OK in attack not so in defence, Roby still our No 1 hooker for me.
Can,t read a lot into this game, started off cold might play better as things go on.
Samoa looked as though they have improved in attack maybe the influence of Long.
Next game up we need to respect the ball a bit more and move up a bit quicker in defence.

I was v. disappointed in our performance at first, but watching Australia/NZ now, I've brightened up a bit.

There isn't a lot between these three sides in this year's comp, but we really need to sharpen up, especially with ball retention and ruck defence. That will come with game time but we haven't got that.

Smith and Widdop are a great 6/7 combo for me, their respective games/styles complement each other perfectly, and I thought both played well. Clark had the odd magic moment, S. Tomkins looked bright, and as ever, the Burgess brothers/Graham/Hill made good yards.

Greg Inglis drops a bomb = oh well it happens.
Sam Tomkins drops a bomb = get him in the centres.

Watkins is mystery, has everything in his locker to be the best centre in world rugby. Just isn't putting it together

I'm not one for clamouring to move Sam Tomkins, I think he's fine at FB.

But, I do think he has to be more dominant when the ball's in the air. He can't continue pulling out and letting the ball bounce. When the ball's on the deck, he mops up well, in the air, it's a different matter.

Agreed.

The differences being
1) it only happened once
2) Tomkins didn't drop anything, he didn't even attempt to catch them

Samoa could be the team to beat in the 4 nations with just a few rule changes.
Half the NZ side could play for Samoa, and two of the young Australians, Milford and Sione Mataútia, are also very proud Samoans. On the Toa Samoa facebook page they have been putting up photos of Milford setting up tables on the sideline for the Samoan side today, and Sione has a brother in the Samoan squad.
Most of these guys play for NZ or Aus because of the money. Change the rules a bit to make the money equal, and suddenly Samoa is very hard to beat.

I agree.

Meanwhile Bentham is doing a great job for us vs. Aus.