Father Ted, as ever, is right: there's no way we can beat Australia with the magnificent Willie Tonga in the team.

Oh no, hang on... he's already been ruled out of the rest of the tournament. And Lawrence looked poor the other night.

With the right plays, we can expose Australia out wide, just as NZ did the other night.

Wales are a team of national league part timers with a sprinkling of super league and one or two nrl players. They lost one of their best forwards in the first minute, and until they tired they were quite competative. Encouraging...

How on earth do England think they will cope with Williams? Moreover, how will we score with zero creativity on offer?

I agree - things like passing accuracy usually let England / GB down. It's those split seconds that make the difference between scoring and not. However, whilst Australia are much better, the Kiwis are usually sloppy and we should be able to beat them if we are disciplined.

The thing that stands has stood out for me watching Australia previously is the speed of their defensive line. England really struggle to match this and often it's why I think we struggle to make ground coming out of our own half and why we often look like we lack ideas and creativity up their end of the field.

When Australia have the ball our defensive line has been slower giving them more time to select the right pass, they attack with precision and often end up scoring what looks like easy tries created by the speed and slickness of handling that we struggle to produce due to the pressure of their defensive line.

Having said that I do think we have the players who can make the half breaks that get their defence moving backwards and negate their defensive line speed so I think this will be closer than most of our recent encounters. Who knows we may even pinch it.

You could argue how many Manchester Utd players would get in the Manchester City team. But Utd will probably be lifting the title at the end of the season (and i hate Man U)

This is the problem with RL fans, we're writing our team off before they have stepped onto the field. We won't at our best on Saturday, but still put 40+ past Wales. I think everyone knows we have to improve to beat the Aussies, but i think we can reallyt get stuck in and compete.



Get probably the worlds best second-rower to cream him??

If the title were decided over the games between Man U and Man City Utd would not win the title. The 4 nations will be decided over the games between 3 teams.

How many Man U players would get in the Barcelona side? - it showed.

There is simply no substitute for ability and it will count on Saturday IMO. Unlike soccer where the team is over-hyped and never delivers - RL fans are being realistic about their chances. It is like England playing Spain at soccer i.e. an average side against the very best.

Have to say when I look back at the team that beat the Aussies in 1994 it makes me want to weep a little bit. What a cracking starting line-up...

Davies, Robinson, Connolly, Hunte, Offiah, Powell, Edwards, Harrison, Jackson, Joynt, Betts, Farrell, Clarke. Subs: Goulding, McDermott, Bateman, & Cassidy.

I think we'll play our backsides off but will get overpowered in the last 20. Hope I'm wrong.

Rubbish thread. Damo used to come up with at least 300 reasons.

Yeaman might get caught out positionally from time to time but physically he wont have a problem dealing with Tonga. Uate is a whole hearted player and will be a handful with the ball, but he should be just as worried about facing Briscoe who when given a bit of space can be just as dangerous as anything the Aussies have got.

Personally I think people need to stop thinking that just because someone wears green and gold they are fantastic players. The three quarters are avarage, the forwards are good but nothing special and Lockyer isnt half the player he was 5 years ago. We have to play at our best to win but this game (and tournement) is the best chance we have had for a long time.

I see Inglis may play.

I'm afraid I have a job and neither have the time nor the inclination to think of 300 reasons.

But thankyou for your valid (as ever) thread contribution.

Really top quality back three - but Powell was never a stand off he makes Sinfield look positively speedy

Tonga is going home with broken ribs according to the League express.

The poor Aussies only have that Inglis chap to bring in.

Easy.

Starting a crackpot thread wasn't enough. I decided to cement my blind faith in the team by placing a bet. Lumped a spare 20 on england to win at 7/2.

No doubt australia will top a hundred now

If Sinfield and Chase are the answer at 6 and 7, I'd like to know what the question is.

I've just watched the Aussie-NZ game back and Johnathan Thurston, while a genius with ball in hand, tackles like a girl and can't take any kind of aggression.

Smash him.

I think it will be a cracker,would be a bit more confident if Sam Burgess was playing but i think we will just nick it.

greg inglis maybe be the best rugby centre playing either code BUT this season he has been very poor, showing only a few good touch's and has been injured for the majority of the season looking over weight and slow when playing. We wont break a tackle through him or score easily down hes side, but he isn't the same monster what looks like he could do a full lengther at any time.

The only way to win is to want it more and if we do we should win we do have the qaulity to do it despite the negativity of some supporters. the boys have been making all the right noise's. Maybe the 4 Nrl players will install the confiedence that they are good enough to do it.

Interesting to know that in the 2 Brisbane Souths games this year Jack Reed was opposite GI and scored in each game. GI didn't even have a sniff and was pretty much dominated by Reed

Looks like Sam Tomkins spent yesterday trying to arrange his move to Union rather than focusing on the game, judging by his tweets.

Horrible little grub. Hope the boos are loud.

I had to laugh when i saw those tweets.... He may as well have put a union shirt on and gone for a guided tour round 'twickers'.

5 reasons.....

I can give you 25 reasons why England wont....

Go on then...

If you don't give a toss about international RL then don't bother posting about it.

Jesus, your a touchy boy arent you?

Didnt actually say I "didnt give a toss" by the way, it just doesn't appeal to me like going watching my club team does, same with football.