Graham thinks he's a half back, he should stop pussying out of the big hits and drive it in

Blanch and probably Brough. Mc Guire was not great tonight and he has never really done it against Australia or NZ either.

That has to get a bite from somewhere

against all your family hairlooms (Ball n chain) way back to king george the 3rds reign as our monarch .

now stand and sing god save our queen you rather confused individual

So why pick Lee Smith? And indeed players as old as Mozza and Peacock

How much did you lose?

Just watched the game again.

Tackle is complete grounded though when the ball or the hand or arm carrying the ball contacts with the ground and he's held by 1 or more opposing players (Greenshields arms are on his shoulders), there's no clause to maintain contact at all - and it can't be given as a broken tackle either unless the opposition player lost contact with the player before contact with the ground was made.

You can give it if you feel that the player was 'sliding', at which point the tackle is only complete once the slide ends. It then comes down to whether that particular ref feels a slide needs suitable forward momentum to class as a slide, a majority sideways roll may or may not be classed as a slide

Tbh i'm pleased the ref gave it, but there are times where it isn't given and the tackle is given complete when the ground contact is made

Nothing, but thanks for your concern.

Which is a load of tosh IMO, you should go into each and every tournament with the best side to do the job, we shouldn't be picking players because they might be able to do the job in 4 years time.

Ive not seen the game yet so Il reserve proper judgement till then but I don't think changing the team drastically is going to do us any favours, we should stick with the same players in the main positions as continuity could and should help their games.

Agreed, it's a load of rubbish how he wants to predict the team 4 years from now.

Look at the 2005 team..

Great Britain: Wellens, Carney, Gleeson, Senior, Pryce; I Harris, Deacon, Fielden, Cunningham, A Morley, Johnson, Peacock, Sinfield
Subs: Higham, Thackray, Gilmour, Walker

3 of that team are in the squad this year. Australia have 2 that played in 2005 and are playing this year.

He took loads of ball up yesterday. I have been very critical over the season because he passes too much, it works every so often, and it very nearly come off a few times last night, but when he does it too much it becomes predictable. He didn't do that last night, he worked hard and took a lot of ball up.

Thought Graham had a fantastic second half. Real quality front row play (which funnily enough isn't just about smashing the ball up).

you would have to say that a lot of that team is better than the team we put out last night

Bit h here, Graham does what he is best at, taking the ball up and making metres. If you want someone to look aggressive and go in with big hits but doesn,t make any yardage for the team, then Ryan Bailey is your man.

Whilst I do agree, i however feel we shouldn't be in the position of only working the squad out as the tournament starts - could you see the England football team being a series of arguements and quizical selections in the run up and the start of a World cup or European championship? It's the same with the Australian NRL team, it may be a lot of changes since 2005, but the core of the team wasn't just put together last week.

I wouldn't be using the English soccer team as a blueprint for success!




The difference between Australia, New Zealand and England is that two of these countries have very good, winning teams. One doesn't and needed to make changes.


Having said that, the way England played last night, especially their back line, I was shocked at how they looked as though they had not met before running onto the field.

Getting in each others way, over running the ball, being out of position, what the hell do they do at training?

The current England football team is finally realising it's potential though and is producing some good young players. Whether we win something I don't know, but at least the nation is behind it and the team is giving it a good go. The RL team isn't.

The current England football team is actually doing really well, great set of players, great manager and actually look like a team when they play. Of course it remains to be seen if they'll turn that into a trophy, but they finally look like a cohesive unit with tactics.

And the reason the backs looked like that is because basically that's what happened. The team especially the backs was just recently thrown together, which is totally ridiculous for an International sporting team.

Even if we don't have as good players, there's nothing to stop us being a decent team if coached properly and enough preparation is done. Hell we don't even have an origin series so for most of these players the International games are the only time they play with players outside their own club team - and we play a handfull of those a year, it's ridiculous.

First half 4/10
Second half 5/10

Everything else is just propaganda.

Apart for the comparisons in scoreline of course.

I agree. He had a very good game when he came on.

You mean they train?

Remind me what they won in 2005 again?

You are reading from the World Cup lead in script!

I think the BBC have it as 11,000 at the match, which is excellent for an international on a Friday night - how many French fans will have flown up for the match?