and it's usually the fullback

When Billy Slater is your role model, there's no hope.

The radio commentary I listened to was terrible.
All they talked about were the areas where they thought England weren't matching Australia, and it basically sounded like Australia should have won by 40 because they were better in every aspect apparently.

How did Keyes go the London half?

Aussie halves had a much better kicking game but their pack was on top
Our centres looked tasty, Gildart was very dangerous but had a few brain farts ie twice putting his winger I'm touch from scrims on the first set from scrums and should have found his winger to put us in front first half, but he caused lots of problems all game. King? The other centre looks very good in attack and defence, big unit and somebody has got a soon to be future international on their books imo

Being honest they were generally ( better in all aspects) of the game.

We did not have a game plan, that became evident from quite early in the game. I know that the team did not have anything like the Aussies preparation, but whose fault is that?

Our scrum half was out of his depth and really was a very weak link for us, He ought to have opened the scoring for England but tried a short pass with the line at most ten yards away and a pretty clear run to it. He did not have the confidence to take the opportunity and that reflected throughout his game.
Another player that disappointed entirely was Gildarts wing partner who had nightmares with any high ball coming his way, terrible positioning sense and a pretty weak game overall, he was as someone else has said given a couple of awful balls from his centre for which he should be exonerated from the outcome of, but really he did seem the poorest player on the field, bar none.

Our F/B looked good and the centre's were as good as if not better than their aussie counterparts. WE looked better when Ward was off and the wigan lad was in at hooker,. Generally the forwards tried hard but were clearly second best throughout for the greater part the game.

I thought that we were definitely short changed by the coaching set-up, if there was any and did not really get going until it was too late, and that did not arise purely because penalties were awarded.

Yeah Toby King. Plays for Wire.

In Gildart's defence, that first half chance would have come off had Lancaster not overrun him. Had he looked up before passing he'd have seen that his man was slightly ahead of him but you can't blame him for drawing the fullback and passing on instinct. When Lancaster was bundled into touch from the scrum it was obviously a set move to go down the blind side and he had plenty of time to cut back inside but tried to beat his man on the outside.

If there's another winger in the squad then they might get a chance on Friday.

Sorry Starbug, we were sat dead in line a few rows up and it was forward, without a doubt. The delayed reaction from the ref gave us hope he had missed it, I think he did, but the TJ saw it, unfortunately.

Gildart off to Florida with Wigan first team tomorrow so i'm guessing he's missing from Friday's game.

Wow, thats a big loss. could be replaced by Jack Logan then.

1) I thought the scrum half did o.k. and opened up the Aussies a few times, but was let down by Turgut dropping the ball twice, one of which resulted in Mitchell (what a player that lad is) going 80 metres to score


2) I've been mentioning Luke Waterworth for about three years now. He has the best passing game I have seen from an English hooker since Martin Dermott, I just don't know if he will ever be big enough. As you say it was no coincidence that the England backs appeared to get more space when he came onto the field. However that's not to decry Robbie Ward who pulled off a fantastic try saving tackle to deny the Aussies a try in the left hand corner.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"1) I thought the scrum half did o.k. and opened up the Aussies a few times, but was let down by Turgut dropping the ball twice, one of which resulted in Mitchell (what a player that lad is) going 80 metres to score '" That's shown at 1:30 on the very short SLTV match video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMnomxb ... e=youtu.be Commentators incorrectly said that Keyes put a short kick in.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"1) I thought the scrum half did o.k. and opened up the Aussies a few times, but was let down by Turgut dropping the ball twice, one of which resulted in Mitchell (what a player that lad is) going 80 metres to score '" That's shown at 1:30 on the very short SLTV match video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMnomxb ... e=youtu.be Commentators incorrectly said that Keyes put a short kick in.

Good to see toby king , a local Huddersfield lad going well, shame its not for his hometown!

sounds like the giants dickinson played well too at prop, just been given a full time contract

Quote ="BroncOnIon"That's shown at 1:30 on the very short SLTV match video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMnomxb ... e=youtu.be Commentators incorrectly said that Keyes put a short kick in.'" I thought that play had twice overran him but he passed anyway, the correct pass was certainly behind the runner at 1.30 on that clip imo

Quote ="BroncOnIon"That's shown at 1:30 on the very short SLTV match video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMnomxb ... e=youtu.be Commentators incorrectly said that Keyes put a short kick in.'" I thought that play had twice overran him but he passed anyway, the correct pass was certainly behind the runner at 1.30 on that clip imo

[url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/31449/england-and-australia-name-teamsTeams[/url for the second and final Test

Well that pass to Turget was garbage and virtually uncatchable but let's not facts get in the way of putting blame on the wrong lad..

My opinion also. The Aussie line for once opened up and the S/Half should have taken the quickest way to the line, he had little or no reason to pass and did so with the receiving player to close to him and at the last moment.
IE, when the supporting player would be least expecting the pass and would, I believe, have adjudged that the player in possession was going to run with the ball for what was almost an open line.

I had my ticket which for health reasons I cannot use so my brother is going to reward some lucky person with it, for tonights game.

I am disappointed at having to miss the match as I do think that with a few tweeks and a better, or even a game plan that England can pull it off.

Once again an English side showed an Oz one too much respect. They never backed down but did not play with a lot of fervour over and above containment for too much of the game.

The left winger and S/Half should be changed and the S/Off needs to take more authority on himself with the ball in hand.

But it should be a really enjoyable game whatever the result.

PS: does anyone know if there will be anything to view on tonights game?

England 28-14 Australia

Sounds like a great result. What's our record like against the schoolboys?

England played very well, especially in defence where they had the Ausies running out of ideas to break them down. The only time Australia got any success was when they played straight and very fast, tactically going into collisions with the aim of finding their elbows and knees and gaining quick play the balls. There were two phases in the game where they did this really well and they dragged penalties out of the stretched England defence. On both occasions they scored soft tries due to the fatigue and disjointed defencive line. Other than that the England team shut down the Australian attacks very effectively.

In attack England's better footwork and cleverer lines found holes through the middle of Australia's defence. In the end it was a comprehensive win and certainly doesn't flatter England.

Which England players, in which positions, had the footwork? England's senior team needs such players ASAP.

All the back rowers, both centres and the full back had a lot of success stepping through the Ausie defence. Some slick handling constantly found space and overlaps out wide and the young Roos scrambled well on many occasions to prevent scores.

There were long periods where Australia penned the England team inside their own 30 but even with the resulting good field position Australia couldn't crack the defence.

Frustration crept into Australia's game and they made quite a few errors as a result, they also started a couple of brawls when they felt the game being taken away from them.

William will be along soon to tell us that the penalty count was 62-3 in England's favour.