Agreed

Sbw is on fire. He just is that good.
I think it's NZs year this year.

England will have to put all their best patches of the previous games in one game and more to make it to the final.

It's not a foregone conclusion because England have got a very good team

No.

New Zealand v Australia final.

New zealand will beat us quite comfortably I think.

[uSemi-Final[/u

New Zealand 38, England 18

NZ: Tuivasa-Sheck 2, Vatuvei 2, Williams, Mannering, Luke tries; Johnson 5 goals

England: Hall, G. Burgess, S. Burgess tries, Sinfield 3 goals.


Crowd; 62,692


[uFinal[/u


New Zealand 32, Australia 24

NZ: Tuivasa- Sheck 2, Vatuvei, Pritchard, Williams, Johnson, tries; Johnson 4 goals

Australia: Hayne, Inglis, Thurston, Slater tries, Thurston 4 goals.


Crowd: 71,428

Prediction for England France?

So many people on here really are putting NZ on a level pedestal Of course we are in with a chance we have some amazing players. People buy into the hype too much we have beat NZ more often than not in England. and allot of the NZ team other than the stand out big 3 stars wouldn't look head and above if they where signed up to a Super league team.

Its going to be close but we really are in with a chance

I think most of the battle for us against NZ party and Definitely with Aus is a psychological one thinking they are better and thinking we cant win. This seems to run true with the fans on here also!

The team this year seem much more structured and confident than ever before. We shall see i am excited and nervous for the next few weeks

Who are big 3 stars for NZ, trigger?

I'm thinking of about 6 players you might be referring to.

Oi, Septic Peg! Will the pies be warm?

Unless and until England get two qualified experienced clued up half backs they haven't a prayer.

Why do people think otherwise?

Why do people continue to blame the halfbacks when they are creating the links and structures which result in overlaps and tries for charley/hall/briscoe , and when it's the forwards who fall short against nz and aus?

Rugby league knowledge, not even once.

Cos they're fricking useless!

Obviously I'll take it all back if we beat NZ... and Aus...

For all the ball and field position we had had last night we should have scored a lot more points i thought france were really poor.At times we do some good stuff but in all three games we have had periods were we have looked pretty poor. NZ will be really up for this and we will have to be at our best for most of the game otherwise we lose

Strong argument . Watch what happens against nz. The forwards will be beaten.

We have the worst half backs of the 4 teams in the semis, even if our pack dominates the distribution from the half backs is slow and non structured.
I don,t think Mc Banana knows what his best team is, don,t know why Widdop was brought over here if he was only going to play him with the odd cameo appearance. Similar with Burrow is he a half back or a hooker, Rangi Chase has had enough games and proved he really isn,t international standard.
I think we will get steamrollered in the semi whether its at the start or at the end we will have to wait and see.

our forwards match up to aus and nz far more than our half backs do

No, NZ should smash England in the semis

Its too late to call for Rangi's head now, he isnt going to change a key position for a semi final after 4 games of the tournament. He should never have been the first choice in the first place thats the problem. We can still have a good go at the Kiwi's, they have a great team but stranger things have happened. As a proud Englishman I would rather get behind the team and cheer the boys on. Its a home semi final at Wembley in the World Cup, and all people seem to want to do is wave the white flag before its even kicked off, we have no chance, the coach is useless, x and y players are crap.. Lighten up for frigs sake and support the team, this attitude everyone seems to have is depressing

Disagree. In the first 20 minutes against Australia there was no problem.

For all the mocking of the coach the team look much more organised and potentially potent than under any coach since Mal Reilly.

We'll lose because our pack seem unable to maintain form, concentration and defence for 80 minutes. They flatter to deceive. Over the years that has been the case.

Yes, exactly, but people will blame the halfbacks

We,ve played 320 mins of rugby so far and our halfbacks have not even performed over 80 mins in those 4 games. The pack can only do so much in driving the ball in, yes they have had defensive lapses, but we also need some inspiration and spark from the half backs, the performance of our wingers and full back are just papering over the cracks.

Pre-tournament I thought yes.
Pre-QF I thought no.
Post-QF I think NO.

Just stating facts. Did you watch the game yesterday?

Its too late now but I would have tried Briscoe at full back and Tomkins at stand off by dropping Chase. Briscoe is no worse than Tomkins defensively but he does have good kick returns albeit in a different style. Tomkins at stand off would attack the opposition much better than Chase and would be effective as a support player off the forwards.
The most important thing is that Tomkins will put in 80 mins worth instead of the unpredictable 15-20 mins from Chase.

Briscoe at full back would be a disaster. Can't remember who Hull played earlier this year with Briscoe at FB, but it wasn't pretty.

I would like Tomkins at 6 again though. I personally think this is his best position. I have been particularly impressed if his kicking game.

But wouldn't out Briscoe at FB. Rather have Widdop.
So frustrating seeing him on the bench.

On the plus side, England did beat Fiji rather comfortably, and Fiji looked pretty good tonight. Meanwhile, NZ haven't had a really tough game in the tournament yet, and England will be the first tie they come up against a Big Three opponent.

On paper, and so far on telly, New Zealand still have the edge. But there'll be 70,000+ of us at Wembley, and most of us will be shouting for the boys in white. Plus, it might rain...

England aren't out of this yet. We just need the halfbacks and centres to gel properly.