Yes it is knee-jerk and we can't make any judgements until next week. The problem was the camp in SA coming so close to the WC trial match. England needed a solid week in this country after that trip.

I just hope it is the kick up the backside that is required.

The whole point of a warm up game is to get combinations in sync and to get an understanding between players in live game situations.

The way Mcbanana has treated this has rendered it pointless. A day of massages and ball work woukd have been more use.

I agree we should have. But I'm not overly worried that we didn't.

The intensity of the game next week will bring out the best in our players.

After the 2008 debacle down under, I promised myself I wasn't going to allow England to interfere with my enjoyment of the sport at international level, hence why I'm attending the fewest number of England games as possible.

Wonder what today's McNamaraisms will be

Great news for international RL

It has to do with the fact that a lot of England fans including McNamara think that the be-all and end-all of international RL is 'beating the Aussies', and disregard anything else as a waste of time. Hence the ridiculous matches against the Exiles which were supposedly intended to try and 'emulate Origin',

give me a break.

That's got to be zero Engalnd games then. Sensible.

Such is that obsession with beating the aussies, we've barely heard anything about the reigning world champions, and (IMO) favourites to win the tournament - NZ.

We are so zeroed in on beating australia, but if we come up against NZ at any time in this world cup we'll be systematically destroyed.

Dis McNamara forget that Italy are the equivalent of an Australia 'Z' side?

I have tickets booked for all England games, and potential games right through to the final. I didn't go today as I genuinely didn't see anything to suggest it wouldn't be a 30-40 point win to England. I've even been to France twice to watch them in the last few years. But i'm sorry that is a bloody disgrace.

Got a ticket for England V Fiji but I like Fiji so I'll be attending.

Congrats to a half ar*ed England team for killing the tournament's momentum amongst England RL supporters.

Ridiculous result.

The Bookies gave Italy 56 points start!

Maybe he'll play the knights next week instead.

They seemed to take it seriously.

I remember when GB played in the 1999 Tri Nations down under. They played a warm-up game against Queensland Cup side Burleigh Bears and only narrowly won 10-6.

Today's result is more embarrassing.

Have you got anything to back up that up? Any sports science background or other research to say that "catching practise in the rain would be the best preparation"? Or are you just going out on a limb with your ignorance because you want to whinge about something?

Perhaps they were suffering from low-altitude sickness today?

It was a throwaway comment to illustrate the point that I don't see how the camp in SA will have been of any benefit.

Are you simply picking out a throwaway comment and asking for scientific evidence you know i won't have to make yourself appear more measured and knowledgeable?

Probably because the tournament is going to be played in the October/November drizzle of this country?

Seriously can anyone give a reason as to why we went to SA? We don't need altitude training or hot weather training for games in Wigan and Huddersfield!!! We're at home, why on earth do we need to go abroad to train?!?

oh dear....Aussies 10th team would have beat them.

Ironically, for once, McBanana has spoken some truth in his post match interview, probably because he knew he couldn't get away with anything less. He said that the team's attitude was all wrong and he promised that it would be better next week.

Too late, I would suggest. As you say, this result, and the apparently poor performance that went with it, has undermined what was some great momentum.

Apparently the go compare man put the drop goal over, and that chef off this morning scored the last try for them.

There's some bloody good players in that Italian set-up.

I thought luigi from the local pizzeria down the road got the decisive point?