I think you make a fair point about the amateur games, but do you think it would have made a great deal of difference in this case? I get the feeling that people have lost touch with the whole international RL thing in general, but you have your finger far closer to the pulse than me here.

Thanks Rebel,

I think it makes a substantial difference, I can remember when clubs used to run two or three coaches to wembley. Often this consisted of several age groups, parents, partners etc. I just think it could of been planned much better. The PR has been poor as an example my mate rang today to ask if I was going to his firework display tonight, I said yes but would be after the rugby. His reply was what rugby is that?

I know it's a long process but maybe the RFL should work with clubs to offer some sort of add on for season tickets to say include play off games, grand final, internationals etc. or let people pay 1/4 for them etc. luckily I am financially stable but many people are out of work or had to take pay cuts so some sort of incentive or payment scheme may help. Other things like discount on hotels, travel if you book tickets etc.

On sky it showed the old tests from early nineties and it was amazing. I remember going as a kid in the eighties and buzzing at the atmosphere.

I know playing at wembley is awesome for our game but for people who are new to it or don't follow it, it doesn't look the most exciting sport with an empty stadium.

On another note the team did ok today considering we lost Ellis and graham and nearly westwoods head. I saw enough to book final tickets

That is exactly as I see it.

That was my first trip to Wembley, and what a day it was! I was also there 4 years later when Jonathan Davies scored that great try in the corner. I don't think those days will ever happen again under the current format.

Yes please !
I'd back what you're saying here 100%

I was also there for both with all of our rugby club, the juniors sat with the open age it was a great day full of banter and laughs and an awesome atmosphere. Good times

I have to say I thought it was a great effort in relation to the crowd on such a day. Those slating it and the RFL but did not attend themselves are hypocrites....its not like you did not know it was being played.

My God some of you are negative today.
I went. Had a great day.
Wales tried hard and played above their level.
England played well enough to win and that was not easy for Oz. They should have had a man in the bin at least and we should have had another try.

Crowd was never going to be a full Wembley but it was still a good number. Need to build on that.

I think we'll beat Kiwis and could win the final....though odds are of course against that.

Don't agree the Yeaman wasn't good enough. Peacock was off, Chase was awful. Drop him. Thought rest were good. Hall and Briscoe were great. Tompkins showed class. Sinfield was good but on his own at times.

Of course I am, you know my circumstances because you know me obviously... Tool.

Other than the injuries to Graham (who was awesome in his first stint) and Ellis, we were beaten because of two New Zealanders who were completely out of their depth and made terrible decisions under pressure. One was the referee and the other, unfortunately, was our scrum-half.

Really harsh on Chase. I don't agree he should be playing (not that the Ozzies would do any different) but he did some good stuff, he did some bad stuff - more average than awful. In fact Sinfield was not any better in my view, same again he was good in patches but then poor at other times.
We were good in the forwards in the main, I couldn't understand why Carvell wasn't playing but in the end the more mobile forwards seemed to work. Both wingers played well, we just didn't get the rub of the green and silly errors at silly times cost us. It's the first time i've enjoyed watching England/GB for ages we actually moved the ball about well. Hope it continues next week

Fair play to you, but I am confused by your original post given you did not attend.

Basically you call it a sad day etc but do not support it.

I thought it was a great performance and provided a great building block for the future. It was a brave step by the RFL in my opinion.

Still its easier to slate there ambition when we did not directly support it.

As for tool

Harsh but fair?

Ill informed.

Well it's hard to attend when you are 5000 miles away watching the game in the caribbean. I always support test matches and attend when possible which is most. I also sponsor superleague teams, nl1 teams and several amateur clubs so my dedication to our game is of a fair size.

My point was simply it was not as good as it was in the 90's and I blame the rfl for not promoting it properly.

How do you suggest they promote it better?

The International game is a joke and as you point out has been on its behind since the pre salary cap days.

Everyone knew about the game so not sure what the issue is with promotion, the insular, lowest common denominator and lack of investment in youth is the issue as to why the International game is not a draw, nothing to do with promotion.

Add to that fans condoning our best players going to Union because they do not like them and the small minded emphasis of club over county by most fans then what exactly do you expect?

If we are to be taken seriously as an International sport we have to at least try to play at out premier sporting venue, rather than filling Leigh and Doncaster.

I agree with that, when I say promotion I mean it in broad terms.

I think the RFL need to promote the games (all games) better. By making it an event people want to attend we will hopefully attract more youth and get more people involved. As mentioned in a previous post lets look at working with amateur clubs, businesses, superleague clubs to help grow. Another example: the last challenge cup final at Cardiff I had a box on the halfway line. I brought 10 customers to the game, one of which was a massive football fan. He loved it, he now comes to watch Wakefield with me most weeks . The point I am making is its not the actual day of the game as they are always great days. It's how we build the interest again and this I feel needs support and help from the RFL. Investment in youth, pushing it in schools and alot more. I would need an hour to write it all down.

simple really - its a northern sport so put these games in the north. it costs a lot of money getting down to london. also, make it a tri nations tournament where they play each other twice - lets face it wales and other minnow countries are never ever going to compete on the big stage - and for that matter lets go back to GB and then we might have a decent chance - no way on this earth will we ever win anything as england and especially if we have token englishmen who give up - if you recorded game watch chase for last try ! Chuffin joke.

It may not go down well with some fans but the only way the RFL can support it is to give us a chance at winning and at the moment they are not doing that.

We are currently a feeder code for rugby union and will continue to be so until the issue is addressed.

Its this simple, we cannot lose players like Ashton, Eastmond, George Ford, Owen Farrell, Joel Tomkins etc etc etc and expect to consistently compete.

In what way will we improve by being GB?

This.

I actually think the RFL did a magnificent job bringing International RL back to Wembley - hard marketing was all over London and the internet and rugby league outlets, the radio mentioned the coverage frequently, it was on national TV and the pricing was absolutely fantastic for two international games. What the RFL could have done better, I do not know.

If you are a rugby league fan, you knew that this fixture was happening.

The failure lies yet again in the heartlands supporters who moan about having to go to Catalans, Quins/Broncos, Bridgend/Wrexham, having a "pointless" vs. Exiles fixture etc. etc.

Union fans turn up in droves to their international fixtures irrespective of the diabolical on-pitch product.

Diehard football fans must spend some serious cash following their teams around the country - around the world in some cases.

I do realise that not everybody can make the trip down to Wembley.

I'll go back to the point about the Exiles match. This was a superb initiative by the RFL and was marketed absolutely fantastically but the fans didn't really care about it when it was on their doorstep. It must be so difficult for new potential supporters to grasp why the sport's own core followers won't go to these games. But seemingly we'll happily pack out Wembley and Old Trafford for club fixtures? I guess England's lack of success on the international stage and the general lack of quality international sides in the world is a cause of the apathy and we'd rather just focus on our clubs, but this is one of the cases where the RFL are trying to build it - and the people won't come.

That all said - today we saw a relatively big crowd for a rugby league international with a surprisingly pulsating atmosphere and a genuinely competitive England side compared to previous years. And Wales' team of mid-range SL and part time pro players didn't disgrace themselves (although I hope we can get past the days that a 36 - 0 loss to the Kiwis is a good result for them soon!). All in all, a reasonable success and a fantastic day out.

Excellent post.

I went to that game and it was a fantastic day and atmosphere and I have enjoyed a good few internationals since. That said wild horses couldn't have dragged me to that game today I caught 20 minutes of the first half in the pub but international RL is such a joke that I can't even pretend to be interested in it these days.

I didn't go and I'm not a hypocrite!
I didn't go because I have been left disenfranchised from the national game by the acts of the RFL.
I regularly attended GB internationals in the past.
IMO the RFL have made us (England) a much weaker prospect by trying to strengthen the other home nations and France, and for me that was the beginning of the end as far as copeteiveness went at international level and has had a far more detrimental effect on us than your hatred of RU.
Our game is not national and to survive it doesn't have to be until it's ready, likewise at international level, it doesn't have to be huge and world dominating at all costs. Square pegs in square holes.
Against the best we need to be at our best, and that means GB, every year a three test series of the tri nations and use England v home nations to develop international players of the future if needed but to be honest the level is probably lower than SL level.
Bring back the tour games for home and touring sides against top clubs, representative sides and the home nations if needed.

I quite enjoyed the games entertainment via the tv and after reading most on here tried to wonder why we should have such a low attendance.

my personal reasons was I worked the saturday morning like a lot on here and just of late with rising prices you have to have the urge to go and for me it didn't sell.

the two headed games is a seller but lets look at the quality of the teams, Wales for all its decent effort keeping a low score line still came well short of competing and England can't must up a full squad neither and have had to rely on imports that are related or can claim nationality for being here a few years.

its a fact that as a Great Britain side we was far closer to competing which brought in the crowds expecting a fiery encounter and we got them, going back years ago when Morley got sent off at the galpharm for the head high we put up a fight.

trying to bring the french national side into the 4 nations never worked and it won't with the Welsh Scottish or Irish, we need to revert back to the GB squad.

I shall be attending the final at Elland road and expect to see a far better game than I did last time when we was absolutely embarrassed