Not looking forward to tonight.Its going to do more damage than the worth of it getting beat about 80-0 on our own patch

I'm fearing the same but they have to start somewhere and so do the Welsh national squad after hitting our lowest ebb for a long time.

Now to restore a bit of pride in the shirt and build for up coming world cups.

I would agree. It's prbably not going to be pretty but if a Wales national squad doesn't start going on a regular basis then that would be a real shame. It would be great at some point in the future to have a kind of origin game between England and Wales, along with France, that really tests out all the players concerned.

Besides, the Welsh may surprise everyone as some of them have had SL and NRL experience!

All credit to Iestyn Harris, Clive Griffiths and the Wales coaching staff. A great effort tonight that put England to shame.
Carry on like this and it won't be long till we're watching France and Wales take on the Kiwis and Aussies in the Four Nations.

Cheers Catalancs. Clearly it's not all party poppers and baloons down here, but it was a pretty decent performance considering how many expected it would go. I really feel optimistic for the future.

A few years away from a side that can compete on equal(ish) terms with England yet, but heading in the right direction. Well done our new coaches and the lads.

I think we did enough to get the English lads sweating and revealed the strengths and weaknesses of that team a little at least.

Congrats on the expected victory and good luck for the 4 nations.

With more Welsh players at the Crusaders and more Super League experience Wales can only improve. It's just a shame that some rugby league fans are so insular and short sighted when it comes to the international game.

Credit to the Welsh team tonight . I hope Harris and eventually Noble can build on this.

I thought the Welsh side were much improved on last year. I wasn't much interested in the English side, to be honest, since it isn't going to be the one that faces the Aussies, etc. I was much more interested in seeing how the Welsh side had developed and what potential there was in the team for the future of Wales internationally as well as locally.

I was somewhat encouraged, I have to say. Had it not been for a totally wrong call by Halibut, one of England's later tries would not have happened. One Welsh player in particular was prone to handling errors and I think three of England's other tries came straight off the back of them. Had those four tries not occurred, and had Halibut been more consistent with his reffing on interference, the final score would have more closely reflected the effort of the Welsh lads, who at this stage are more raw potential than anything.

I think your new coaches have done wonders in a very short space of time and apparently Harris was let down by some players who withdrew at short notice, which is a shame. I think the Welsh RL supporters should take some heart at that performance. If the development continues, both as an international team and at Celtic Crusaders (first grade and the younger lads) then I think there is a lot to be hopeful about for Welsh RL. I just hope the RFL continue the investment this time instead of letting it all go to pot again.

As for England. Well. We will just get our ritual tonking! I'm going to enjoy watching the Aussies live and also to see how our own young hopefuls perform against the best in the world (assuming Smith gives them the opportunity).

Thanks for the encouraging words.

But a comment on the players who pulled out late. Some of them apparently pulled out to go to a wedding.

As far as I'm concerned these guys should not ever represent Wales again.
was it a surprise wedding? It's not like the date of the match has not been known for the best part of a year!

Especially when we had one lad (Griffiths) whose grandmother was being buried earlier in the day and STILL made himself available to play.

What was the starting line up for wales?? missed it on tv

A very encouraging performance and it was a pretty close game until the latter stages of the 2nd half. Really hoped it wouldn't be like last year up in Doncaster , but it shouldn't have been anyway. Back then the majority of the players had little to no SL experience and a few withdrawals compounded matters. Craig Kopczak my Welsh MOM


We should do well in the up coming matches in the European Cup and make the 1st place Final back in Bridgend if not win it if we can keep the performances and the players available.

Name and shame.

Yes, he was mentioned by the Sky team. The man had guts, loyalty and the kind of commitment that is great to see even though it was a very sad occasion.

As for the lot who went to the wedding, as Catalancs said - name and shame. They should be embarrassed by themselves.

The player in question travelled back to his best mate's wedding in Australia, I won't name him but I wouldn't be too fast to criticise him either because he's travelled thousands of miles to play for Wales in the past.

Glen Morrison?

No he's never played for Wales before.

Ian Webster? I'm stumped!

I have no idea who the player was. Was just talk on the terrace. Hell I thought there was more than one!

If as ajh says he has previously travelled thousands of miles to come play for us perhaps I was harsh. But it was still ill advised imo.

If my best mate was getting married on the day I was meant to represent my country (or adopted country) I'm afraid I'd be saying "All the best mate, we'll go out for a drink once my international commitments are done, but i won't be at your wedding".

Still I withdraw my earlier harsher comments.

I thought the Welsh side were much improved on last year and the fact that a good perportion of the side were young lads from the valleys boads well for your team.

If that's the raw talent you can dredge together in one year I'm worried about the European Cup next year. All we need is the odd injury to Bosc, or a touch of bird flu and you'll tear us apart!

We need to make sure we keep them in the set up, even if that means with the reserves but doing training the rest of the week with the first team squad and learning all the time.

I think the key to it all is keeping the system going and making sure we keep producing lads off the conveyor belt which has now been set up promoting competition within the young lads and resulting in them pushing one another on to greater things.

I am pleased with the young squad we have in place and it is made up of a lot of Welsh born lads whereas previously it may have been, in the words of Iestyn Harris, died in the wool Welsh.

Who was the player who dropped out??

Can't wait for France v Wales next year!

Ben Flower.

Jordan James stepped into his captaincy birth and did a very good job too.

James was the subject of a thread on the Wigan board. Got plenty of praise.

Yeah seems to enjoy turning out for Wales.

Having said that always wears his heart on his sleeve for Crusaders too.