Re: England : Thu Oct 23, 2014 3:02 pm  

I'm not too bothered about our players missing. Aside from Roby there's really only Makinson who has turned in a consistently good campaign. Perhaps Turner's late season form could have warranted him a spot in the squad but it's not like there isn't any competition for places. The last time we won the league there were players like Gareth Raynor starting on the wing and even at his best he wouldn't have gotten anywhere near this squad. The plus is a full off season of rest which is exactly what KC would have wanted for his first full season as the boss. We can enjoy the games without the scapegoating that usually goes on afterwards. Get in the mood with this - Four Nations Countdown - Shaun Edwards' Noble Sacrifice.

I'm not too bothered about our players missing. Aside from Roby there's really only Makinson who has turned in a consistently good campaign. Perhaps Turner's late season form could have warranted him a spot in the squad but it's not like there isn't any competition for places. The last time we won the league there were players like Gareth Raynor starting on the wing and even at his best he wouldn't have gotten anywhere near this squad. The plus is a full off season of rest which is exactly what KC would have wanted for his first full season as the boss. We can enjoy the games without the scapegoating that usually goes on afterwards. Get in the mood with this - Four Nations Countdown - Shaun Edwards' Noble Sacrifice.

Re: England : Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:28 pm  

That was an entertaining game although England seemed to make real heavy work of a team I imagine the Kiwis & Aussies will put away with ease. Poor defending at times from England but I thought the half backs combo did well & we do have some threat. Can't help feeling this 4 Nations will be a familiar story to previous years.

Re: England : Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:29 pm  

Twentyman wrote:

That was an entertaining game although England seemed to make real heavy work of a team I imagine the Kiwis & Aussies will put away with ease. Poor defending at times from England but I thought the half backs combo did well & we do have some threat. Can't help feeling this 4 Nations will be a familiar story to previous years.

Our Backrow was invisible.

Re: England : Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:37 pm  

i think it wants looking in to so many australian players making themselves unavaliable..(it shows how proud that lot are declining to put on the aussie international shirt)....so it will be a farce because if they get knocked out of the competition it will be because of all the so-called- injured players....ps..isn't kevin sinfield a bundle of fun?

Re: England : Sat Oct 25, 2014 2:16 pm  

RIGSBY wrote:

i think it wants looking in to so many australian players making themselves unavaliable..(it shows how proud that lot are declining to put on the aussie international shirt)....so it will be a farce because if they get knocked out of the competition it will be because of all the so-called- injured players....ps..isn't kevin sinfield a bundle of fun?

The Aussies could probably comfortably pick 4 or 5 different 17's and still win that tournament.

Re: England : Sat Oct 25, 2014 2:58 pm  

We're really gonna have to buck up against NZ and Australia. Too much dropped ball, too many penalties, a better team would have put 40/50 on us. Credit to Samoa though, they made a decent fist of it.

Re: England : Sat Oct 25, 2014 4:59 pm  

St pete wrote:

Our Backrow was invisible.

My summary also Westerman, Tomkins, Farrell and Ferres didn't do enough. Hopefully O'Loughlin and Whitehead will get the nod next week.

Hodgson was also ineffective but that can't shock anyone. No real replacement for him currently in the squad. Not sure if Clark can go for 80 mins. Shenton was also shown up in defence a couple of times.

On the plus side I think Charnley did some good work in the second half. Watkins looked pretty solid and our props didn't look too bad.

I think we need to get Hardacher into the team some how ideally at full back. We need someone at the back that will at least attempt to catch the ball and he has the go forward we missed today.

Re: England : Sat Oct 25, 2014 5:58 pm  

Our back 3 where very ordinary, Farrell got going eventually, but for me can,t understand how Joel Tomkins got in the squad over LMS. Westerman needs to bring his club form into the international stage needs to up his game next week.

Re: England : Sat Oct 25, 2014 10:00 pm  

Twentyman wrote:

The Aussies could probably comfortably pick 4 or 5 different 17's and still win that tournament.

well it didn't look like that today...the kiwis made em look daft!

Re: England : Sat Oct 25, 2014 10:44 pm  

RIGSBY wrote:

well it didn't look like that today...the kiwis made em look daft!

Aye, all teams have their off days mate. The Australians hardly ever have 2 off days in a row...unfortunately.