[Bullseye]

England Vs Samoa & Australia Vs Fiji : Tue Oct 11, 2022 12:48 pm  

Will England get utterly pumped or scrape a win? Samoa team looks decent on paper but them not having played much will help England. If we go as far as getting to play them again later on in the competition I think that game would be even harder. Losing the likes of Walmsley, Dodd, Lomax, Newman etc was the last thing England needed.

As for Australia Vs Fiji it's Australia by 70 for me. I know Fiji rested some of their best players for the warm up but they looked clueless and with Brian McDermott in charge they're even less likely to compete. Australia playing with random numbers on their backs will get on everyone's tits. I've got a ticket for this game and looking forward to it despite it being massively one sided by the looks of it.

Re: England Vs Samoa & Australia Vs Fiji : Tue Oct 11, 2022 1:48 pm  

Like pretty much every world cup I can remember it is a must win first game for England in terms of giving us a chance at the big prize, can't see them progressing far if we don't win this group (leaving an expected knockout draw of Tonga, Samoa, Aus/NZ).

Re: England Vs Samoa & Australia Vs Fiji : Tue Oct 11, 2022 5:29 pm  

It wouldn't surprise me if both were relatively close games. Australia haven't had any warm up games and have said they won't be playing any players who played in the Grand Final against Fiji. Australia aren't usually a team that will put the hammer down and try to humiliate their opposition, so I don't see them winning by too much.

Samoa v England will depend a lot on how seriously Samoa are taking it. They've also had no warm up games that I'm aware of. An 8-12 point England win would be my guess, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if they beat us given the quality of the individuals they have in their side. It'll be interesting to see how Jerome Luai handles the World Cup. It could cement his position as the most hated player in World Rugby League, or he could use it to win a few hearts and minds back.

Re: England Vs Samoa & Australia Vs Fiji : Tue Oct 11, 2022 5:44 pm  

The majority of the Samoan team were in the grand final… which was only a couple of weeks ago… so the lack of a warm up is understandable… and the majority of the squad played finals footy so will be pretty fit…

The only issue would be coordination and timing… but a lot of the key combinations have experienced playing together.

This is a game I’m really looking forward to so no score predictions

The Kangaroos will beat Fiji by 20

Re: England Vs Samoa & Australia Vs Fiji : Tue Oct 11, 2022 6:15 pm  

Samoa will win by about 12 points.

Re: England Vs Samoa & Australia Vs Fiji : Sat Oct 15, 2022 1:13 pm  

Nice to see some good time on the BBC to build up the game and the tournament, although some of the correspondents the BBC use should be nowhere near it.

Some odd choices for me in the England 17, hopefully we get a good performance.

Re: England Vs Samoa & Australia Vs Fiji : Sat Oct 15, 2022 1:28 pm  

Classic RL.

Re: England Vs Samoa & Australia Vs Fiji : Sat Oct 15, 2022 2:35 pm  

England going OK but there is certainly room for improvement, particularly those last tackle plays.

Samoa look like they could tear us part if they get things together and the ball sticks.

Game could go either way. Like most internationals, the atmosphere seems pretty dead.

Re: England Vs Samoa & Australia Vs Fiji : Sat Oct 15, 2022 2:41 pm  

Maclorum is terrible..

He has never been International level. Hill and Cooper lucky to be playing with the other options we have. As long as England don't switch off in defence should be OK.

[Mild Rover]

Re: England Vs Samoa & Australia Vs Fiji : Sat Oct 15, 2022 2:41 pm  

Much better from England than I expected so far. Look very well drilled in fairness to Wane.

Samoa down to 15 and looking (or being made to look) a bit disjointed. Next score will be important, to roll out that old cliche.