: Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:45 pm  

Kelvin's Ferret wrote:

Rubbish. The English RU backs are nothing special in their own code let alone learning to play RL. Admittedly we have a shortage of world class backs, but so do they. They've got loads of generic wingers and centres out of moulds they attempted to copy from RL, but they lack finesse and true creativity, and pale in comparison to the likes of Ma'a Nonu or Joe Rokocoko.

Their backs, whilst not world class, are still much better than the english rugby league backs

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:46 pm  

Harborne Saint wrote:

and Sykes, Senior and Gleeson?

maybe, though im not sure England RU are particularly strong in their centres, who are a bit rubbish

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:56 pm  

In all fairness, the players he listed as examples at the end were not half bad. Mostly backs as well. Is this a perennial problem that we produce a lack of quality in this area?

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:59 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

and 13 months ago, LV was still better than every british winger in SL

on what basis?

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:00 pm  

Eurob0y wrote:

Their backs, whilst not world class, are still much better than the english rugby league backs

Firstly they've never played RL, secondly their limitations mean they have to play a more basic style than the better international sides. How you can believe they are much better is beyond me. If they lack finesse and creativity in their own code they're unlikely to offer those things to a team in a different code. They don't have anything we don't have, and their problems are the same we have, the only real difference is that they can more easily change their style of play to limit the damage when they play better sides.

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:00 pm  

Of the Union players on show over the weekend, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy and David Wallace from Ireland, Armitage and Sackey from England, Mauro Bergamasco from Italy, lee byrne and tom shanklin from wales....and Shane Williams who was injured...MIGHT make the grade.
Of all of those named above, the Italian is the one I would most like to see make the switch.

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:02 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

Of the Union players on show over the weekend, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy and David Wallace from Ireland, Armitage and Sackey from England, Mauro Bergamasco from Italy, lee byrne and tom shanklin from wales....and Shane Williams who was injured...MIGHT make the grade.
Of all of those named above, the Italian is the one I would most like to see make the switch.

didn't you see him against england??

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:04 pm  

saints35 bulls0 wrote:

on what basis?

on the basis he was a better winger than the best british wingers by a country mile

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:07 pm  

Kelvin's Ferret wrote:

Firstly they've never played RL, secondly their limitations mean they have to play a more basic style than the better international sides. How you can believe they are much better is beyond me. If they lack finesse and creativity in their own code they're unlikely to offer those things to a team in a different code. They don't have anything we don't have, and their problems are the same we have, the only real difference is that they can more easily change their style of play to limit the damage when they play better sides.

What are you talking about? You only have to look at the way they play to see they are much better than plodders like Senior, Wellens, Gardner, Smith, Yeaman etc. The only english back who is decent is Gleeson. Armitage and Sackey are 2 players who would rip it up in rugby league.

: Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:07 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

on the basis he was a better winger than the best british wingers by a country mile

He wasn't though, was he? Not 13 months ago. He was doing well to make it into Bradford's team and, when he could manage to get on the pitch, he was slow, sluggish and generally fairly poor.