Usual International Rugby League disappointment.
Even if we hang on we have yet again
1. Picked wrong team
2. Been crap
Been the same for 38 years I've been watching the sport
Once we worked out to bomb the full back constantly we were alright. That won't work against Inglis though. Improvement needed in all areas for the next 2 weeks otherwise we'll get mullered.
Forwards win games. The backs decide by how much.
Did I hear Noble right? Commenting on Masoe putting Burgess onto his backside but knocking the guy saying he'd done nothing since - hadn't be been interchanged???
Structurally not much wrong. Just need to play better individually.
Can't make so many errors and give so many penalties away. Discipline, with and without the ball, is the most crucial factor at this level of RL.
I wasn't impressed with our front row today. Seemed a total lack of energy. Didn't run with any real aggression or passion. Far from sold on Tom Burgess. I think Hill has to start. Hill and Graham would be my starting props with George Burgess and AN Other.
Back row of Tomkins, Farrell and Westerman has a couple of problems. One, it's lightweight and second, two of them are crap. Tomkins and Westerman should be nowhere near international jerseys. Farrell is a superb player but I do worry about his size. He nearly got pushed in touch twice today. Says a lot. Regardless, Westerman and Tomkins need binning.
Backs are about as right as we'll get it. The half back play must be better. When we're going for Tomkins at third receiver on that two man play, Smith and Widdop have to move the ball quicker. Tomkins was getting the ball with a wall of Samoans in front of him, which negated both our centres and wingers.
Smith's defence at this level is a huge concern. The Samoans went at him all day and the Aussies/Kiwis are going to do it even more. He's a genuine turnstile in the line and will need massive help. His kicking needs to improve as well. I felt he was absolutely awful for Wigan in the WCC in Sydney for all except a 10 minute period and that was largely because his kicking was either too deep or too shallow. For the main tonight, it reverted back to that. High balls that were too deep. Against the Aussies in particular, kicks are likely our best chance of scoring tries. It has to be better.
As ever really, for England to compete we have to be at our absolute best and even then we're not likely to beat the Aussies. Play as we did tonight though and next week we'll need to hope the Aussies declare.
Did Joel Tomkins do absolutely anything?
Smith poor no where near standard required, Hookers overall poor. Westerman didn't stand up in defence, made a couple of decent runs.
Team for next week:
1. Hardaker
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Shenton
5. Hall
6. Tomkins
7. Widdop
8. Hill
9. Hodgson (No other option)
10. Graham
11. Whitehead
12. Farrell
13. O'Loughlin
Bench: Clarke, Burgess, Ferres, Burgess
Last edited by reliable sauce; 25th October 2014 at 09:47.
Strange to say it but losing their half back might not prove to be a big loss for the Aussies here. Cherry Evans was a complete turnstile in defence and if he had stayed on he would have had a torrid time in the second half and would no doubt have let a couple more tries in.
Aussies wilting in the Brisbane heat at the moment; playing as poorly as England at the moment. If the kiwis had any game management or composure they'd be killing it.
Cherry-Evans off injured as well...
Australia look poor so far. NZ should be winning by 20.
"If you're going to strive for a change then you have to keep going upwards,"
Keiron Cunningham, 2016
Inglis not come back out for the second half... Come on New Zealand!