25 replies to this topic

[ParisSurtout]

Here is the squad, coached by Stephen Kearney:


Full backs: Lance Hohaia, Sam Perrett

Wings: Manu Vatuvei, Jason Nightingale, Antonio Winterstein.

Centres: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Junior Sau,

Halves: Benji Marshall, Thomas Leuluai,

Backrowers: Frank Pritchard, Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, Jeremy Smith, Bronson Harrison, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino,

Props: Fuifui Moimoi, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Adam Blair, Sika Manu,

Hookers: Issac Luke, Nathan Fien,

This team is thin on centres and halves. Backrowers Mannering and Matulino are covers for centres. Fien can play scrum half, though he was probably chosen as a replacement half for Luke.

The likely 17 is:

Lance Hohaia/Sam Perrrett

Manu Vatuvei, Shaun Kenny-Dowell, Junior Sau, Jason Nightingale

Benji Marshall
Thomas Leuluai

Simon Mannering
Frank Pritchard, Jeremy Smith
Fui Fui Moi Moi, Isaac Luke, Frank-Paul Nuuausala,

Replacements:
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Adam Blair, Bronson Harrison, Nathan Fien


Can England really contemplate beating this team?

Edited by ParisSurtout, 05 October 2010 - 10:52 AM.

[PC]

Can England really contemplate beating this team?

Simple answer, yes. This England team can beat anybody, and if they don't believe it they will get murdered.

[AndyCapp]

Here is the squad, coached by Stephen Kearney:


Full backs: Lance Hohaia, Sam Perrett

Wings: Manu Vatuvei, Jason Nightingale, Antonio Winterstein.

Centres: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Junior Sau,

Halves: Benji Marshall, Thomas Leuluai,

Backrowers: Frank Pritchard, Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, Jeremy Smith, Bronson Harrison, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino,

Props: Fuifui Moimoi, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sika Manu,

Hookers: Issac Luke, Nathan Fien,

This team is thin on centres and halves. Backrowers Mannering and Matulino are covers for centres. Fien can play scrum half, though he was probably chosen as a replacement half for Luke.

The likely 17 is:

Lance Hohaia/Sam Perrrett

Manu Vatuvei, Shaun Kenny-Dowell, Junior Sau, Jason Nightingale

Benji Marshall
Thomas Leuluai

Simon Mannering
Frank Pritchard, Jeremy Smith
Fui Fui Moi Moi, Isaac Luke, Frank-Paul Nuuausala,

Replacements:
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Adam Blair, Bronson Harrison, Nathan Fien


Can England really contemplate beating this team?

Probably not.

[goldcoaster]

Definitely the favourites, but England can beat anyone with their squad also.

[thirteenthman]

Given a full strength team New Zealand are capable of beating anyone. It makes a change to see none of their big stars needing an urgent operation this year. It'll be an interesting decision as to how Kearney plays Nathan Fien, as he has been really good for St George Illawarra this year - from a SL perspective Thomas Leuluai would be a shoe in for the no7. And in Benji Marshall they have a true world class player - he just needs to show it at test level now.

As for England, well they have a pack to match anyone - it's just a matter of which combinations McNamara goes for in the backs and whether they can gel together as a team. The first game between us and the Kiwis should be an absolute belter. Both teams need a win from this to gain confidence. The Kiwis are very much a confidence team - when it starts to go wrong for them they can easily implode. If England can start well then they can beat them.

[Hayne1]

Given a full strength team New Zealand are capable of beating anyone. It makes a change to see none of their big stars needing an urgent operation this year. It'll be an interesting decision as to how Kearney plays Nathan Fien, as he has been really good for St George Illawarra this year - from a SL perspective Thomas Leuluai would be a shoe in for the no7. And in Benji Marshall they have a true world class player - he just needs to show it at test level now.

As for England, well they have a pack to match anyone - it's just a matter of which combinations McNamara goes for in the backs and whether they can gel together as a team. The first game between us and the Kiwis should be an absolute belter. Both teams need a win from this to gain confidence. The Kiwis are very much a confidence team - when it starts to go wrong for them they can easily implode. If England can start well then they can beat them.

Not so sure that they are prone to implosion.

They have so much firepower in their back line, though, far more than we have. SKD v Shenton/Atkins doesn't even come close to being a fair contest. It'll be like Paul Sykes in the World Cup all over again.

[thirteenthman]

Not so sure that they are prone to implosion.

They have so much firepower in their back line, though, far more than we have. SKD v Shenton/Atkins doesn't even come close to being a fair contest. It'll be like Paul Sykes in the World Cup all over again.

Don't mention Paul Sykes - for one horrible moment I thought McNamara was going to pick him. Agreed on SKD - that's our problem though, a weak three-quarter line. The fact that people like Sykes and Chris Riley were in contention shows that. I just cannot get my head round Tony Clubb being picked.

My comment about imploding was probably a bit too strong. What I meant was that they have a habit of going back into their shell when things go wrong - it's not as bad as it used to be but I would say it's still there. If we can get on top of them early on we're in with a chance.

[Hayne1]

Don't mention Paul Sykes - for one horrible moment I thought McNamara was going to pick him. Agreed on SKD - that's our problem though, a weak three-quarter line. The fact that people like Sykes and Chris Riley were in contention shows that. I just cannot get my head round Tony Clubb being picked.

My comment about imploding was probably a bit too strong. What I meant was that they have a habit of going back into their shell when things go wrong - it's not as bad as it used to be but I would say it's still there. If we can get on top of them early on we're in with a chance.

True enough. They are and will be, far better coached than us, though, which will be another factor.

For as much as Morley and Burgess will do the hard yards with their forwards, their craft, speed and ball-handling in the backs will be the difference, same with Australia.

It's evident in a lot of English sides, maybe not cricket, but certainly union and football. We can run all day long, tackle all day long, win all the bleep tests in the world but, when it comes to it, we ain't got no skill.

[thirteenthman]

True enough. They are and will be, far better coached than us, though, which will be another factor.

For as much as Morley and Burgess will do the hard yards with their forwards, their craft, speed and ball-handling in the backs will be the difference, same with Australia.

It's evident in a lot of English sides, maybe not cricket, but certainly union and football. We can run all day long, tackle all day long, win all the bleep tests in the world but, when it comes to it, we ain't got no skill.

I think you hit it on the head with the coaching. I've long thought the biggest problem with RL in this country is the standard of coaching from junior level upwards. You can have as many people playing the game as you like, but if the people teaching kids how to play the game and the systems the kids go through aren't up to scratch you'll still get more of the same.

[AndyCapp]

Definitely the favourites, but England can beat anyone with their squad also.

The bookies do not agree, not even close. get your money on.

[Tommy The C5t]

We won't even beat the Maori

[Hornetto]

Here is the squad, coached by Stephen Kearney:


Full backs: Lance Hohaia, Sam Perrett

Wings: Manu Vatuvei, Jason Nightingale, Antonio Winterstein.

Centres: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Junior Sau,

Halves: Benji Marshall, Thomas Leuluai,

Backrowers: Frank Pritchard, Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, Jeremy Smith, Bronson Harrison, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino,

Props: Fuifui Moimoi, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Adam Blair, Sika Manu,

Hookers: Issac Luke, Nathan Fien,

This team is thin on centres and halves. Backrowers Mannering and Matulino are covers for centres. Fien can play scrum half, though he was probably chosen as a replacement half for Luke.

The likely 17 is:

Lance Hohaia/Sam Perrrett

Manu Vatuvei, Shaun Kenny-Dowell, Junior Sau, Jason Nightingale

Benji Marshall
Thomas Leuluai

Simon Mannering
Frank Pritchard, Jeremy Smith
Fui Fui Moi Moi, Isaac Luke, Frank-Paul Nuuausala,

Replacements:
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Adam Blair, Bronson Harrison, Nathan Fien


Can England really contemplate beating this team?

They can contemplate it...

[The Clan]

A very good side but their downfall against England is their physical approach to all games. Against England they will lose the battle up front and that's their greatest strength gone!

They would be much better served by relying on their halfbacks and threequarters which is where they have the advantage over England.

[EastLondonMike]

SKD is shaping up to be a quality centre.. but i dont think he has anything overly special about his game that should worry us. 2nd half of the NRL GF he did absolutely sod all. albeit that was partly down to st.george dominance.

he's quick, evasive and with good balance, but i think atkins and shenton will cause him as many problems as he causes them.

[Futtocks]

Mind you, there's always a very good chance that Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (who makes Moimoi look like Gandhi when it comes to self-restraint) will do something thoroughly stupid and get sent off or at least binned.

[petero]

A very good side but their downfall against England is their physical approach to all games. Against England they will lose the battle up front and that's their greatest strength gone!

They would be much better served by relying on their halfbacks and threequarters which is where they have the advantage over England.

You are taking the P... You are, aren't you?
If not I suppose it has slipped your mind that these players with the exception of Lueluai all play in the NRL, upon a weekly basis.

Physical is the only approach expected/permitted and at a level quite some way above that in S/L, as for losing that battle V England..............Well I do hope you are correct. I will reserve my judgement, wait and see would probably be sounder than making spurious claims such as your's.

The backs also will be finely tuned and possess much more flair than ours in attack.
I would alter the opening threaders question a little further and ask: would Australia feel confident of beating the Kiwi's?

[L Bow]

SKD is shaping up to be a quality centre.. but i dont think he has anything overly special about his game that should worry us. 2nd half of the NRL GF he did absolutely sod all. albeit that was partly down to st.george dominance.

he's quick, evasive and with good balance, but i think atkins and shenton will cause him as many problems as he causes them.

He must be poor if did nothing against a backline of Boyd, Nightingale, Gasnier, Cooper and Morris. If only England had such a poor backline.

[petero]

Here is the squad, coached by Stephen Kearney:


Full backs: Lance Hohaia, Sam Perrett

Wings: Manu Vatuvei, Jason Nightingale, Antonio Winterstein.

Centres: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Junior Sau,

Halves: Benji Marshall, Thomas Leuluai,

Backrowers: Frank Pritchard, Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, Jeremy Smith, Bronson Harrison, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino,

Props: Fuifui Moimoi, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Adam Blair, Sika Manu,

Hookers: Issac Luke, Nathan Fien,

This team is thin on centres and halves. Backrowers Mannering and Matulino are covers for centres. Fien can play scrum half, though he was probably chosen as a replacement half for Luke.

The likely 17 is:

Lance Hohaia/Sam Perrrett

Manu Vatuvei, Shaun Kenny-Dowell, Junior Sau, Jason Nightingale

Benji Marshall
Thomas Leuluai

Simon Mannering
Frank Pritchard, Jeremy Smith
Fui Fui Moi Moi, Isaac Luke, Frank-Paul Nuuausala,

Replacements:
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Adam Blair, Bronson Harrison, Nathan Fien


Can England really contemplate beating this team?

Had Fien played longer in the Oz G/F he would have walked away with the MOM, he could not have been far off it as it was.
It was highly noticeable whom Wayne Bennett was discussing the game with at H/T. Always remember who was coach and for my money the most influential Player in the last World cup, both were in the Kiwi camp: Bennet and Fien.

I would think that Hohaiha would be almost certain to start at F/B and that Lewis brown will also figure, he is a very good and skillful second rower. Moi Moi may be out of the take the field line up with Manu starting. I am surprised that McKendry from Penrith has not gained selection, unless he is injured?
They will miss Rapira though.

Actually I think that with a few decisions going their way the Kiwi's could carry this trophy off, the Aussies certainly will expect to have to do battle when they face them and will not be thinking that the outcome is a foregone conclusion, in our case I do not believe that they will be quite so concerned.

Hohaiha

Vatuvei
SKD
Sau
Nightingale

Marshall
Fien

Manu
Luke
Nuaasala
Pritchard
Lewis
Mannering

Moi Moi
Blair
Warea-Hargreaves
Leuluai

Should Sau not impress I would expect that Mannering would move to centre and Blair would come into the pack With Matulino or Harrison on the bench.

[The Clan]

If not I suppose it has slipped your mind that these players with the exception of Lueluai all play in the NRL, upon a weekly basis.

no it did'nt slip my mind LOL! Get over yourself, the NRL has many things over the ESL but physicality isn't one of them.

I will reserve my judgement,

Well actually you hav'nt!

wait and see would probably be sounder than making spurious claims such as your's.

and yours....

We'll see then!

Edited by The Clan, 05 October 2010 - 08:07 PM.

[petero]

[quote name='The Clan' date='Oct 5 2010, 08:59 PM' post='2134519']
no it did'nt slip my mind LOL! Get over yourself, the NRL has many things over the ESL but physicality isn't one of them.

Giveover, that is a silly statement and I suspect you know it. I am not simply referring to the impact play's of the respective leagues, give consideration to the continuity of play that the S/Hemi sides endure in every game there is a very wide gap in theirs and what our teams have to go through.
The pace is much quicker and the defences have to be far more alert, plus make/share far more tackles per match than S/L players do.
This all adds up to a far more energetic and physically demanding excercise than all but a few matches produce in S/L. The hits I grant can be as hard but the continuity is far below that for S/L teams than for those in the NRL.


Well actually you hav'nt!

I will be calling for an English victory every bit as much as you and anyone else and I will gladly take the flak if my judgement proves poor, somehow I think that will not prove to be so. It just happens that I feel I am being realistic concerning the chances of our squad and its coach and I concede that you are correct in admonishing me for claiming wrongly to have reserved my judgement.




and yours....

We'll see then!

Correct, time will tell. I await your climb down at the competitions close.