75 replies to this topic

[Tommy The C5t]

The second half of the game yesterday has certainly given me cause for hope against the Aussies in Melbourne a week today.

We need to be more ambitious with the ball for a starter, we need to come out of the blocks at full speed and start well.

Creating a platform for the second half, but it's no good keeping things tight because from previous Australia v England they'll grind out the win (see England 6-14 Australia from 2004 and England 14-26 Australia) with us not scoring the required points to see us win the game.

On paper our defence hasn't a hope in hell of holding the lethal Australian backline so we really need the forwards to hammer them and take the fuel out of their tanks, plenty of strong hard hitting runs to take the line on, tackle hard and do it agressively.

We have to keep our discipline because as you saw last week and this morning, the New Zealand officials don't officiate the same way as the Super League officials.

I would like to think that a week today we'll all now be in the pub celebrating a famous England victory on Australian soil to match those of 88,92 & 06.

Believe

[Tommy The C5t]

Oh and my prediction = England by 4

[hindle xiii]

F*ck it, England by 7.

[Old Frightful]

I know it's easily said but, my word, we need to get off to a flyer. And in Australia-England terms that means still having "0" against us after the first 5 minutes.

Then the players may gain a little belief and confidence and give themselves a chance.

[Tommy The C5t]

I know it's easily said but, my word, we need to get off to a flyer. And in Australia-England terms that means still having "0" against us after the first 5 minutes.

Then the players may gain a little belief and confidence and give themselves a chance.

Rob what are we doing next Sunday? Is there any pubs in Hull showing the game?

The game kicks off at 7:30am so we'll have to knock Huddersfield on it's head.

[AndyCapp]

England by 16+































Joking Oz by 20 +

[dallymessenger]

the worst roos side ive seen and i still think oz will win

they were terrible today

[EastLondonMike]

best thing to come out of todays game is that the aussies never really got a chance to test themselves in attack. that and they would have picked up plenty of bruises.

but still think theres too many mistakes in this England side to trouble the aussies.
ray french mentioned in commentary today Shenton might be a doubt. which would be a blow.

[CGD]

We haven't been bitten into action yet. A close win against the Poms should have us primed for NZ.

[Sleeper]

I just cant see where England are going to engineer a win from.

[Steve May]

We'll know if we have a chance when the side is announced in the week. If we play again with an Academy level fullback, two centres who simply don't want to know and a bench with no impact players then we've no chance.

[Keith T]

We'll know if we have a chance when the side is announced in the week. If we play again with an Academy level fullback, two centres who simply don't want to know and a bench with no impact players then we've no chance.

I honestly believe that McNamara won't make too many changes as I don't think he would like to think he has got it wrong so far. I know you have to look for positives out of performances but I am still looking for positives in the performance of about 4 or 5 of his team to date!!!!

[Mikeyg]

We'll know if we have a chance when the side is announced in the week. If we play again with an Academy level fullback, two centres who simply don't want to know and a bench with no impact players then we've no chance.

My thoughts exactly.

ray french mentioned in commentary today Shenton might be a doubt. which would be a blow.

If he is injured, can we just not bother with any centres? Is that allowed in the rules?

[Steve May]

I honestly believe that McNamara won't make too many changes as I don't think he would like to think he has got it wrong so far. I know you have to look for positives out of performances but I am still looking for positives in the performance of about 4 or 5 of his team to date!!!!

He's left himself a bit hamstrung with his squad selection but the key problem for me was that the halves had limited options to pick from. This was largely caused on the day by both centres going walkabout (Atkins for the whole match, Shenton for the first half), the full back refusing to join the line and participate in any attacking manoeuvre, and one of those half backs being too much of a maverick and not being interested in any kind of structured attack. This combined with a bench that had noone who could break things up at the 20 minute mark meant the team was always going to struggle.

Tompkins has to move to fullback, where he can use the space to run and join the line when and where he thinks he can cause most damage. The kid is not just wasted at half back, he causes havoc around him because he can't stay in a structure. Noone knows how to run off him because noone knows where he's going to run. For this reason he has to be on the end of moves, not instigating them.

Widdop is two or three years away from being good enough to play in the England team. It's not his fault but he simply shouldn't be in the squad.

Atkins and Shenton look like they're out for the tournament now. In Atkins case this will at least save him from further embarrassment. For Shenton it's a bit of a shame because he was looking much better after the team was rearranged with Tompkins at the back.

As for the bench, we needed Crabtree on at 20 minutes. For the past three or four seasons teams have come out against Huddersfield and tried to dominate the pack for the opening 20. Crabtree comes on after that storm and creates havoc. Instead we had nothing different to offer.

We can't do anything now about the lack of a decent kicker out there, but we can at least try and rebalance the back division to give the halves some options to play with.

[Blind side johnny]

Who do the Aussies like to beat the most - Kumuls or Poms?

They'll be well up for it, smash us around in the first few tackles and our heads will go down. i predict a resounding defeat but with a mini comeback in the second half that will give SMc reason for optimism the next time we play them.

It's just like watching films of Don Fox attempting that conversion - you feel sure that he must do it this time, but it's always "poor lad"!

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

Although I've voted Oz, once in a while they have a massive brain f*rt when playing us and lose so I'm not totally without hope!

[Scubby]

Have voted Enlgand - always see the positives.

I just think the likes of Graham, Ellis and Burgess will have massive games and dominate the Aussie pack. I just hope that Crabtree and Roby are on the bench and are able to capitalise on the early fire.

[terrywebbisgod]

England need to really keep Australia under immense pressure for the first 20 mins.Maybe then will we have a chance.
Although that's not going to happen.
England to get well and truly shafted
Aussies by 30.

[Old Frightful]

Rob what are we doing next Sunday? Is there any pubs in Hull showing the game?

The game kicks off at 7:30am so we'll have to knock Huddersfield on it's head.

New Clarence, I imagine. Best bet of Hull pubs and I'm sure Ian will be doing a beer/brekkie morning as always.

[hindle xiii]

I honestly believe that McNamara won't make too many changes as I don't think he would like to think he has got it wrong so far. I know you have to look for positives out of performances but I am still looking for positives in the performance of about 4 or 5 of his team to date!!!!

Oh he won't, only Shenton out Cudjoe in. McNamara was hugely against dropping poor players, he may swap one or two around but you could guarantee the 19 most weeks.
Carvell may get a look in now he's had his week to adjust.