125 replies to this topic

[1976PMJwires]

"did the time" a three match ban for an assault that would have landed him in jail had he not been on a football field? Graham got 12 matches for what was effectively an unproven charge. Chase should at least have had the same. The whole episode was a disgrace for RL and typical of the double standards where SL and Championship Rugby are concerned.

It was after all a tongue and cheek comment. - sorry if you thought anything else!!


I won't make comments about chase as a castleford fan can't accept what chase is.

[JohnM]

Interesting comment from Harris about Wales touring South Sea Islands post WC as well. That would be great!

What would be even better (but costly) is to play some of these teams BEFORE the WC if that were possible. The WC is so far off that Wales will have forgotten any lessons learned unless thy play together a good few times in the next 12 months.

[JohnM]

when oh when will people realise that the french will never be good enough to compete with us on the international stage.

as Widnes will never be good enough to win the GF or the CC. Doesn't stop them trying, though, nor does it stop Widnes fans turning up in their hundreds each week.

Edited by JohnM, 12 November 2012 - 07:25 AM.

[Wiltshire Rhino]

I missed the red button forum. What was Ian Millward's England team for the World Cup opening game? Chappers was talking about it pre-match.

[Grinner]

I missed the red button forum. What was Ian Millward's England team for the World Cup opening game? Chappers was talking about it pre-match.

I wouldn't be able to remember the full team he selected but I as I remember the key points that stood out for me he had Widdop and Chase in the halves, Hardaker rather than Charnely on the wing, and no Sinfield.

[Viking Warrior]

as Widnes will never be good enough to win the GF or the CC. Doesn't stop them trying, though, nor does it stop Widnes fans turning up in their hundreds each week.

people said that about widnes in the early 70's and as they say the rest was history.

i stick to my beliefs and the evidence of 50 years of watching international rugby league, that france will never be good enough to compete in the international arena. and making childish comments about widnes wont change my beliefs....................just grow up soft lad.

oh and by the way it should rad "turning up in their thousands"

Edited by Viking Warrior, 12 November 2012 - 10:56 AM.

[Viking Warrior]

I wouldn't be able to remember the full team he selected but I as I remember the key points that stood out for me he had Widdop and Chase in the halves, Hardaker rather than Charnely on the wing, and no Sinfield.

got to disagree i thought sinfield had a great captains knock.........................and i have been one of his biggest critics over the years.

[Futtocks]

I missed the red button forum. What was Ian Millward's England team for the World Cup opening game? Chappers was talking about it pre-match.

I forget the whole line-up, but the talking point was that he omitted Sinfield.

As for the game, it was much better than last week from both sides, and although the score was again one-sided, England had to pull out a lot more tricks to score this time. Fakir answered the old question about who ate all the pies, though.

McIllorum was okay, but will almost certainly only be in the squad as cover for Roby. Hock was below his usual standard, but we all know he's better than that. The early targetting of Sinfield as kicker is a warning sign, as NZ and Oz will be in his face even faster than France, more consistently and more ruthlessly.

Hall, Tompkins, Watkins, all pretty much cemented their selections, so Hardaker may have to play out of position, if he features in the RWC.

What I did like in England's case was the unusual sense that I was watching a team, rather than a bunch of strangers. Obviously, this is nowhere near the testing environment we'll face against the Kiwis and Kangaroos, but this is the best preparation we can organise this year.

[trakl]

I missed the red button forum. What was Ian Millward's England team for the World Cup opening game? Chappers was talking about it pre-match.

I think it went something like this: Tomkins, Briscoe, Watkins, Reed, Hall, Widdop, Chase, Sam Burgess, Roby, Graham, Hock, Ellis, O'Loughlin.

For what it's worth, that is the pack of forwards I would choose too...

[Leeds Wire]

I'd have Westwood in ahead of Hock, but then again I am biased.

[jannerboyuk]

people said that about widnes in the early 70's and as they say the rest was history.

i stick to my beliefs and the evidence of 50 years of watching international rugby league, that france will never be good enough to compete in the international arena. and making childish comments about widnes wont change my beliefs....................just grow up soft lad.

oh and by the way it should rad "turning up in their thousands"

so in that 50 years.. you would have seen some very good french sides. whats different about the future that they can never be decent again?

[jackknife]

Its about time all the chase haters got over it, hes English as far as the international rules go (i dont agree with it either) so if SM thinks hes the best we've got then thats that, also a missed timed tackle in the passed doesn't stop him been selected so get over it n move on!

[JohnM]

people said that about widnes in the early 70's and as they say the rest was history.

Exactly....History. Not present. Not future..unless you want to bankrupt the club again buying success.

[JohnM]

got to disagree i thought sinfield had a great captains knock.........................and i have been one of his biggest critics over the years.

Agree. I liked Tomkins at fullback, too. He sttod back, observed,and driftrd into the play where needed and where the gaps were.

[Viking Warrior]

Agree. I liked Tomkins at fullback, too. He sttod back, observed,and driftrd into the play where needed and where the gaps were.

thats a first........we agree, i hold my hand up and have to say chase didn't have that bad of a game, but for me sinfield was outstanding.

[winnyason]

They will get there take note they where left out of. Pro era til 2006 it all takes time. Simply put toulouse needs to be in sl.
take this in your point viking warrior prior to 1995, it was all semi pro so the french could surprise with a win from time to time.
Since the pro era in 1995 bar 1 season with paris, the french was out of pro level for 10 seasons, unlike in nz where there is a natural migration to australia for footy. So they have to catch up on 10 years of pro footy the english have had and around 150 fulltime pro players to say 25 at best in france. Since 2006, the french have improved gradually take point since the introduction of catalans all top test teams now play top sides v french unlike the 4 string sides the kiwis and aussies put v them in 2003 to 2005.

The talent is there at junior level they are very competitive v the big three. The key is simply more players exposed to pro level.
So the best way i can see is toulouse in sl, given there is a reluctance to sign french players by english clubs. They are on a step learning curve, they will be lucky to make last 8 at world cup given there pool. See it is very easy for fiji, tonga and samoa to get a side full of nrl and sp experience given the heritage of alot of players at pro level. i have no doubt either fiji, tonga or samoa will make last 4.

Edited by winnyason, 12 November 2012 - 09:49 PM.

[audois]

The talent is there at junior level they are very competitive v the big three. The key is simply more players exposed to pro level.
So the best way i can see is toulouse in sl, given there is a reluctance to sign french players by english clubs. They are on a step learning curve, they will be lucky to make last 8 at world cup given there pool. See it is very easy for fiji, tonga and samoa to get a side full of nrl and sp experience given the heritage of alot of players at pro level. i have no doubt either fiji, tonga or samoa will make last 4.

Good points there. All the Pacific nations now turn up at WC with NRL players. There is no real French community I think in Australia as such unlike Greeks, Italian & Lebanese. England now playing that card with Widdop and Reed plus residential with Chase. France have just had one note in the time Catalans in SL that being Greenshields in 4N of 2009. Will he, can he make himself available next year; his last chance of a WC. He's playing at N Queensland Cowboys in 2013. The other one people are talking about is Dureau. Is it 3 years or four for qualification?

[oiseau]

so in that 50 years.. you would have seen some very good french sides. whats different about the future that they can never be decent again?

they have gone backwards since sacking Goulding - he was getting the momentum and the players were playing for him with a great team spirit - he made mistakes early on which cost him his job but the games against England at Avignon & Scotland at the GB were very good viewing for the french fans

[winnyason]

When does work start at toulouse's stadium.

[Lobbygobbler]

they have gone backwards since sacking Goulding - he was getting the momentum and the players were playing for him with a great team spirit - he made mistakes early on which cost him his job but the games against England at Avignon & Scotland at the GB were very good viewing for the french fans

They were in France as this tourny should have been.

Why oh why do we get refs who hand these games on a platter to England? It would be far better to have a biased pro French ref to get us used to having calls go against us - as they will against the Aussies.