Odsal Outlaw

Smiths main strengths are organisation and kicking game. Organisation is a hygiene factor at this level and our last tackle options were woeful. He completely failed in that department compared to Tonga. We need to try another option at 7. Maybe Williams at 7 and Lewis at 6, or Suvala at 6. Would obviously have liked to have seen Conner in there but that’s no an option!

Well this is a very valid question. Knowing Wood etc. have flown over I wonder how they travelled. I don’t for one minute think Wood will have been in economy. @Martyn Sadler a great idea for a follow up article on the ‘why’ behind the England travel schedule and whether the leadership team flew the same way!

Thanks for sharing. No report or even result on BBC website. I can see results from Nat Conf Div2 tho

I honestly think if that game is in England as game 1 of a World Cup we win. We’ve just made the team travel a ridiculous route to Perth and given them no warm up game. Yet we still created more opportunities than we did in the entire Ashes series last year. I actually thought we were good at times and a few key turning points cost us (like the dodgy penalty Tonga got for a high shot in second half and then scored from). But ultimately came up short I think Smith clearly isn’t good enough for this level and the omission of Conner looks even worse after that game from Harry Smith. But, the game as a spectacle was enjoyable. England played some good stuff. Unfortunately the bizarre tournament structure means that’s pretty much tournament over. But I would stick with McDermott. Think he can be a positive influence on this team. But he needs to be supported by a governing body who help rather than hinder.

Have a word with yourself!

Well. Actually I’ve enjoyed seeing how we played today more than in the whole ashes series. I like the way McDermott has approached it. The penalty for a high shot mid second half was a turner as Tonga scored off the next set. In terms of the group, we now have to hope Tonga beat Samoa and we have to run up a lot of points in our games vs Fr and PNG.

Yes it does! Glad I’m not alone

England look like the numbers on their shirts have been positioned assuming names would go above them. Appreciate that’s not overly interesting

I watched the last 20 minutes. How bad was the camera work

Interesting when watching the Jillaroos game that there is no ‘6 again rule’ in the women’s World Cup. Reminded me how much slower the game was when each offence was a penalty. Not sure why there is a difference vs men?

Very late notice for the BBC coverage. I wonder if a conscious choice to maximise Premier subscriptions? Or an IRL reaction to the realisation of invisibility in the UK. Would hope England games would get highlights on the main channels.

Team lists are out. Englands looks about right, maybe a bit light on the starting pack. Knew Currie wouldn’t be in tho when he was at the photoshoot in Sydney! I’d perhaps have Lewis for Welsby on the bench. But overall looks a very agile and quick team for England.

No, if we win the other two then we can still go thru. If you read back the last few pages and see the tournament structure then you’ll see that group b & c are effectively combined with top 2 going thru.

Is it not? I thought it was two teams with most points go thru, from the overall 6 teams. Not the top of each group.

Also clearly the first game between Eng vs Tonga is huge. If we win that we are effectively qualified. However if we lose but then Tonga also beat Samoa then it comes down to a points difference shoot out for us. In that scenario we could be ok!