redjonn

Yes but her weakness is she turns like a slow tanker, her agility is poor. Good to have her in the team as we need her strength.

Yep, something the men missed. A good start for england

I've said this a few times but for me it was indicative of the approach to the game, so to repeat... Why on earth in such an important game against top opposition did we not take 2points from the penalties early on... That as I said to my missus was huge mistake and suggested over confidence based on how easy we had made and taken tries in the other games... It reminded of when Cas had had a brilliant season but ignored the penalties early on against Leeds in the GF, same reason over confidence

Don't forget our only hooker who only passed to the side, not putting any Questions in defenders minds. Also who made the decisions not to take the early penalties...

I still don't get why they didn't the penalty, either one early on. In big games you should always take the 2 points early on...

Yes and then kept on. Gosh was not long ago that Samoa were favourites before start of WC. If rfl had more money a better set of assistants and specialists.

For those casual fans (as we call them) the goal is to have them watch on TV or attend the more event games like CC or GF. That in itself would be a positive increasing the attraction to the media wanting to show the games and hence the price the game can command It doesn't have to translate to SL games initial. Their the clubs and IMG have to slowly increase the fan base and hospitality/commercial income. From the club game the internationals can grow and england be more competitive. Not the otherway around as if internationals will auto translate to the club game growth. Ideal if both but I think its case of what is the horse and what the cart.

Yep, being irrational doesn't get best results but yep as fans on the sidelines we sure are... Always remember one of the all time best ever coaches saying when asked about the quarterback he played as media and fans being negative... The best QB is the one on the bench... as he never makes any mistakes or missreads...

That I don't know... as I was thinking the games in NZ or Aus or both

Yes although I guess he/they doesn't realise the pitch is being relaid after this game...they don't play their till Dec

Yes of course but it does seem a sport in itself. Even if something announced doesn't fit with our poor view it's seen as conspiracy/lies/not accurate...

Yep, would it be any wonder the administrator's may think what's the point...they moan about everything... .

We could of course go on end of season tour every year, to play Tonga Samoa etc...

Let's not have intelligent insights please... we like it simples.. We are rubbish, the rfl, the country, the population for not understanding RL is best... etc, etc, moan moan moan The NH are great at everything

Well yes the best atheletes as they grow up tend to go to other sports here... Australia it being the top sport there tend to play RL. It's were the focus and rewards are. Simples really whatever organisational aspect one may come up with.

Well at least it prepares us for failure in the football/soccer world cup. A chance to get our depressed comments and emotions practised about our standing in international soccer since 66.

Yes it was disappointing and as we all know SL is not at the level of NRL but this forum can be so depressing at times. Brown in the commentary team was so critical from the start and I was almost jumping out the top window. It was as if he enjoyed being so down against the team just like many on this forum are about the sport here in the SH. As we are so far behind as many say why do I bother watching. May as well call it a day as its hard to forever read the comments and not be depressed.

Yep we made mistakes at key moments. Not least Dom Youngs dropping ball leading to pressure ending in a try so not sure picking Welsby or Watkins out as per some comments. For once on the back of good England play in earlier games had high expectation.Something I don't normally have. So yes England have moved forward. Lack of regular international against top teams impacts us. Can't blame individual players for that. Pity whitehead won't be around for next WC he was immense today. Maybe that was a game for Snyed or Atkins. The ptb was really slow, another ref would have given more set restarts. It was surprising how few. Williams didn't get enough ball and hence loss of attack cutting edge. Welsby didn't link up well with Williams today.

Just on the France part. I get the argument but their is an issue. Is that France with all the Catalan players or France without. It is a problem to have a competitive game if France can't have many Catalan players. Even if England also won't be full strength without the NRL players.

chuckle, I was thinking that myself and with regard holding down... hardly any 6 again against England when their should have been more. Having said that I am surprised England are not more ahead... they have missed a number of overlap try's, especially when one of the players always backs herself when a simple pass along to winger was all that was needed. Anyway I am expecting England to run away with this game now... Hopefully that doesn't mean the x3 commentators keep up the constant chatter throughout... although my wife has switched off the commentary towards end of half. England seem much better rugby team, will be interesting to gauge how good when they play Australia or NZ.

Yep... so go back to how it was for a period that non scoring team starts with possession, assuming that was the only factor, not saying it is or isn't...

Yep, I watch netball and generally it's a fast game with lots of skill and agility. I was just giving the observation that the example of netball was maybe not a good example as one sport blowout is different than another. For sure can be helped by which team starts with possession.

Yep but even a 20 point difference will normally mean each team scoring often... each quarter could mean only 5 point difference with both teams scoring relatively often... not many games with a 60 or 80 point to 4 score. That is even the weakest team has lots of cheering opportunities.

I think it more the nature of the game that doesn't appeal to the wider population of those towns and easy travel areas around those towns... or to put another way the game or sport only appeals to a small percentage of the available population of the town and surrounding area. The game needs to be more attractive to watch with better stadium experiences to have the wider appeal. Even in the bigger city or towns.

Australia haven't had to raise their game todate. They have smoothed out the combinations and processes are clicking. Plus they are as big as NZ. Just can't see past Australia. Like NZ to win but Australia to win relatively comfortablely. Of course yer never know... I maybe surprised.