2 Dec: RLWC2017 (Final): Australia v England - Match Thread

[solly]

Australia well and truly earned that victory. Well and truly earned it.

My god, what an opponent England were. Ye gads what a victor Australia was.

What a match. What an absolute iron forging match of rugby league that was.

Keep your heads in the sand folks if you think Test match rugby league has no future. Bury your minds deep in the pit if you could not feel the passion, tension and intensity of what a match of Test rugby league can offer the code.

That was one of the most intense games of rugby league I have ever seen.

Gallant foes in victory and defeat, well done Australia and well done England.

I tip my hats off to you both.

Truly.

[Stan Doffarf]

That pass to Cordner looks further forward every time they show it.

[Wolford6]

Just what the England team want to see after a game like that. Nigel Wood.

[Dave T]

3 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

We played an 80 minute game against the Kangaroos for once, and they were only just clinging on at times. They had halves who play together far more often at every level, which is what we don't have.

More internationals, please!

When have we ever finished the stronger?

We got better and better and were winning the wrestle for the last 15 minute.

[Damien]

And for those Ozzies that say State of Origin is the pinnacle when it comes to intensity etc. That was more intense than any SOO that I've seen.

[ckn]

4 minutes ago, Jacko45 said:

Joke sport, Refereed by a bent Aussie.

What other sport as a Ref from one of the finalists.

And take a suspension from the forum and a final warning as to your conduct.  Simply had enough of that for a lifetime.

[jacksy]

Bennett to stay and make us even better. Ref not great but we lost it due to poor execution.

[Saintslass]

Just now, Futtocks said:

We played an 80 minute game against the Kangaroos for once, and they were only just clinging on at times. They had halves who play together far more often at every level, which is what we don't have.

More internationals, please!

Did we play an 80 minutes game though?  The disallowed try at the start of the 2nd half was a let off for us and we were all at sea at that stage.  Also, we have not got it between the ears.  We had two kickable penalties and took neither of them.  The second may not have happened obviously if we had taken the first but even playing with a four point deficit would have given us a psychological boost because one try would have won it.  As it is we needed two and surely that doesn't help?  

Having said all that, we got to the final this time and we only lost by six points.  That's an improvement on 2013.

Having said THAT, we won't have a number of our current players available in 2021.  Can anyone see where another Roby is going to come from for example?

[Dave T]

1 minute ago, Damien said:

And for those Ozzies that say State of Origin is the pinnacle when it comes to intensity etc. That was more intense than any SOO that I've seen.

Looks like many of them haveny even hung aroubd for the trophy presentation.

[wackojacko]

England fans were the loudest tonight despite being well outnumbered.

[GUBRATS]

Poor game , decent defence by England , rubbish attack , more inventive play by Leigh East u 11 s 

Some very poor decision making by proffessional players , the Aussies were there for the taking , doubt we'll have a better chance to beat them 

[andyscoot]

We lost our first choice number 9, our captain and first choice 13. 1 day less rest. Had to travel from Auckland wheras Aus were already there. In the Australian heat. 75%+ of our squad have been trained on less resources and significantly lower salaries and what was the difference? A pass that may or may not have forward.

I'm super proud of that team. What an outstanding effort with all those things considered to take the best team on the planet to one score and one score only. 

We should expect to win, but we should be proud of our lads for that monumental effort.

[MZH]

14 minutes ago, Gates1 said:

Jesus's watched that last play 5 times now.  Mcgilivary has been player of the tournement but that was a terrible call.  Kick inside or pass inside it's a walk over try under the sticks....so close.

The play was already dead. It was a forward pass by Widdop.

[GUBRATS]

Poor game , decent defence by England , rubbish attack , more inventive play by Leigh East u 11 s 

Some very poor decision making by proffessional players , the Aussies were there for the taking , doubt we'll have a better chance to beat them 

[Dave T]

Sam Burgess with a bit of a 'me me me' speech.

Personally its the impression i get of him now.

[GUBRATS]

Poor game , decent defence by England , rubbish attack , more inventive play by Leigh East u 11 s 

Some very poor decision making by proffessional players , the Aussies were there for the taking , doubt we'll have a better chance to beat them 

[snapski]

Just now, GUBRATS said:

Poor game , decent defence by England , rubbish attack , more inventive play by Leigh East u 11 s 

Some very poor decision making by proffessional players , the Aussies were there for the taking , doubt we'll have a better chance to beat them 

Wow. Think you need to start watching something else, if you thought that was poor.

[andyscoot]

We sort out end of sets out and stop kicking on the second, aka be smarter in the halves and who knows.

 

Gale was chalk and cheese. Great kicking from further out but picked a bad kick close to the line almost everytime. Brown was poor though which is a shame as he seemed to reinvigorate us when he was first introduced.

[Exiled Wiganer]

Superb game, wonderful tournament.

17 heroes, who shed blood. 

A great tournament for SL. We know we are watching a lot of the best players in the world. If you are going to lose, you cannot ask for more than giving absolutely everything, and leaving nothing out there. 

So proud of our boys. We can walk tall. 

[philipw]

1 minute ago, Dave T said:

Sam Burgess with a bit of a 'me me me' speech.

Personally its the impression i get of him now.

For saying thanks to his wife, child & family for supporting him?

[deluded pom?]

If there's any justice Whitehead will get MoM. He was immense. 

[GUBRATS]

Poor game , decent defence by England , rubbish attack , more inventive play by Leigh East u 11 s 

Some very poor decision making by proffessional players , the Aussies were there for the taking , doubt we'll have a better chance to beat them 

[Shaggy]

2 minutes ago, MZH said:

The play was already dead. It was a forward pass by Widdop.

Had he blown for it?

[Wolford6]

1 minute ago, snapski said:

Wow. Think you need to start watching something else, if you thought that was poor.

The Bulls play Halifax on Boxing Day.

[Northern Eel]

5 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Looks like many of them haveny even hung aroubd for the trophy presentation.

Weren't many there in the first place.