Sat 18 Jun: England v Combined Nations All Stars KO 17:45 (Sky)

[DavidM]

Oliver Gildart who isn’t playing and Herbie who’s injured 

[Scubby]

Just now, DavidM said:

Oliver Gildart who isn’t playing and Herbie who’s injured 

At least these comedians won't be covering the WC

[Man of Kent]

That seemed a very Shaun Wane sort of performance 

[Gerrumonside ref]

Good half for England although Hanley looked less than impressed by the Stars first half performance.

[EastLondonMike]

Good to see an England team playing again.

Thought England controlled the ruck pretty well, but seemed a bit slow off the defensive line too often for my liking, especially inside our own half. 

Would also like to see the halves to offer a bit more in breaking down this defence, and taking it right into the line a bit more. Williams does look a bit more comfortable in an England shirt than he has in a Warrington shirt.

But a decent enough performance so far. Hopefully they can go on with it second half.

On a side note, I wonder if Ellery is considering a coaching comeback? His appointment did seem a bit out of the blue.

Edited June 18, 2022 by EastLondonMike

[Scubby]

Ryan Hall was a great international player but he does look like he is playing in a masters game. I really don't see any sense in bringing him back - he turns like a tanker and is gassed after sprinting 20m. 

[meast]

30 minutes ago, andyscoot said:

Don't like the refs shouting to players to tell them they're offside.

They do that because their TJ has relayed the information to him, it's to let him know not to get involved or there'll be a penalty against him.

We don't really need to hear it though, I do agree.

[Man of Kent]

6 minutes ago, Scubby said:

Ryan Hall was a great international player but he does look like he is playing in a masters game. I really don't see any sense in bringing him back - he turns like a tanker and is gassed after sprinting 20m. 

Yardage out of a defensive set, I suppose 

[Man of Kent]

Great kick by Williams. He’s a shoo-in. 

[Scubby]

Jack Welsby is just class. I hope he fulfils his potential. 

[DavidM]

Geez VR made a meal of that 

[Scubby]

1 minute ago, Man of Kent said:

Great kick by Williams. He’s a shoo-in. 

He's just happy all the England moves are now Wigan calls circa 2014-2018

[Man of Kent]

Man of Kent’s first rule of VR: pixelated super slo-mo will always give the try, even if it looks proper iffy.

Batty did well there though. 

[DavidM]

I reckon there was a forward pass there

[Man of Kent]

Blimey O’Riley. That pass started in Cheshire and ended up in Lancashire 

[Ragingbull]

Embarrassing from the officials missing that pass

[Chrispmartha]

Leeming has been the best hooker on the pitch IMO

[Desert Skipper]

14 minutes ago, Man of Kent said:

Great kick by Williams. He’s a shoo-in. 

Isn’t it ‘shoe-in’?

Or should he be ushered away like an annoying pigeon pestering for food? 

[Chrispmartha]

27 minutes ago, Scubby said:

Ryan Hall was a great international player but he does look like he is playing in a masters game. I really don't see any sense in bringing him back - he turns like a tanker and is gassed after sprinting 20m. 

Im biased but I think Handley should have been in instead of Hall

[DavidM]

Just now, Desert Skipper said:

Isn’t it ‘shoe-in’?

Or should he be ushered away like an annoying pigeon pestering for food? 

Shoo- in 

[Desert Skipper]

Just now, DavidM said:

Shoo- in 

That just doesn’t look right on paper

I ‘shoo’ away a stray cat, or a Wigan fan.

[Scubby]

McShane is not an international player. If he ever was it was a few years ago. 

Leeming is far ahead of him of form.

Edited June 18, 2022 by Scubby

[Toby Chopra]

Enjoying the game a lot, promising from England, but Leeming should be in white.

Utterly embarrassing commentary though. Even the commentators are laughing at the fact that Baz can't put a proper sentence together. 

[bratman]

Leeming in for McShane I think, looks much more threatening.

[DavidM]

1 minute ago, Toby Chopra said:

Utterly embarrassing commentary though. Even the commentators are laughing at the fact that Baz can't put a proper sentence together. 

It really is . Bateman is the strongest skinniest bloke around .