Sun 27th Oct: Men's International: England v Samoa KO 2.30pm (BBC Two)

[Northern Eel]

14 hours ago, Barley Mow said:

I checked on the ticketing website.

No seats left on sale. About 100 standing in the south stand and about 1,000 at each end.

The one thing that isn't accounted for is hospitality places.

How do you know how many standing tickets are available? You’re like Vera! 

[Barley Mow]

51 minutes ago, Northern Eel said:

How do you know how many standing tickets are available? You’re like Vera! 

If you select find tickets by 'section' rather than 'seat map' it tells you how many are available in each area.

Currently about 900 on the east terrace and 1,100 on the west terrace.

[StandOffHalf]

1 hour ago, Cerulean said:

Rugby League is my sport in more ways than you can count, but I was disappointed with the game, as a contest, and as an exhibition.

Samoa looked underprepared and disorganised and made unsatisfactory opponents. England slowed the play-the-ball down by prolonging the tackle and by pushing and pulling the tackled player back, permitted and encouraged in Super League: Samoa slowed the play-the-ball down by piling tacklers on, not allowed in Super League, and penalised. There seemed an awful lot of pushing, pulling, twisting, wrestling, shirt and arm holding, pleading for a penalty, which, I suspect, may have surprised a casual observer trying out the game. England’s (as with Super League) moving forward off the mark when playing the ball adds to the untidiness and confusion. This would take 10 minutes of the first round next season to cure, and I don’t understand why it’s not been cured yet. The commentary was awful, though it may have improved after the first 15 minutes: I wouldn’t know because I’d turned it off.

Some of the ball handling after the defence had been disrupted was a delight. England’s defence organisation was excellent, and while it may not be the the most obvious attraction of the sport, it’s worth focusing on. Williams was outstanding, and more should be made of this star player.

You turned the commentary off, or the game itself?

I actually thought that Newsum was better than I remembered him being for the Tonga series. Less of that rush in his voice at exciting patches.

Edited October 28, 2024 by StandOffHalf

[The Masked Poster]

I had a prior engagement which meant I missed this one but I was in the pub last night and a casual acquaintance I know asked me if I'd seen it? He is a 100% football fan and has always dismissed RL on the occasions I've mentioned it to him. But no, he was actually raving about it, saying he really enjoyed it and to quote him "especially the physical aspect of it, they just don't have that in football any more". 
So at least one new fan might be made from the series.

[GeordieSaint]

Jeez… our halves were great yesterday against one of the best in recent times, yet people are calling for them to be split up? Madness…

… I get Lewis has had a cracking season and it is rightly in the squad. But he has a tough old job ousting the current England captain, who is an exceptional player. That’s the natural competitor, not Smith, who IMO, is also an exceptional player. 

[Toupée Turtle]

8 hours ago, Mojo said:

I thought Bateman didn't do much for the English. If anything i thought Luai exposed his side for most of the game. Shaun Blore got the best of him a few times.

Time to kick Bateman to the kerb, did precious little apart from play his customary role in the embarrassing pushing and shirt pulling episodes. Young Nsemba will hopefully get the nod for Headingley.

[M j M]

14 hours ago, northamptoncougar said:

Obviously my own fault but I’ve just tried to get 2 tickets but needed seating due to my little girl and the RL.com website say none are available. 
 

I'm actually surprised by this.

A couple of rows of seats in the South Stand block F have become available today.

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

1 hour ago, StandOffHalf said:

You turned the commentary off, or the game itself?

I actually thought that Newsum was better than I remembered him being for the Tonga series. Less of that rush in his voice at exciting patches.

I've a golden rule - if Jonathon Davies and/or Brian Noble are on the commentary team I don't have the sound on from the beginning!

[Cerulean]

1 hour ago, StandOffHalf said:

You turned the commentary off, or the game itself?

I actually thought that Newsum was better than I remembered him being for the Tonga series. Less of that rush in his voice at exciting patches.

Sorry for the lack of clarity: I turned the commentary off. Once, the best commentators in sport came from a journalistic background, and often honed their skills on radio. Different world now, but the sport needs commentators more than it needs ex-players commenting.

[DoubleD]

I know Shaun Wane has high standards, and understand his point that he wants improvement, but to say that performance wouldn't trouble Australia is nonsense...............he clearly hasn't seen Australia play in the past couple of years.

It wouldn't trouble an Australian team from years gone by, but I would reckon that performance would have beaten Australia today

[EagleEyePie]

1 hour ago, GeordieSaint said:

Jeez… our halves were great yesterday against one of the best in recent times, yet people are calling for them to be split up? Madness…

… I get Lewis has had a cracking season and it is rightly in the squad. But he has a tough old job ousting the current England captain, who is an exceptional player. That’s the natural competitor, not Smith, who IMO, is also an exceptional player. 

It is a bit strange, particularly when you consider the strongest part of our attack was the combination between the two and how well they worked in tandem, something that isn't that common in these days of split halves. The more that combination grows the better we'll be.

However, there's always going to be the question mark of whether it might work better a different way. Exciting players are popular, less exciting players are less popular. Smith could win a man of the series award and play outstanding at international level but there will always be calls for him to not be selected unless his competition for selection is also less flashy.

[Dave T]

5 minutes ago, DoubleD said:

I know Shaun Wane has high standards, and understand his point that he wants improvement, but to say that performance wouldn't trouble Australia is nonsense...............he clearly hasn't seen Australia play in the past couple of years.

It wouldn't trouble an Australian team from years gone by, but I would reckon that performance would have beaten Australia today

I also think that it's all just a little small time RL thinking. We don't have to benchmark everything to Australia. We're playing Samoa, analyse the match based on the opposition and what we've done and need to do.

We don't give this match and opposition the credibility and respect it deserves by talking about other opposition.

[Hanover XIII]

I thought it was a good, solid England performance and there should be more to come from both sides in the second test. Only sorry I can't be at that one. 

A few sat round me hadn't been to a game before but had come with people who had just because it was an international which was good to hear.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

46 minutes ago, DoubleD said:

I know Shaun Wane has high standards, and understand his point that he wants improvement, but to say that performance wouldn't trouble Australia is nonsense...............he clearly hasn't seen Australia play in the past couple of years.

It wouldn't trouble an Australian team from years gone by, but I would reckon that performance would have beaten Australia today

I said the same thing to my mate I was watching it with 

A game against the current Australian team yesterday would have been very tight at least 

We hardly made any errors and looked quick and athletic / pacey but still with enough size 

[StandOffHalf]

1 hour ago, Chronicler of Chiswick said:

I've a golden rule - if Jonathon Davies and/or Brian Noble are on the commentary team I don't have the sound on from the beginning!

I have been critical of the Beeb's commentary team as being past their sell-by-date, but I thought it was a good call yesterday. Nothing all that cringey or annoying, from what I can recall.

I didn't see the HT chat, so I can't comment on Wilkin...

[Barley Mow]

16 hours ago, northamptoncougar said:

Obviously my own fault but I’ve just tried to get 2 tickets but needed seating due to my little girl and the RL.com website say none are available. 
 

I'm actually surprised by this.

Small numbers of seats going on and off sale this morning (as if there are some returns being put on sale). Currently only 1 available (north stand), but if you're still looking for tickets it might be worth keeping an eye on it if possible.

[RigbyLuger]

1 hour ago, Chronicler of Chiswick said:

I've a golden rule - if Jonathon Davies and/or Brian Noble are on the commentary team I don't have the sound on from the beginning!

The BBC coverage needs a clear out. They, along with Mr. Paul, are all yesterday's men, far removed from the modern game.

[Click]

49 minutes ago, StandOffHalf said:

I have been critical of the Beeb's commentary team as being past their sell-by-date, but I thought it was a good call yesterday. Nothing all that cringey or annoying, from what I can recall.

I didn't see the HT chat, so I can't comment on Wilkin...

You must have been listening to a different set of commentators 

[Loiner]

19 hours ago, Dave T said:

This camerawork is terrible. 

We have some real issues down that right side, not convinced by Newman tbh.

Been waiting for 14 pages for you to get that comment In.

[Loiner]

20 hours ago, shrewsbury roughyed said:

Newman the least impressive player for England. Williams POM for me, possibly Farnworth 

Sets up a try for Williams, solid in defence,couple of decent runs nothing spectacular granted but you think Bateman or Knowles played any better? 

[Dave T]

6 minutes ago, Loiner said:

Been waiting for 14 pages for you to get that comment In.

This is a bit stalkery. I must have posted about Newman maybe twice in my life and you've wrote this both times.

You've clearly mistaken me for somebody else, but are intent on making yourself look silly despite having this pointed out previously.

Edited October 28, 2024 by Dave T

[WN83]

I need to watch the game back but on live viewing at the game, that right hand side defence of ours was a worry. They were causing us problems down that side throughout that second half. Not a clue if it was down to any one individual but it certainly looked like some work is needed going in to the second test. 

[Loiner]

1 hour ago, Dave T said:

This is a bit stalkery. I must have posted about Newman maybe twice in my life and you've wrote this both times.

You've clearly mistaken me for somebody else, but are intent on making yourself look silly despite having this pointed out previously.

Never been accused of being a stalker before.

[Dunbar]

6 hours ago, Toupée Turtle said:

Time to kick Bateman to the kerb, did precious little apart from play his customary role in the embarrassing pushing and shirt pulling episodes. Young Nsemba will hopefully get the nod for Headingley.

Bateman is such an interesting one.  I said as the teams were announced that would like to see Nsemba in.

But Bateman was England's top tackler with 36 (just one miss) and would have done a huge amount to organise and shore up the right side defence.

[Dunbar]

I thought Newman did ok.  The one on one strip was a momentum change at that point but that happens to the best of players.  Overall, I though he put his hand up for work ok and was part of a very good effort from the backline in brining the ball away from their own line. 

Their collective ability to use footwork to find a good carry and a fast play the ball was a huge part of England winning the ruck.  This also helped the starting front row of Havard and Lees to put their effort into defence and we simply won the arm wrestle.  A good game plan well executed in the main - we just need a full 80 minute performance.