Sat 2nd Nov: Men's International: England v Samoa KO 2.30pm (BBC One)

[northamptoncougar]

31 minutes ago, Just Browny said:

Welsby has been solid in both games with a few nice touches, but the odd error too. He has done his job, but I got screamed at and told he was the best player in SL earlier in the year when I said he had regressed, and I stand by it.

On Newman, I was surprised today by just how poor his tackling technique is when you think of the quality of coaching he will have had.

I’ll agree with that, he doesn’t seem to “stick” in initial contact and does seem to loss the physical battle. I was wondering if this is the reason Bateman was kept in the side to add defensive steel to the right?

I do hope he kicks on but I’d argue this series has done Wardle a few favours. 

[JohnM]

Based on watching on TV, yes, the crowd seemed muted, the ground looked fairly full, and Welsby was quiet. I think that is possibly, as has been said, because of the way the play was set up and the way Wane had them playing. 

Luai is a live wire, though. We did well to contain him.

[Hopie]

Decent match today, Farnworth was playing at a level above everybody else and good to see another win, I'd be happy to be heading to London for a third test next week, Australia are playing next week so why can't we?

Samoa were better this week and I think England made less big errors, although there are still improvements to be made in the way we defend and pick the right pass. Some players were definitely better than others, and I think we missed an opportunity to give Lewis a start in the halves, he is wasted as a reserve hooker.

Plenty of space in the ground which is a shame and no effort to build up an event or get the crowd involved, even the Siva Tau pre match was less interesting than last week, although once again morons were shouting out. 

[Jonty58]

4 hours ago, graveyard johnny said:

lets not forget farnworth left a very promising broncos set up (grand finalists) to throw his career away at the dolphins $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Edited November 2, 2024 by Jonty58

[WN83]

24 minutes ago, northamptoncougar said:

I’ll agree with that, he doesn’t seem to “stick” in initial contact and does seem to loss the physical battle. I was wondering if this is the reason Bateman was kept in the side to add defensive steel to the right?

I do hope he kicks on but I’d argue this series has done Wardle a few favours. 

Ultimately Wardle needs to be available. He's so good and should be a nailed on certainty but he keeps missing England games with injury and it's never hugely noticeable what they've been and you don't really hear much about them, even around here in Wigan. I really hope he is ready and available for the Ashes because he could make a huge difference. 

[Dunbar]

Worth noting that Bateman was the only England forward to play the full 80 today.

[Dunbar]

England made 5 errors today, conceded 4 penalties and one six again.

Set completions 36 out of 40 (90%).

That is a pretty disciplined performance considering they were happy to move the ball around a bit.

For context, the Kangaroos completion rate in the Pacific Championship has been 61% in week 1 (24 from 39) and 79% in week 2 (31 from 39) 

[Click]

9 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

Worth noting that Bateman was the only England forward to play the full 80 today.

To be fair, SR's should be playing the full 80.

[Click]

4 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

England made 5 errors today, conceded 4 penalties and one six again.

Set completions 36 out of 40 (90%).

That is a pretty disciplined performance considering they were happy to move the ball around a bit.

For context, the Kangaroos completion rate in the Pacific Championship has been 61% in week 1 (24 from 39) and 79% in week 2 (31 from 39) 

Yea, but Australia don't make mistakes.

[Dunbar]

Just now, Click said:

To be fair, SR's should be playing the full 80.

I agree.  This is an area Nsemba has to improve, he did look knackered at times.  And he wasn't an 80 minute player for Wigan this year, he needs that in 2025.

[Hopie]

12 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

Worth noting that Bateman was the only England forward to play the full 80 today.

Surprised he made it that far after the attempted trip.

[Click]

Just now, Dunbar said:

I agree.  This is an area Nsemba has to improve, he did look knackered at times.  And he wasn't an 80 minute player for Wigan this year, he needs that in 2025.

Yeah I was a bit shocked to see how tired Nsemba was in the 60th minute, but I guess I haven't paid much attention to Wigan matches throughout the season. 

[WN83]

11 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

I agree.  This is an area Nsemba has to improve, he did look knackered at times.  And he wasn't an 80 minute player for Wigan this year, he needs that in 2025.

He wasn't early on but he was for the last few months of the season. He was absolutely knackered today though. The game didn't feel massively quick but maybe it was. I think just the nerves and tension of playing your first international probably took it out of him as well. I thought he did pretty well overall but plenty to work on. 

[Chrispmartha]

1 hour ago, Just Browny said:

.

On Newman, I was surprised today by just how poor his tackling technique is when you think of the quality of coaching he will have had.

Richard Agar and Rohan Smith?

[Dunbar]

2 minutes ago, WN83 said:

He wasn't early on but he was for the last few months of the season. He was absolutely knackered today though. The game didn't feel massively quick but maybe it was. I think just the nerves and tension of playing your first international probably took it out of him as well. I thought he did pretty well overall but plenty to work on. 

Two clean breaks is not bad for your first cap.

He didn't look out of place at all, and of course he is still learning.

It is impossible to see the future but if all goes well, I remain convinced that Nsemba and KPP can be an outstanding second row partnership - 6' 5" and 6' 6" respectively and both good athletes.

[Damien]

7 minutes ago, WN83 said:

He wasn't early on but he was for the last few months of the season. He was absolutely knackered today though. The game didn't feel massively quick but maybe it was. I think just the nerves and tension of playing your first international probably took it out of him as well. I thought he did pretty well overall but plenty to work on. 

I think you're right here. Nerves and the whole occasion can really take it out of you.

[Just Browny]

4 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

Richard Agar and Rohan Smith?

You know what I mean. The technical coaching at Leeds will be, and should be, as good as you can get. And he's just grabbing at shirts.

[RayCee]

I've only seen the highlights of the two tests. For those who did see the full matches, any opinions on whether Samoa lifted and England likewise or was it much the same for each? I appreciate it's subjective. I thought maybe a 10% lift. 

[MrIzzard]

1 hour ago, Just Browny said:

Welsby has been solid in both games with a few nice touches, but the odd error too. He has done his job, but I got screamed at and told he was the best player in SL earlier in the year when I said he had regressed, and I stand by it.

On Newman, I was surprised today by just how poor his tackling technique is when you think of the quality of coaching he will have had.

Newman has been gash all season he's borderline sl level would be a stand out in the championship but Wane rates him and that's that.

[Chrispmartha]

2 minutes ago, Just Browny said:

You know what I mean. The technical coaching at Leeds will be, and should be, as good as you can get. And he's just grabbing at shirts.

The coaching at Leeds has been pretty shambolic at Leeds for a while with quite a few of the talented younger players underachieving- hence the total lack of international representation for a fair few years.

Harry seems to be getting a lot of stick on here for some reason but he has been solid in all his last international appearances (this year and last year) his defence was not as bad as being made out IMO.

[Click]

4 minutes ago, RayCee said:

I've only seen the highlights of the two tests. For those who did see the full matches, any opinions on whether Samoa lifted and England likewise or was it much the same for each? I appreciate it's subjective. I thought maybe a 10% lift. 

I think both teams "lifted" for this game. Samoa definitely started a lot better than they did last week.

They just looked a bit more composed throughout the game, and England were just about to out compete them in most areas.

[Click]

Just now, MrIzzard said:

Newman has been gash all season he's borderline sl level would be a stand out in the championship but Wane rates him and that's that.

Damn, that is an incredible take.

[Chrispmartha]

Just now, MrIzzard said:

Newman has been gash all season he's borderline sl level would be a stand out in the championship but Wane rates him and that's that.

He hasn’t been ‘gash’ all season at all, to say he’s borderline SL shows a lack of understanding IMO.

It seems some just have a weird irrational dislike of him

[northamptoncougar]

Just now, Chrispmartha said:

He hasn’t been ‘gash’ all season at all, to say he’s borderline SL shows a lack of understanding IMO.

It seems some just have a weird irrational dislike of him

I hope I’m not counted in that, I’d like to think of my view of Newman as constructive criticism, but then again them problem with crazy people is that they don’t think they’re crazy !!

[WN83]

11 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

Two clean breaks is not bad for your first cap.

He didn't look out of place at all, and of course he is still learning.

It is impossible to see the future but if all goes well, I remain convinced that Nsemba and KPP can be an outstanding second row partnership - 6' 5" and 6' 6" respectively and both good athletes.

He was a handful as he always is. We always need to keep reminding ourselves that he's 20 and hasn't had a full year as a first choice club player yet. You look at him and it's easy to forget that. 

Him and KPP will be a cracking partnership. I'm not one whose when on Bateman, I still think there's plenty for him to offer. I also rate Matty Nicholson very highly and the move to Oz will be good for him. It's looking good in that second row going forward.