Sat 1st Nov: The Ashes (Game 2): England v Australia KO 2.30pm (BBC)

[Click]

3 minutes ago, WN83 said:

Covered it above, he could've been slightly more PC and said 'regular league match going fans' but hardly a hanging offence. He wants a big atmosphere and for people to feel invested this Saturday. 

I get the guy isn't everyones cup of tea and he deserves criticism for the weekend and is under pressure now to keep the job and rightfully so but when things are being made up and passed off as facts, to simply have a go at Wane, it becomes a bit boring. 

You can interpret his words however you want to, others can interpret them in other ways. 

All I did was quote him.

[WN83]

11 minutes ago, Click said:

You can interpret his words however you want to, others can interpret them in other ways. 

All I did was quote him.

StandOffHalf posted the following-

'Wane suggesting that Wembley was less than a real Test match because there were loads of non-heartland fans there who didn't cheer when England fell over'

He didn't (as SOH and yourself know full well). 

 

[shrewsbury roughyed]

1 hour ago, StandOffHalf said:

Wane suggesting that Wembley was less than a real Test match because there were loads of non-heartland fans there who didn't cheer when England fell over. He says that Everton will be ''banging'' and a ''real Test match'' with ''real RL fans''.

Shaun Wane weighs in on Wembley debate following Ashes opener

Rearrange this well-known phrase: ‘straws clutching at.’ 
 

[Maximus Decimus]

I think there are reasons to be positive that this might not be the disaster that many expect it to be.

1) We all knew that the players needed to have the games of their lives in some instances, but there were a lot of 5 and 6/10 performances out there. The players will be proud enough to want to put that right and I think we'll see a response from them early on. Similarly, the Kangaroos might go into the next test thinking all they have to do is turn up and this complacency could give us a chance to catch them cold early on.

2) A lot has been made of the low completion rates by both sides but especially Australia, who according to the NRL only had a 66% completion rate. However, discounting this game, their average completion rate is only 74%. England's was 72%, but was 86% last year against Samoa.

3) At lot was made of number of errors from Australia in general (15). This didn't quite tally with my memory so I went back and looked at it. Sad as I am, the NRL match centre keeps a record of all of these so they were easy to find. This figure is deceptive IMO. It includes the 2 Walsh try-savers, the time we won the short kick of, a double fumble after England actually lost the ball, and an attempt to pass it after being tackled on the last. There were only really 4 errors that were missed opportunities. 

England's errors were by enlarge more damaging IMO. They were regularly when we had good field position, early in the count, often after they had just made an error. 

4) We can make some adjustments. This was our first time up against Australia, and we have the ability to watch some tape and tighten things up.

 

We will obviously need a bit of fortune, like scoring early and getting the crowd on side etc. The ruck speed is is the thing that worries me the most, and if Australia are in the mood and feeling confident there might be nothing we can do. If they got 2 scores up early on, I'm going to get behind the sofa...

My prediction is Australia 24-12 England, but with a closer contest and something to shout about. 

[Maximus Decimus]

42 minutes ago, N2022 said:

On the Churchill theme, did you shake your head mumbling 'oh no, no, no'? 

"You poms are rubbish!"

"And you're Australian. In the morning, we can train and get better but you'll always be Australian."

[shrewsbury roughyed]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-helmets-required/2025/oct/29/england-shaun-wane-second-test-everton-stadium-halfback-pack
 
A desperate statistic in this article: no halfback pairing has played more than 6 times together (for England/GB) since 1994. Illustrates partly the dearth of half back talent available but also the lack of consistency of coaching. We always seem to be reacting and/or panicking rather than taking a longer term perspective. Having said that, would I stick with ML/GW as it stands? Probably not.

[N2022]

10 minutes ago, shrewsbury roughyed said:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-helmets-required/2025/oct/29/england-shaun-wane-second-test-everton-stadium-halfback-pack
 
A desperate statistic in this article: no halfback pairing has played more than 6 times together (for England/GB) since 1994. Illustrates partly the dearth of half back talent available but also the lack of consistency of coaching. We always seem to be reacting and/or panicking rather than taking a longer term perspective. Having said that, would I stick with ML/GW as it stands? Probably not.

And the lack of games. 6 matches is a full 2 years.

[Harry Stottle]

3 hours ago, StandOffHalf said:

Attacking short kicks virtually dry up, with the teams mostly running on last and turning it over. 

I think the Aussies may be more inconvenienced by the restrictive playing dimensions.

Don't you remember one of the Morriss twins going at 100mph towards the try line then sliding down the abyss behind the dead ball line, and it has been a bone of contention for years at Old Trafford for the GF. 

You are correct it is an accident waiting to happen with the narrow in goal areas at football grounds but I doubt it will enter players minds.

[N2022]

Article on BBC about how Arsenal are intensifying the atmosphere, to turn the library into an extra player that will bring the league title.

1. Opening up the tunnel so players can hear the noise, fans can cheer them onto the pitch.

I would add to this England players in RL Ashes should maybe have individual or by unit announcements as they walk on.

2. Light shows / pyrotechnics. Lacking with daytime setting.

3. Announcing goal scorer's first name then leaving fans to add surname. Works at ice hockey, would at football, don't think there's the recognition factor at England RL, and it is corny.

Generally, how they announce the teams, drums / bands, probably the best way for Everton.

[N2022]

Just now, Harry Stottle said:

Don't you remember one of the Morriss twins going at 100mph towards the try line then sliding down the abyss behind the dead ball line, and it has been a bone of contention for years at Old Trafford for the GF. 

You are correct it is an accident waiting to happen with the narrow in goal areas at football grounds but I doubt it will enter players minds.

Was it football recently where a young player died after sliding off pitch into a concrete wall?

[Harry Stottle]

2 hours ago, MattSantos said:

We're going to turn them over.

Feel it in my bones.

 

Have you got Pagets Disease?

Edited October 29, 2025 by Harry Stottle

[Dunbar]

Just now, N2022 said:

Article on BBC about how Arsenal are intensifying the atmosphere, to turn the library into an extra player that will bring the league title.

1. Opening up the tunnel so players can hear the noise, fans can cheer them onto the pitch.

I would add to this England players in RL Ashes should maybe have individual or by unit announcements as they walk on.

2. Light shows / pyrotechnics. Lacking with daytime setting.

3. Announcing goal scorer's first name then leaving fans to add surname. Works at ice hockey, would at football, don't think there's the recognition factor at England RL, and it is corny.

Generally, how they announce the teams, drums / bands, probably the best way for Everton.

The Everton stadium has very good sound and light shows / pyrotechnics, i think even with a day game they can use some of this to ramp up the atmosphere. 

Having said that, while we want a more vocal and intense atmosphere, the Australians are very used to playing in those types of atmosphere. It is 100% down to the players to perform.

[Derwent]

England need to be better.

Australia will be better.

Only one winner I'm afraid. 

[Chrispmartha]

3 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

The Everton stadium has very good sound and light shows / pyrotechnics, i think even with a day game they can use some of this to ramp up the atmosphere. 

Having said that, while we want a more vocal and intense atmosphere, the Australians are very used to playing in those types of atmosphere. It is 100% down to the players to perform.

More than 11 Pyros?

[WN83]

6 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

The Everton stadium has very good sound and light shows / pyrotechnics, i think even with a day game they can use some of this to ramp up the atmosphere. 

Having said that, while we want a more vocal and intense atmosphere, the Australians are very used to playing in those types of atmosphere. It is 100% down to the players to perform.

It's a real shame we won't be under the lights because it's looked great for the Everton games I've seen on TV. Get a bit of Z Cars blasting out though and hopefully it'll all be a bit more energetic than Saturday. 

[Harry Stottle]

9 minutes ago, N2022 said:

Was it football recently where a young player died after sliding off pitch into a concrete wall?

Not a clue N, I tend not to look at anything 'round ball'

[N2022]

11 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

The Everton stadium has very good sound and light shows / pyrotechnics, i think even with a day game they can use some of this to ramp up the atmosphere. 

Having said that, while we want a more vocal and intense atmosphere, the Australians are very used to playing in those types of atmosphere. It is 100% down to the players to perform.

Yes, absolutely. I get the Aussies are used to a big crowd, probably more than most of ours. It's just that feeling of having s large crowd for or against can be a factor. Certainly needs the whole England side 100% up for it from the kick off.

[StandOffHalf]

1 hour ago, WN83 said:

StandOffHalf posted the following-

'Wane suggesting that Wembley was less than a real Test match because there were loads of non-heartland fans there who didn't cheer when England fell over'

He didn't (as SOH and yourself know full well). 

 

I interpreted him saying that ''real RL fans'' would be at Everton as a comment at the Wembley atmosphere generated by the mélange of fans who turned up. That's why I said ''suggesting''. Maybe I am misinterpreting, and would see his comments somewhat differently if I watch the full press conference...

It's fine if you have interpreted his comments in a slightly different light.

I think England at Wembley were out of their comfort zone and in a sense also a visiting side. I do think the comments reveal an insecurity and a falling back on excuses, but I hope the Everton crowd revs up.

It's natural enough that reporters look for soundbites and eye-catching wordings, and ''real RL fans'' does have a dash of controversy to it.

[N2022]

11 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Not a clue N, I tend not to look at anything 'round ball'

Yes, checked it back. Tragically, a Chichester player died playing an away game. Two weeks ago. 

[StandOffHalf]

25 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Don't you remember one of the Morriss twins going at 100mph towards the try line then sliding down the abyss behind the dead ball line, and it has been a bone of contention for years at Old Trafford for the GF. 

You are correct it is an accident waiting to happen with the narrow in goal areas at football grounds but I doubt it will enter players minds.

I think British players will tend to run it on the last and turn it over in a corner. Australians who won't be familiar could easily be caught out and injured, as they wouldn't know to rein in or temper their chases. I remember Morris and Vatuvei going into the drop at Old Trafford. An accident waiting to happen when Southern Hemisphere teams play at soccer grounds.

[Click]

1 hour ago, WN83 said:

StandOffHalf posted the following-

'Wane suggesting that Wembley was less than a real Test match because there were loads of non-heartland fans there who didn't cheer when England fell over'

He didn't (as SOH and yourself know full well). 

 

I quoted Wane's words, and how I interpreted them. 

Like I said you are free to interpret them differently.

[JohnM]

1 hour ago, N2022 said:

Was it football recently where a young player died after sliding off pitch into a concrete wall?

Hit a concrete wall close to the pitch at Wingate and Finchley FC. (National League, I think).I trust this isn't going to be weaponised.

[Londonbornirishbred]

England to score first and "be in with a shout" up to 60 minutes, then the Aussie back 3 will rip them apart in the final quarter.

 

[Maximus Decimus]

1 hour ago, N2022 said:

Yes, absolutely. I get the Aussies are used to a big crowd, probably more than most of ours. It's just that feeling of having s large crowd for or against can be a factor. Certainly needs the whole England side 100% up for it from the kick off.

Australian crowds are notoriously quieter than ours. This certainly tallies with my experiences over there.

I attended a SOO decider with a last minute winner, and it was pretty quiet throughout. People were into the game but no chanting or anything like that.

The GB-Aus game was also pretty quiet for a night game. 

[Agbrigg]

Looking at the betting, England are getting 18 start which is more than they got last week. Personally I cant see an England win, but with some team changes and some of the others upping their game beating that handicap is achievable.