2018 Pacific Tests ....Are they scheduled to return ?

[jim_57]

They really couldn’t. Nobody is interested in watching England put 60 on France. It’s not good for anybody it doesn’t help England develop and it won’t make money.
What should happen is every time England play a test the English Knights should play a game also to develop our fringe players and give a meaningful game to a smaller side hopefully without making it totally lop sided.

So not playing anyone instead helps England?

And for every 60+ point non show from the French you have a 30-40 to 6-18 scoreline that suggests potential.

This notion that Rugby League teams can't play anyone they're better than is ridiculous.

 

[Pommy]

So not playing anyone instead helps England?

And for every 60+ point non show from the French you have a 30-40 to 6-18 scoreline that suggests potential.

This notion that Rugby League teams can't play anyone they're better than is ridiculous.

Well over the last two years there the score lines I can remember England have an average of 60 points per game.
For international league to be taken seriously England really have to be able to compete with Australia so tournaments aren’t regarded as being dead rubbers before kick off, we won’t improve playing games against France or Ireland as the original post I quoted suggested.
I have no issue with England playing France but not at the expense of us playing NZ, Aus or teams like Samoa.

 

[jim_57]

Well over the last two years there the Socrates lines I can remember England have an average of 60 points per game.
For international league to be taken seriously England really have to be able to compete with Australia so tournaments aren’t regarded as being dead rubbers before kick off, we won’t improve playing games against France or Ireland as the original post I quoted suggested.
I have no issue with England playing France but not at the expense of us playing NZ, Aus or teams like Samoa.

That 84 points skews that average more than a little, I've never seen such a pea hearted effort and the signs since Cologni took over are we shouldn't see it again any time soon.

Problem with that is Australia is hardly queing up for games, like I said it is when it becomes a case of England playing nobody instead of France that gets me.

 

[Pommy]

That 84 points skews that average more than a little, I've never seen such a pea hearted effort and the signs since Cologni took over are we shouldn't see it again any time soon.

Problem with that is Australia is hardly queing up for games, like I said it is when it becomes a case of England playing nobody instead of France that gets me.

I would rather play France than nobody but I don’t think that’s an actual prospect.

 

[roughyedspud]

England should be playing home tests against european sides and not travel halfway across the world to play against Pacific teams building the concept to rival origin. England could make alot of revenue in Europe with the irish welsh and french.

That's what the England knights are for

 

[adamkungl]

Well over the last two years there the score lines I can remember England have an average of 60 points per game.
For international league to be taken seriously England really have to be able to compete with Australia so tournaments aren’t regarded as being dead rubbers before kick off, we won’t improve playing games against France or Ireland as the original post I quoted suggested.
I have no issue with England playing France but not at the expense of us playing NZ, Aus or teams like Samoa.

Samoa are garbage. Flying over here to play them instead of France next door is a waste.

 

[Pommy]

Samoa are garbage. Flying over here to play them instead of France next door is a waste.

I think they would beat France.
Either way a good number of the squad would have to fly to Europe.

 

[adamkungl]

I think they would beat France.
Either way a good number of the squad would have to fly to Europe.

I think Scotland will give them a run for their money next week tbh

And if English players can't get releases from NRL clubs to play for England... Then maybe they should play in England?
Even without their NRL players England can put together a top squad. Not like you'll miss Heighington and Tom Burgess..

 

[Pommy]

I think Scotland will give them a run for their money next week tbh

And if English players can't get releases from NRL clubs to play for England... Then maybe they should play in England?
Even without their NRL players England can put together a top squad. Not like you'll miss Heighington and Tom Burgess..

No but we would miss Sam B, Graham and Widdop
It’s easy to say that when it’s not your pay packet.
Plus it doesn’t hurt England having players playing at a higher level.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Having France play a second string team from a country that itself has won f**k all for decades is an insult and will do nothing for anyone. Hopefully France would laugh at them and tell them to f**k off. If they can host the likes of Wales and Ireland and get 5-10,000 through the gates like they have in recent years it could be viable. They need to have guaranteed home internationals at the same time every year and use them to sell tv rights and sponsorships - and I don't mean 4,000 people watching a shit stream and pictures of players on the sides of trucks.

 

[adamkungl]

No but we would miss Sam B, Graham and Widdop
It’s easy to say that when it’s not your pay packet.
Plus it doesn’t hurt England having players playing at a higher level.

I don't really think they should sacrifice their NRL careers but my point is England can name a very good squad with or without them. If England can only play tests when Australian clubs let them they're gonna be in for a bad time. The idea that you should only play when your team is at 100% is fanciful nonsense

 

[Pommy]

Having France play a second string team from a country that itself has won f**k all for decades is an insult and will do nothing for anyone. Hopefully France would laugh at them and tell them to f**k off. If they can host the likes of Wales and Ireland and get 5-10,000 through the gates like they have in recent years it could be viable. They need to have guaranteed home internationals at the same time every year and use them to sell tv rights and sponsorships - and I don't mean 4,000 people watching a shit stream and pictures of players on the sides of trucks.

So you don’t think France should play a second rate English side but that they should play another home nation instead? They are almost the same thing.

I don't really think they should sacrifice their NRL careers but my point is England can name a very good squad with or without them. If England can only play tests when Australian clubs let them they're gonna be in for a bad time. The idea that you should only play when your team is at 100% is fanciful nonsense

My only worry with England playing minus NRL players is that it would cause issues in the squad when they are in contention and just ‘walk back in’

 

[East Coast Tiger]

So you don’t think France should play a second rate English side but that they should play another home nation instead? They are almost the same thing.


’

No they aren't. Proper national test teams compared to a non-test B team. One is a legitimate international, the other is a nothing game.

 

[adamkungl]

So you don’t think France should play a second rate English side but that they should play another home nation instead? They are almost the same thing.



My only worry with England playing minus NRL players is that it would cause issues in the squad when they are in contention and just ‘walk back in’

You already have plodders like Heighno and McQueen walking in simply by playing NRL. And let's be honest Whitehead and Tom Burgess are dime a dozen forwards. Roby is better than Hodgson yet whos a walk up start because he plays Nrl...

 

[jim_57]

I would rather play France than nobody but I don’t think that’s an actual prospect.

I think there are plenty oppurtunities even if you write off during the season. No reason a mostly/all Super League England can't play them mid-year either, god forbid players miss one of their 38 club games.

 

[Pommy]

No they aren't. Proper national test teams compared to a non-test B team. One is a legitimate international, the other is a nothing game.

The crowds of Port Moresby seem to love nothing games, filling out the place every year.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

The crowds of Port Moresby seem to love nothing games, filling out the place every year.

Is Port Moresby in France now is it?

 

[siv]

No but we would miss Sam B, Graham and Widdop
It’s easy to say that when it’s not your pay packet.
Plus it doesn’t hurt England having players playing at a higher level.

Worry about that situation when they get within 20 points

Anyway Frances problem was right side defence

 

[KokoRugbyLeague]

Samoa is not garbage after all losing to Tonga nz england we could easily put together also beat these teams, only Australia seem just head apart.

After england stumbled against park footballers its a bit worrying even if they were in second gear. Png fiji and ireland is coming other than that their isnt much after that.

Their isnt much between them so in a sense i understand why England would cross halfway to get a stern test against Samoa.

 

[KokoRugbyLeague]

I think Scotland will give them a run for their money next week tbh

And if English players can't get releases from NRL clubs to play for England... Then maybe they should play in England?
Even without their NRL players England can put together a top squad. Not like you'll miss Heighington and Tom Burgess..

Samoa will absolutely pump scotland next week after being shown humiliation by our rivals Tonga. Nothing but a desperate win next week to save face we respect Scotland but the players will be fired up.