4N - ROUND TWO - AUS V ENG // Mon 14 Nov 1AM (AEST) 3AM (NZDT) Sun 2PM (BST)

[BuderusIsaBeast]

I also think the results of the England team in the past few years have been over rated. Last year they beat a very depleted NZ team 2-1 (no Johnson and Taumalolo to name 2 although no Burgess for England). In 2014 they may have lost to Australia by 2 points but it was no where near the strength of the side they played today. People are underestimating how strong this Australian side is. There only real weakness is perhaps Dugan and Ferguson (who was great last week) and England don't have the outside backs to capaitalise (looking at the myth that is Kallum Watkins

 

[RoosTah]

To be honest I think England just need more opportunities against the Kangaroos for the good of the game over there. The gap is a lot like the wallabies and all blacks, but you need exposure to the best if you want eyeballs and the chance to improve

 

[Rhyno]

England are a disgrace

 

[PaulyTom]

Crowd?

 

[adamkungl]

Crowd was ~35000

 

[Frank Discussion]

Got up at 2am and switched the tele on.
Burgess drops the ball over the line.
Kangaroos score basically the next play real easy.
Switch off, back to bed.

England are hopeless. They couldn't beat this kiwi mob at home.

They won't make a dent in the WC. It's disappointing but thems the facts.

 

[adamkungl]

They had enough possession and chances to be leading at half time. If they took them instead of making basic errors and nothing kicks, Australia can't play their normal game and strangle them out of it. I still think Williams could have converted more opportunities into points if given more game time over Brown

 

[Arucard]

So what's the answer? What do we do to fix this?

 

[Newcastlerabbit]

Channel 9 coverage was absolutely disgraceful

 

[adamkungl]

So what's the answer? What do we do to fix this?

Shrug. There's no magic solution.

On a squad level, Bennett will I expect communicate to current and potential players the kind of play, intensity and attitude adjustments he wants to see on a week to week level in Super League (and NRL). Hopefully he and his staff will be watching and talking to players throughout the season.

At a wider level, the week to week intensity of Super League is a long term problem with long term solutions. Basically they need to get more top players (NRL and Union) in the competition. To do this they need more money and more juniors. To get those they need to invest in growth outside the heartlands.

 

[Frank Discussion]

Shrug. There's no magic solution.

On a squad level, Bennett will I expect communicate to current and potential players the kind of play, intensity and attitude adjustments he wants to see on a week to week level in Super League (and NRL). Hopefully he and his staff will be watching and talking to players throughout the season.

At a wider level, the week to week intensity of Super League is a long term problem with long term solutions. Basically they need to get more top players (NRL and Union) in the competition. To do this they need more money and more juniors. To get those they need to invest in growth outside the heartlands.

Calling for Bennetts head solves nothing.
Despite his media personality he's a great coach, knows how to win, and knows what is needed. It was interesting that he said that Englands major problem (among other things) is that they had no self belief in the press conference. It's not easy to change that but it can be done.

The baffling thing is that there are now a good number of English players who are excellent NRL players. I can't remember a time in history where England have been this strong "on paper" and yet they continue to underwhelm.

 

[mxlegend99]

So Australia won more games then the other nations combined while cycling through their depth.

Resting your star halfback against the second best nation and still winning easily... there's not much of a challenge.

Its just a shame the players who starred against Scotland didnt get more credit as Scotland were viewed as the joke side of the four nations.

Scotland are the only team other than Australia who should be proud of themselves so far. I hope NZ have been saving something for the final game. otherwise Australia can win it by halftime.

 

[deal.with.it]

English fans called for "McBanana's" head after almost every match. His squad was wrong, sinfield not a halfback, no youth blah blah blah.

Bennet has one a whole lot at club, state and test level. He isn't the problem. The players can't speak highly enough of him. They don't want to lose for him.

Percival and Watkins missed big tackles at big moments.

Solution: a decent broadcast $$ and sponsorship $$ would mean the SL season could be reduced to ensure high intensity season.

Also, go straight into finals if you're going to persist with Super 8s.
1v4, 2v3, 5v8, 6v7 straight after the split.

 

[RL The greatest game]

What is really grinding at me now is that everytime something is given agansit us Smith is in the refs ear even when its blatant we have made a mistake. He was even blowing in the refs ear one time when we blantantly knocked on for about the only time in the game.

 

[Arucard]

What is really grinding at me now is that every time something is given against us Smith is in the refs ear even when its blatant we have made a mistake. He was even blowing in the refs ear one time when we blatantly knocked on for about the only time in the game.

It's obvious why he does it. He's trying to keep the game played at their pace. Slowing it down to kill opposition momentum. It's smart to do if the referee is always prepared to take that time to hear you out.

 

[Arucard]

So depressing after we finally got an international feel good story with Scotland the other day.
Rugby League continually holding itself back.

 

[Storm13]

So depressing after we finally got an international feel good story with Scotland the other day.
Rugby League continually holding itself back.

How's England losing all of Rugby Leagues fault?

 

[roughyedspud]

as someone pointed out on TRL..what bennett has done is actually pave the way to select trent hodkinson next year

 

[Frank Discussion]

as someone pointed out on TRL..what bennett has done is actually pave the way to select trent hodkinson next year

And the problem with this is?
He gave the existing halves a go. They failed. You would be stupid to not attempt a different method.

I back Bennetts ability to select and identify talent.

 

[roughyedspud]

i don't have a problem with it,id have selected him for this 4nations..

but he didn't give the existing halves go..he left matty smith out..


matty smith was our 7 in the 2014 4 nations when we looked effing fantastic with the ball in hand,id go as far too say its the best ive ever seen a England or GB play.....and i mean EVER

in the kiwi test series last year,mcnamara blooded a 20year old george williams in 2 tests,nothing wrong with that, but brought matty smith back for the 3rd,must win test...matty smith calmly marshaled england round the field,kicked the kiwis to death,england never looked like losing and smith was head and shoulders the best player on the field..



thats where bennett went wrong...and i said this before the comp started