4N - ROUND TWO - AUS V NZ // Sun 6 Nov 7AM (AEST) 9AM (NZDT) Sat 8PM (BST)

[Cloudsurfer]

Exactly what I said earlier they are good in defence and fit Melbourne as they have a good attacking spine. So they can play like that there - you can't have them in the NZ team

That's exactly why they're there and need to be. Proctor 43 tackles, Harris 37, no one else in the kiwis came close. Kiwis 35 missed tackles to Oz 19...wasn't Proctor and Harris who missed them, imagine if they weren't there.
Attack is the missing link in the Kiwis, the backs need a shake up, Johnson needs to take the line on for more than just the last 5 mins - when he does they all fire up. Agree Ma'u and Taupau should have more minutes so they can do what they do but if the roles were reversed & they were on for 80 defending their a***s off maybe they'd lose a bit (a lot) of their punch?
The balance isn't right yet and a spectacle it wasn't - but 2 tries apiece, penalties the difference, and a lift in intensity for the final might change the result hopefully.
Looking forward to Martin, Fischer-Harris & Tapine getting a run in the Scotland game maybe, might herald a a change for the final in one or two positions, although it can't be wholesale because experience will be needed. And great defence

 

[adamkungl]

Dogshit game. SJ desperately needs a better halves partner, his best work only seems to show itself when the game is well past the point of desperate. Kiwis attack has been abysmal since Foran disappeared. They have been unwatchable the last 2 years.

Australia on the other hand have shown nothing in 2 games to suggest that they will walk it in, only the ineptitude of the competition keeps them on top.

Pretty poor competition so far.

 

[mxlegend99]

SKD really is an average player. He used to be rock or diamonds to a similar level as BJ Leilua. As BJ gets better SKD has gotten so much worse.

 

[adamkungl]

SKD had a great year in a poor side but was absolute shite today.

 

[Whatwhere]

Crowd of 25,000 surely gotta get around 30,000

Nowhere near 30,000. The Ricoh Arena only has a capacity of 32,000. Honestly, looked only half full.

 

[Evil Homer]

Nowhere near 30,000. The Ricoh Arena only has a capacity of 32,000. Honestly, looked only half full.

Crowd was 21k. First ever test in this region so a pretty good effort.

 

[ozenzud]

Agree that was a very, very average game of football and just lacked aggression and passion. JT was pretty impressive and easily the best player on the field. Cameron Smith gets away with murder in the rucks.

Re the crowd, seemed to lack atmosphere.

 

[adamkungl]

Crowd was 21k. First ever test in this region so a pretty good effort.

Do you know if there was much marketing for the Bears or even "Play Rugby League" around the test matches?

 

[Whatwhere]

Crowd was 21k. First ever test in this region so a pretty good effort.

For a Four Nations doubleheader. Should have gone close to filling the arena. The only winner here has been Wasps.

 

[Evil Homer]

For a Four Nations doubleheader. Should have gone close to filling the arena. The only winner here has been Wasps.

Yeah great, maybe we should've played it at Leigh instead.

 

[Evil Homer]

Do you know if there was much marketing for the Bears or even "Play Rugby League" around the test matches?

The Bears were involved in hosting the match. Seems like Wasps have their eyes on helping the Bears and RL in general, not sure what their motivation is or what they have to gain but I guess it's not a bad thing in the short term. This is a region that had virtually no RL presence (or rugby presence of any kind) until a very short time ago. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/37810847

 

[johnny plath]

Really poor and surprising Australia didn't go on with it. Just shows you how vulnerable they are despite stealing players from everyone and despite just winning. Holmes is a kiwi, so is tamou (who'll never play for anyone again), papa probably also would be playing for them

Wtf...Tamou didn't play. ..Holmes is born in Townsville and papali has samoan heritage and been in Australia since he was 5....didn't play either. People here just make shit up so they can whinge. How vulnerable is Australia when they have out played number 1 rank team last three games and not looked like losing any? ??

 

[Whatwhere]

Yeah great, maybe we should've played it at Leigh instead.

All I'm saying is for an event featuring 3 of the best RL nations they should have drawn a near sellout.

 

[Whatwhere]

The Bears were involved in hosting the match. Seems like Wasps have their eyes on helping the Bears and RL in general, not sure what their motivation is or what they have to gain but I guess it's not a bad thing in the short term. This is a region that had virtually no RL presence (or rugby presence of any kind) until a very short time ago. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/37810847

Wasps own Ricoh Arena. more people equals more money for them. That's what their motivations are.

 

[Evil Homer]

All I'm saying is for an event featuring 3 of the best RL nations they should have drawn a near sellout.

Every England match should sell out Wembley, it doesn't and that's the reality of the situation, you can piss and moan about it or acknowledge that 21k for the first major event in a new market is pretty good going all things considered.

 

[Desert Qlder]

This series is putting to bed any Kiwi claims about the superiority of Jesse Bromwich in the front row. He has been barely noticeable in a blaze of Australian dominance up front, led by Matt Scott.

It is one thing to hide at the Storm being made to look good by Smith and Cronk. It is another's thing altogether to lead a rep side against quality opposition.

On form, Bromwich should be on the Kiwi bench behind better performers Tapau and Blair.

 

[TheFrog]

I think NZ realise that if they beat Australia in a tournament, they are only going to do it once which is why they spring surprises in the final.

They just don't want to press Australia hard in this game which makes me think they have an eye on the final.

For sure. They'll be dangerous too.

 

[Whatwhere]

Every England match should sell out Wembley, it doesn't and that's the reality of the situation, you can piss and moan about it or acknowledge that 21k for the first major event in a new market is pretty good going all things considered.

New ground not necessarily new market. I assume people in Coventry have TV's. They would be aware of the sport.

 

[Evil Homer]

New ground not necessarily new market. I assume people in Coventry have TV's. They would be aware of the sport.

Yes, it is a new market, the sport has never been played there at this level before therefore it is a new market by definition.

 

[Whatwhere]

Yes, it is a new market, the sport has never been played there at this level before therefore it is a new market by definition.

There's no such thing as a new market at international level in an established nation. The Ireland v AB's game in Chicago was an example of entering a new market at international level.