ENGLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 could it be ?

[Gobsmacked]

It's a bit of a dream isn't it? A WC victory on home soil. So far the best team in the comp. They seem to be perfectly balanced but have they just not face a real test? Pun intended.

I'm dreaming of an English WC victory

Why England is the team that can put the magic into the Rugby League World Cup

After a lifetime of waiting, England's flamboyant dispatch of Papua New Guinea might be the queue for fans to start dreaming, writes Nick Campton.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Perth Red]

they last won it when I was just a few months old. I’ve been waiting a loooooong time to see them lift a major trophy. I’ve had my hopes dashed many times lol. Maybe this year when they were written off before a ball was passed will be the year??

are png and samoa that bad, or are england genuinely good?

the big question is how will they cope under pressure and if they have to claw back a lead? Time will tell.

 

[Last Week]

It's really difficult to pick a stand out between Australia, NZ and England.

I will say this for England, they were underdogs against Samoa and I think that was because people didn't think that England would be able to live up to their own hype and would crumble under pressure. But they've handled the pressure exceptionally well across the park.

Defensively against Tonga (should they play them) will be a better test for them. They'll be up against a pack that won't be fatigued like Samoa's was nor one they can bully around like Greece, PNG or France's.

So far they've proven that they're great front runners. They haven't handled a physical pack/team well for decades.

 

[taste2taste]

England were phenomenal this morning, PNG had 1 set of six in the first 20 minutes.

At the start of this tournament I had England loosing to Samoa in the opening game and then being bundled out of the tournament by Tonga in the quarters, they are now a real chance of winning, they should be favourites based on thier performances.

 

[Gobsmacked]

they last won it when I was just a few months old. I’ve been waiting a loooooong time to see them lift a major trophy. I’ve had my hopes dashed many times lol. Maybe this year when they were written off before a ball was passed will be the year??

are png and samoa that bad, or are england genuinely good?

the big question is how will they cope under pressure and if they have to claw back a lead? Time will tell.

It's really hard to gauge isn't it. It was a sight having royalty at the game, that gave me the sense that it was starting to capture the imagination of England. And it's not just that they are winning, they're doing it in style and class, slick ball movement and line running. Dom Young has star power along with Tomkins , the whole team are full of character and charisma. It's will certainly be a test against either Samoa or Tonga.
If they pull this off, it will be the dawn of a new era for RL in England ( household names, ads, the whole bit)
Come on England!!!
And I'm an Australian

 

[The Partisan]

Australia having a top tier nation to get past in the semi final for the first time since 1995 may work in their favour.

Having backed England when they were strangely placed at 15 - 1 just before the cup started certainly has me in their corner

 

[some11]

They look the real deal. Playing the right kind of game for the new rules.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

PNG have been in good form lately. Dismantled Fiji in the Pacific Test and pushed Tonga all the way in their group. I've never seen an England side so ruthless and they humiliated a very good PNG side in that opening 35 mins.

Same with the Samoa game, sure half the Samoa team had just come off a two week grand final bender, but England didn't let them get a sniff from the opening minute in that game. The Tonga-Samoa game will be a good barometer of where Samoa are at and then we'll see if England put the winner to the sword next week.

As a RL fan, a long overdue moment in the sunshine for the game in England would be amazing.

 

[jim_57]

I don’t think I’ve ever been as confident England can win a major tournament in my time watch Internationals. They were ruthless against Fiji, Samoa & PNG who all had sides on paper that would have troubled England in the past.

Do I think they will win it? Probably not, but this is their best chance in a long time.

 

[Victoire]

Nick Campton is such a great writer

Yes it would be tremendous for the game to see England win the world cup and the signs are great for them so far, particularly with how ruthless they were against PNG. But.. the Kangaroos have been just as ruthless with their opponents so far as well.

 

[WestCoastEel!]

Nick Campton is such a great writer

Yes it would be tremendous for the game to see England win the world cup and the signs are great for them so far, particularly with how ruthless they were against PNG. But.. the Kangaroos have been just as ruthless with their opponents so far as well.

Have the Aussies actually been that ruthless? I thought particularly their second half against Lebanon they were very average. They definitely have another gear, or two, to go to for sure.

Kiwis were lucky to win against Fiji.

England have definitely been the most consistent team of the tournament so far. Although revenge factor for Samoa and I could see them beating England.

 

[Perth Red]

Two cracking semis coming up.
eng v nz first choice
nz v Samoa second choice
either will make brilliant finals But for English RL (and my diminishing chances of seeing England win something) I really hope we get there.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

In 2017 an England side, not as good as the current one lost 6-0 in to an Australian much better than the current one (Slater, Cronk, Smith). Can they beat the Kangaroos? Yes, it will come down to whether they can mentally get it done and also, as PR points out, avoiding a loss to a dangerous Samoa that's out for revenge.

 

[Victoire]

England have definitely been the most consistent team of the tournament so far. Although revenge factor for Samoa and I could see them beating England.

One of the Samoan coaching staff, Lee Radford, was interviewed on the BBC 5 Alive podcast and he said England were the best "team" of the tournament - not in terms of on-paper, but in cohesion and how fluidly they function together. Which I think is an accurate point.

Samoa are a very dangerous oppponent, not just for the revenge factor but also potentially complacency from England. Junior Paulo suspended is a huge boost for the Poms though

 

[Smug Panther]

Samoa should beat them this time and if not Australia will pump them

 

[Victoire]

Samoa should beat them this time and if not Australia will pump them

Gus?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Neither Australia, nor New Zealand will find it easy to overcome England even if they end up winning a potential match up

 

[WestCoastEel!]

One of the Samoan coaching staff, Lee Radford, was interviewed on the BBC 5 Alive podcast and he said England were the best "team" of the tournament - not in terms of on-paper, but in cohesion and how fluidly they function together. Which I think is an accurate point.

Samoa are a very dangerous oppponent, not just for the revenge factor but also potentially complacency from England. Junior Paulo suspended is a huge boost for the Poms though

Yeah, I definitely agree with Radford.

Samoa are building nicely and England will need to play as well as they have already to beat them. Definitely made a little easier with Junior out. TBH Suaali'i should have been suspended as well, he can count himself lucky!

Both semis should be crackers!

 

[Jack Deth]

I'm not going to write off the Samoans. They have improved and are a very dangerous team.

I still think we are a 20-point better team. So, I'm obviously backing England.

 

[Steve Davy]

It's a bit of a dream isn't it? A WC victory on home soil. So far the best team in the comp. They seem to be perfectly balanced but have they just not face a real test? Pun intended.

I'm dreaming of an English WC victory

Why England is the team that can put the magic into the Rugby League World Cup

After a lifetime of waiting, England's flamboyant dispatch of Papua New Guinea might be the queue for fans to start dreaming, writes Nick Campton.

www.abc.net.au

No.