I assume you didn't watch last night'sgame then?

yes i was there remind me what he did

He threw some great passes, he put serious doubts into the opposition with his jinking runs at the line, he worked hard in defence, he kicked a beauty of a grubber which won us a drop out (always the best second option when a try isn't happening) and stood up to the Kiwis, which is invaluable because it motivates the team to do likewise. He and Sam Tomkins especially were very heavily targeted. That me and many others noticed him for all the right reasons in spite of that shows just how much he brought to the party.

Someone else made the daft comment that he doesn't look like he's running the team in the way that he does at Cas. Well obviously. This is international rugby, not Superleague. He has been the standout player at Cas. He is now teamed up with other players who are the standout players in their club teams. That's what an international team should look like: full of standout players. To win requires a team effort and each player should be giving their all in their respective positions. I really got the impression that that is what happened yesterday and if it happens again next week then for the first time in donkey's years we have a real chance to beat the Aussies. Let's hope the whole team take it.

just one thing: he doesn't 'run the team' at Cas. That's what Danny Orr is there for.

It doesn't matter ahwta Rangi does there are certain people who will knock whatever he does, its getting really old, he had a good game last night, they all did despite playing a dirty team that should have had only 11 men on. Well done Rangi and the rest of the team you did England proud!!!

I think by the standard in what we see him produce at Cas week in week out he looked quiet (i.e. not much of his usual step through a gap for a break) - but he played like a proper Scrum Half yesterday, he took the ball to the line before passing it and kept the defence honest by doing this, with a player like Chase you don't know if he's going to dummy it, pass to the short man or go wide...this was evident in the Briscoe try where the line froze when Chase ran at them and Marshall took the short man who was coming through on a dummy run and Chase just then simply put the ball behind him which ended up with an easy try.

I'm not going to do the big coloured letters, because I don't think he did enough to deserve that. It was easily his best game thus far though and on balance, I think I prefer him doing less of that daft hopping and skipping and more of simply taking on the line.

The Kiwi's were clearly fearful of him, hence Isaac Luke's attempt to twist his leg off; I hope they throw the book at him - it was one of the most cynical and purposeful attempts to injur a fellow professional that I've seen since the Gareth Hock eye-gouging incident.

Well played Rangi!

You stood up to the bully boy tactics of the Kiwis and played your part in a scintillating victory.

Told ya :p

FWIW

The selection of Chase for the England squad is not the fault of Mr Chase or Castleford RLFC.

Based purely on form he was last season the best and most consistent H/B in SL in which case he has earned his place.

He has been picked now and that's that in real terms so it's live and let live for me.

His performances so far have been pretty good to be fair.

My own opinion is that he should not be picked because he isn't British by birth, nor has he as far as i'm aware applied to be a British citizen. He is a Kiwi, end of IMO - that is my belief and I simply can't see any justification for what has happened - morally at least.

It's not a Cas issue or a club issue for me, it's a belief. In 2004 -2005 Solomona IMHO was the best S/R in the world. Yet there was no technicality or justification that would of had me supporting his appointment to the GB squad had he so wished to do so. This I'm certain is a view that had it happened at the time would have been supported strongly by the very same people on this forum now falling over themselves to support the recently anglicised Rangi! Ditto any of the overseas players who have graced my club over the years. If that makes me a Cas basher so be it, however most reasonable Cas fans would I'm sure see it as a reasonable stance even if they themselves choose to see it otherwise.

Best of luck Rangi and I sincerely hope you prove to be worth it I really do.

Dave Hadfield was impressed... www.independent.co.uk/sport/gene ... 61899.html

Dave Hadfield was impressed... www.independent.co.uk/sport/gene ... 61899.html

Fantastic post Vastman. Pretty much every word I agree with there.

I'm sure had Solomona of been picked for England in 2004 under similar rules, you and the majority of Trin fans would've wanted him to go well, being a little over the top with how could he played & stuck up for him come hell or highwater as he's one of your boys.

Rangi has been ok for me, a 6/10, but he's been under arguably the most scrutiny of any player in the comp and has been making his debut for the international side on the back of a big year for him, and no man / dad / parent could blame him for having his mind a little elsewhere this last few weeks especially (if it has at all)

He played for NZ then, mate, as I'm sure you know, and yes, most Trin fans supported him in internationals and wanted him to do well. We were proud he was our player, and pleased for him that he won international honours for his country. He wasn't a product of Wakefield Trinity RLFC, so the celebrations were somewhat muted by comparison with the adulation for Rangi playing for England we've seen here.

Personally, I'm more proud of Gaz Ellis and Ben Westwood, neither of whom play for us any more.

Still, it would be uncharitable of me to leave this thread without a ...

"Well done Rangi "

I do know what you mean, mate, but I still reckon, going on the opinions expressed on our board, that a lot of Wakey fans would have had a problem with that. But I can't speak for them, I can only speak for myself.

Put it this way, if Isaac John turns out to be the best thing since netto beans, plays for us for 3 years, qualifies under the residency rule to play for England, and wins a place in the team, I won't be a happy camper. I probably wouldn't diss him... I'd keep my own counsel. If he proves good enough to play for NZ in that time, and gets selected, I'll be delighted for him and hope he shows the world what he can do.
In the meantime, I hope we produce (and keep) a few of our own who make it to international level, so we really have something to cheer about.