This is without doubt the worst backline in the history of English rugby & if we're relying on the likes of Goulding, Cudjoe & Briscoe that are ridiculously average then i'm afraid it shows how very little depth we have in our country.

i luv watching the NRL & luv the SL over here so personally I think we shud just pull out of this farcical tournament & concentrate on our own leagues. SL is a great product so lets be happy with it & if we want our fill of the top Aus stars then we can watch the NRL every weekend on the telly. Lets be honest here, Aus v NZ is the only competitive game now so let them have a 3 match series instead of flogging this dead horse every year, its very very tiresome now.

Personally, if the powers that be want an end of season tournament then i think we shud go back to the World Club Challenge in 1997 with top Aussie clubs v our top clubs here as at least we would compete.

I'm a Bulls fan & you're not telling me that the Bulls team from 5-6 yrs ago, the Rhinos from last 3 yrs & then Wigan & St's & now the fast improving Wire & Hudds wouldnt be more competetive than England are?? At least we'd win the odd games & have a go & run the top Aussie clubs close & it would be great end to the season.

Think it'd be better supported as well as i'd luv to go see say Rhinos v Manly, Wigan v Storm & St's v St George if they were played over here. Plus i think a lot more fans would travel down under as more matches to watch plus i'm sure we'd all have genuine hope that our team could win matches unlike in Internationals these days.

Anyone agree??

I did, yesterday, and had a cracking time. The game wasn't the best, but the atmosphere was fantastic, especially in the last 15-20 minutes when England threw off the shackles and started playing.

the ex-RL lads did well, Ashton for us, SBW & Brad Thorne for them.
But the most dangerous & entertaining players on the pitch were Foden for us & Hosea Gear for them.

What about Shontayne (un)Hape?

I only saw 20 minutes but enough to re-affirm my view that all video referees (bar Ian Smith) are pretty average in world rugby (either code)

Didn't do much, but it also shows that RU also suffers from a lack of quality centres if a Kiwi & a slow has-been are the best we can do. So not simply an RL problem.

Size has sadly overtaken skill as being the primary requirement for northern hemisphere centres.

Promising young players like Olly Smith and Anthony Allen have had the flair coached out of them at club level and turned into battering rams instead.