Looks like England may finally get a reasonable test in the summer rather than the "french farce" we've had in past seasons. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... gland.html

Looks like England may finally get a reasonable test in the summer rather than the "french farce" we've had in past seasons. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... gland.html

will it really be a "test" though?!

It can't be any worse than the garbage efforts the French put in can it?

it depends

a) who picks the team?
b) who coaches the team?
c) how long they have together?
D) How many french will be in the squad?

Cue every SL overseas players picking up "niggles" the week before the game after realising that they've rather not be part of an apathetic team playing in front of an apathetic crowd in a game that will prove very little to anybody.

It could be a big game imo if players express their interest in playing, and if age isnt in consideration.

IMO:

1. Brett Hodgson
2. Pat Richards
3. Brett Delaney
4. Matt King
5. Joel Monaghan
6. Michael Dobson
7. Thomas Leulaui
8. Mark O'Meley
9. Danny Buderus
10. Willie Mason
11. Louis Anderson
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Craig Fitzgibbon

14. Michael Monaghan
15. Ben Cross
16. Josh Perry
17. Steve Menzies

They could try the same version the NRL are doing with the NRL All-stars game.
Get fans to vote online and chose a player from each club with the coach to pick the other 3 players.

Can't beat a bit of Beaver.

I raised this point during the french game with a friend who is quite high up in the rfl and put a 1-17 to him, if they all play it will be a sterner test but then again my under 9's team could be

1. The introduction of Catalans Dragons into Sooper Dooper League was supposed to raise the playing standards of French RL on the international stage. Instead, they've gone backwards as their results and performances testify.

2. The introduction of Sooper Dooper League a decade and a half ago was supposed to raise the playing standards of British/English RL on the international stage. Instead, they've gone backwards as their results and performances (post Sooper Dooper League era) testify.

3. Pitching England against a motley crew of disinterested overseas, surplus to requirements, no longer good enough, pensioned-up, tax-havened, ex-NRL retirees is hardly the kind of preparation for competing against NRL-based Aussies and Kiwis in proper Tests. It's pitching one set of Sooper Dooper League standard players against another set of Sooper Dooper League standard players who will never attain the requisite playing standards to compete successfully against the best NRL standard players.

4. Sooper Dooper League screwed international RL and the only competitive teams worth watching and playing to a high standard worthy of international recognition these days are Australia and New Zealand.

5. The rich history of international RL (pre-Sooper Dooper League obviously) has been flushed down the toilet with the loss of GB and the loss of proper tours, to be replaced by some entity called England which has little to no historical international RL relevance.

HTH

What a load of rubbish - the Aussies were way passed us well before SL ever started - how long is it since we last beat the Aussies in a test series? how long was that before SL started?

It is time you got a grip on even a semblance of reality!!

The real question is this - the Aussies have SOO which is supposed to get them ready for the test matches yet they cannot beat the Kiwis; a nation dominated by RU and with only one professional club why?

The idea that SOO type series will be a big help in improving standards simply doesn't stack up - especially if you see what has happened to the standard of Australian RL?

Why not have the fans vote for the SL All Stars team like they do with the Pro Bowl in the NFL? That normally works out well.

England Knights ?

Didn't they used to be called England 'A' ....

Are they going to be playing during the same weekend ? Perhaps with the full England game somewhere in Lancashire and the Knights playing somewhere in Yorkshire over the same weekend (and visa versa on alternating years) ?

Or, maybe double-header the game for extra value or even something like Wales Vs Ireland, Knights Vs France and England Vs Other Nationalities at the same venue and on the same day ?

Who are the Knights going to play ? France ? Wales ?

The other thing about the reincarnation of an All Stars / Other Nationalities side is that they were counted as 'Test' caps back in the past. Perhaps as an added incentive to play, this should remain for the current game ?

It’s because that one professional club is in the mythical NRL where the rugby league fairy’s wave their wands and make things seem magically better. The saying ‘[iit’s not winning or losing that matters – its presentation[/i’ comes to mind. The NRL has been a lot of hot air over the years and the record of NRL clubs in the World Club Challenge just proves that.