I'm not aware of very many occasions (if any?) where our pack has proven to be better than that of Australia.

Sounds like one of those urban myths to me.

That to me that is poor form from the selectors.

Peacock is struggling to regain form enough to warrant selection in a poor Leeds team at the moment. Yet can go straight in to an international team and be the captain.

If I were in his shoes I would be a little embarrased by the decision.

Does anyone really care?

As an enthusiastic bona fide supporter of international RL, I have to say that this exhibition game does not interest me in the slightest.

Well.. good point really.

[delf[/del
find it more interesting than the usual pointless French game

I also hold serious reservations about this exhibition game being staged and marketed as a genuine international fixture when it's nothing of the kind. I also don't understand what this game is supposed to achieve? Apart from conveying the message that France are no longer deemed worthy of playing international fixtures against us and that international RL is considered dead!

Therefore we'll copy the Australians (again) by arranging a fixture which is a merger of a few of their concepts... hey, we'll even include the term ORIGIN in there somehow... and we'll also get the fans to participate in this sideshow bollax by getting them to vote for player inclusions like they do down under for the Indigenous V NRL All Stars exhibition game.

I've always considered Australians as stuck firmly up their own @rses WRT their p[ii[/isspoor and arrogant attitude towards international RL, as their continued obsession with their Origin w@nkfest testifies over the years. However, I don't recall them ever deciding that GB or England aren't worthy of playing against them in the international test arena, despite the overwhelmingly uncompetitive nature of the vast majority of those fixtures.

I'd normally take issue with parochial types whinging and whining about their own club players inclusion in an international fixture jeopardising their club interests, but as this is nothing more than an ill-conceived exhibition game, they've got a point this time.

For the last few seasons a lot of fans have bemoaned the lack of any credible northern hemisphere opposition. The idea of having SL-based ANZAC players isn't new and has been floating round for some time. Personally, I think we should give it a go and see what happens.

It's easy to lament the quality of the England & Exiles squads and draw unfair comparisons with Australia and New Zealand, but I prefer to see the game for what it is - a serious challenge for England. It's certainly a step up from France.

The Exiles may beat England and our friends Down Under may well find that hilarious. So what? If you put aside your own club bias and ignore the effect on next week's SL round, does anyone seriously think that this game will not improve England RL?

We may be a million miles behind Aus & NZ, but we're not going to get any better running over Tony Gigot every June.

aGree with the above

Althogh I am worried kirkstaller is Paul Cullen as he is obsessed with gigot as well

Typical RLfans. Its the same people complaining saying whats the point its an exhibition game, as would be complaining saying whats the point in playing a one sided game against France

I'd prefer a roses series, and if france werent good enough for a one off international then there were 8 other teams at the world cup and they all ranked above France!
to be honest a one off game doesn't help the problem that England have producing a good performance every game of a tournament for 80mins, improving the domestic setup is required for that and that wont happen whilst it's not in the best interest of the clubs

Nail on head!

No matter how many times the supporters of this exhibition game argue the case, it will not make one iota of difference to their chances against Australia and NZ in five months time. Nor will such an exhibition game improve England as a competitive force against those two. England play at a level which is inextricably linked to the level played in SL which is simply not a high enough standard. Until SL standards improve, the national team ain't going anywhere anytime soon.

i would have thought regular get togethers would be more beneficial.
exiles by at least 10

Maybe I might just want to be entertained and enjoy
my night rather than worrying about if we can compete with aus and nz