I'll stand by my quote, they compliment each other very well and it's a shame we don't have em both at Saints, Tomkins step reminds me of Tommy Martyn esq

I think if these two stay in RL they have the potential of being the best combination in the world.

With players like Tomkins and Eastmondf in our armoury why hold them back by playing mediocre like McGuire. Let them play 6 and 7 and by doing that we would need a massive aggressive pack against the Kiwis to set the platform.

Still too early to judge Eastmond - but considering that he was up against the 'best in the world' he did himself a lot of good for the short time he was on.

Ch.

The biggest mystery to me was "What was happening with our defence down the right side in the first half."

I don't think that it was solely the fault of the centre and wingman - as on occasions the Aussies had 3 or 4 against 2. A long pass was bound to find us out and did so.

Could Smith not see what was happening from his vantage point and send out a message to get it sorted. The Aussies on the field could see it and exploited it.

He appears to have taken some measures at half time but by then it was too late.

For what it's worth I thought Burgess had quite a good game.

Cheers

Ch.

After watching it again I agree, Smith should have changed things round on that right hand side far earlier, though the problems stem from the entire team being dragged in bar one try.

We look far better in the second half when McGuire and Tomkins seem to play as a more conventional 6 and 7, and even better late on when Eastmond moves to 7.

disagree pal. he's had his time its now time for younger better players to get thier chance and in eastmond and especially tomkins we have that i.m.o

Typo fixed.

I don't buy that, they are too professional for that.

indeed.

Aussies never take their foot off the gas - especially against the Poms. They would have loved nothing better than putting 50 on us again.

In fact, had Burgess' try not been disallowed, we would have gone into the last 5 minutes with only 4 points in the game - and the Aussies potentially facing an early flight home.

Even the best players can take a breather. It's not like it doesn't happen in the NRL.

Would have - could have - should have.

I've heard it all before.

Not for 40 minutes.

Slaters reactions at being regularly pinned back in his own 10 in the second half showed that he wasn't just taking it easy.

I think that's more a case of him being a bit of a pr!ck.