problem being is they have a conveyor belt ready to take on the mantle. Ponga, Mitchell, Cleary (who I think has the potential to be their number 7 for years) and of course Munster and Trobejovic. Where as we have no one beneath Gale even now who could step up and take the 7 shirt. Really hope someone comes out of nowhere before the next world cup

He can be a real "rent a quote" and his reaction to the defeat in the League Express was laughable. However, I like the fact that he doesn't toe the party line like almost every other RL journo.

He made a good point about how SL isn't preparing halfbacks for tests but he then didn't go on to offer any solutions other than getting former halfbacks working with the young lads. Is he angling for a job?

It's worth remembering that Schofield came no closer to winning a game that mattered against the Aussies than the England lads did in the WC final.

Agreed but Smith, Thurston and Slater are future immortals the others aren't at that level yet.

If we don't win a series in the next 3-4 years we never will (unless there is a massive shift in popularity in this country).

I remember when Lewis and Sterling retired some said the same thing.

Trouble is the player pool is so big in Australia they will have plenty of great prospects to choose from. Those prospects will begin to improve too as they play in higher pressure NRL games and Origin. Meanwhile Luke Gale's understudies (no idea who they are) will only have a handful of really tough SL games (the rest being fairly easy games) and a few games for England Knights to get them ready to meet the Aussies.

Can't see RL in this country ever becoming massively more popular and increasing its player pool to match Australia's

Just thinking, outside of the likes of Sneyd and Smith the only halfbacks coming through seem to be kids that are a long way from cracking SL never mind playing tests - Richardson, Trueman, Lilley, Patton.

Australia have some good halves and fullbacks in reserve, but they lack decent hookers who can defend for 80 minutes up the middle, which seems to be one of our strengths though we don't have Smith. Peats is currently the NSW hooker but isn't close to Smith's quality. I think Meninga brought Hunt in to cover hooker for Australia in the WC since Bennett started using him at hooker towards the back end of the season for Brisbane, but he's a halfback really. Aside from Cleary I don't see any of their creative players coming close to the quality of Smith, Cronk and Slater, especially with Tedesco pledging his allegiance to Italy - he's probably the best fullback in the NRL at the moment.

Ponga looks good and is quick with a good step but can't get Coote out of the Cowboys team at the moment. Mitchell looks a shoe in for centre now and has disciplinary issues I think that might hinder him. Cleary definite number 7 for Australia in the future. He's been the best half in the NRL last season for me. In summary I'm not sure their reserve pivots are anywhere near the quality of the current crop.

Mitchell Moses looked very good against us.

You've also got to bear in mind that by the time the next World Cup rolls around, some of the big names that have made England's pack so good won't be there any more either.

Sean O'Loughlin will have long since retired. James Graham & James Roby will be 36, Chris Hill 34. You'll still have the likes of Sam Burgess (32) but other spaces will need the likes of Walmsley & Taylor to have stepped their game up to be in the same league.

Much like Australia's retiring spine is as good as it's been for a long time, so is England's pack. And both aren't going to be around next time.

I think Gale is a different player than he was when he played for us.Powell has worked wonders with him.

The guys gave everything,you can't ask for more.I think Bennett slipped up playing Bateman at as the ball died with him and Hall was starved of good quality ball.Percival would have been my choice.

Make no mistake the Aussies have a whole host of players ready to step up.Mcinnes at hooker for one.Of course Smith/Cronk/Slater have played together that long that they are telepathic so that will work in our favour until they get a settled spine,but as individuals they have just as good players waiting in the wings.
I think Bennett will move on so I would give that job to Daryl Powell.

Excellent points made here. Wonder if the next coach will be bold enough to play his pack of the future in the next round of internationals and drop the oldies in anticipation of the next WC.

I'd prefer him to pick in form players as much as possible rather than blooding young players.

I get why people take that position but with the national team playing so little rugby together over a calendar year I feel it is vitally important that the coach can build a consistent team with the same blokes who know how each other plays. What ai think is best isn't a case of blooding youngsters, more a long term team building philosophy, whilst of course bringing in the odd exceptional case. Continuity is key.

I see Elliot Whitehead was the top tackler in the whole of the World Cup.No surprise as he was the top tackler in the whole NRL in 2016.

The guys who have run the Bulls into the ground have a lot to answer for.Criminal what's happened at Odsal.