Quote JEAN CAPDOUZE="JEAN CAPDOUZE"If England don't put up a competitive performance against Australia (and by "competitive" I mean don't lose by more than 10 points) then the neutral or soft core fans among the TV watching public will know that the English game is qualitatively inferior to the Australian game, will switch off the rest of the tournament, and will not be interested in watching Super League in the future.
The psychology of morale is going to be key on Saturday. McNamara needs to select all his NRL experienced players because they won't be intimidated by the Aussies they have played against every week. "All" means [iincluding Gareth Widdop[/i of course.'"
How can you definitivley come to that conclusion?
England got walloped 36-0 by SA in the 2007 RU WC in the first pool game.England Soccer team walloped 4-1 by the Germans (should have been worse) in the second round of the 2010 WC.Dont reckon it made a ripple on either competition, or sport.
England do of course need to compete to some degree.A repeat of the 50 odd point drubbing in the last WC would be a disaster and unacceptable on all levels, but a performance along the lines of the two 2011 four nations games should have no short term effect on the competition.Even the majority of the soft core fans will be aware of the class of the Kangaroo team and the challenge that faces England IMO.
