England V France

All my initial fears were confirmed last night by that England performance.

In the first half Kane Bentley (exactly who?) ran rings around our side from the dummy half position and completely outplayed a very poor Scott Moore. Cameron Smith will have a field day against us next week. Their forwards were far more aggressive from the off or at least certainly matched us in the department where we are meant to be the 'strongest' at. On the back of this they scored two very good tries and seemed to easily unlock the England defence on our own line. They were composed and didn't force a pass, had quick play the balls, a good kicking game and built some pressure on the back of the hard work from their forwards. England were totally blown away and it was only a Thomas Bosc slip that spared us the embarrassment of being scoreless at half time.

Second half the lack of Super League players and effectively part time players on the bench for the French meant that their forwards ran out of steam as we all expected. England were able to make ground more easily on the back of some tired French forwards and Richie Myler managed to get on the score sheet after being anonymous in the first half. How the hell do we expect this kid to control the game against Australia (arguably the best side in the world) when he can't control against France (arguably the weakest team in the competition). As the French forwards tired their discipline got worse and England were able to post some points and show the difference in standards of the two sides & run out quite comfortable winners in the end and I think the score line does not do the justice to the hard work of the French who gave a poor England side a very good run for their money. The Aussies and the kiwis wont have it all their own way on French soil.

So back to England. Well for me the one massive point for me that needs addressing is our atrocious discipline. That (kiwi?) referee picked us to pieces in regards to our discipline and if we keep giving world class players in the Australia and New Zealand sides free possession to attack our line then we will be punished far greater than what the French side did.

I thought Scott Moore was anonymous throughout the whole game and was very poor. I thought James Roby definitely steadied the ship a lot more. Scott Moore needs a kick up the or replacing because he was found out this week and will be picked apart next week against the Aussies. Matt Diskin maybe? move Kevin Sinfield to hooker? Something Tony Smith will have to think about.

Ben Westwood was another anonymous player. Gave away possession and didn't make any hard yards. A poor performance and didn't justify Tony Smith's selection of him. Against the Aussies we are going to need every player for the bench to have a positive influence on the side and Westwood should be dropped for Gareth Carvell IMO.

Richie Myler didn't impress. At full steam in the first half (before the French forwards got tired) the French dominated England, built pressure far better and had an all round better kicking game which caused us a lot of problems. It was only when the French forwards got tired (again due to the level their bench plays at each week) that Myler was able to have an impact on the game. He wont have that against the Aussies and I feel he will be picked apart in defence. Against Wigan this year he has had to move onto the wing due to Gareth Hock simply running right over him. He will get smashed next week and needs dropping. At least Kyle Eastmond and Sam Tomkins are a lot more stronger in defence that Myler. The french (Oliver Elima) ran at Danny McGuire all night and kept him very quiet. Anthony Watmough I imagine will be doing the same. Something must change.

Overall not impressive from England and Tony Smith's selection of certain players were not justified from the performances given. Once again we dropped too much ball, gave away too many penalties, couldn't take our chances and looked incoherent and completely out of position in attack whilst looking very vulnerable in defence. If the French had a stronger bench I dare say they would have won.