I personally enjoyed the game. For the first time, I saw a desire from an England team to put in the extra effort to keep the opposition out.

Did this game serve its purpose. I think it did, not only did we expose our players to a higher level of football, but it also allows the coaching team to see which players may or may not be able to handle it. I am a firm believer that in order to improve, we need to get our elite players playing at a higher level more often.

In fact, I would also like to see the England Knights team play the exiles. We may find that we have a few 'fringe' players that actually are able to step up their game when playing with and against better players.

I would love for us to make this a three game series. I think the England team would improve a lot if we were going to be playing the exiles again in a few days.

Where was this talent in the last World Cup under Tony Smith (or was Tony Smith also a "non-elite" coach)?

Come to that, where has it been for the last 15- 20 years?

You could put McNamara in charge of Australia and Wayne Bennett in charge of England. The result would be absolutely no different.

bet it would

wayne bennett would let em play......McNamara does'nt


can i just say as well......theres a few people whinging about the exiles being over 30's has beens


the average age of the exiles was 29!....with 200 test caps


in todays origin game 2.....theres a fair few 29-30 years olds....and a couple of 34 & 35 year olds...and steve price was 36 last year
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Average age was 30
Youngest 24, 3 x 25 year olds a 28 year old and the rest over 30, hardly a squad that will be together for the future.

You may have missed it but Steve Price did not play SOO last year and retired in June last year.