Quote: Buggo "I do not think that is right.
All of the English backs have looked like Rabbits in the Spotlight when they have been run at.
They may have pace and skill but they lack the ability in defence when facing a player with similar or better pace and skill coming at them.
How many times has England not handled quality decoy runners over the years?
The fact is the Forwards will hold their own for most of the game, the backs will be what they have been for longer than I can remember and when a few are scored against them it all folds like a pack of Cards.
More Backs need to have a go in the NRL and be forged in a game that sees very few easy games or 30 minute games where the top teams can go back several gears.'"
I disagree to an extent and think our inability to match them in the forwards has been more of the problem than the backs. If you look at Englands defeats recently they've matched the forwards statistically, however the Aussies forwards have been so much better in 'the wrestle' and have controlled the PTB which has meant their backs hav had more to work with and crucially more time and space. England on the other hand have been working off the back of slow ball which gives the Aussie defenders more time to close down our halfs. Look at the last tri nations. Against NZ at the KC our forwards dominated and our half backs were able to execute a good kicking game compared to the NZ, whom despite having the better pairing on paper looked very ordinary. Then in the final it was the exact opposite.
I agree with our point on dummy runners. Also our forwards lack of quality movement off the ball has also been an area we get severly outclassed in. There's so much more to forward play in RL than how many meteres and tackles you make. Until we improve are all round forward play and technique it doesn't matter who are halfs or centres are.