Quote: Newbridge_Wolf "To be fair, I don't think anyone assumes we haven't got problems of our own.
Australia are still number one for me. We can outmuscle them, but our halves just aren't up to following that up with winning the game on a regular basis. Cronk and Thurston can change a game on their own, and we've got no one anywhere near their class. New Zealand have a similar issue, I know they're ranked number one, but as we saw last autumn, they're beatable, especially when their heads drop.
That said though, I don't think Australia are invincible. As a team, they're less than the sum of their parts. Our chances I think will hinge a lot around how well Hardaker and Widdop play (presuming they both start). If they're on their game and confident then we can take it to them. An England-Australia final at Anfield is certainly achievable in my eyes (as for winning that...)'"
Well Hardaker won't be starting, as he's not in the squad.
I may be biased, but we haven't seen how well Gale goes against international opposition. He was by far the best half in SL last season (46 try assists, the next best was 25). He was the centre of everything Cas did well last year.
If can produce the kind of form he showed in most games last year (and indeed the year before) he might be able to cause problems for Australia and NZ. It will be difficult as their defence will be tougher than he faces in SL, but we shouldn't be writing him off before he has been given a chance.