I think people are overestimating PNG. They've looked good playing in stifling heat and humidity in front of their own fans, but Wales and the US were awful. Ireland, which is basically half a mid-table SL side plus Championship players stood up to them and only just lost in that same environment.

Ireland deserve a bit of credit BTW, they are the only one of the northern hemisphere teams to play above expectations. Wales and Scotland have been largely embarrassingly bad.

Or they thought the job was done with 8 mins left and started to mentally clock off.

I opened the Times this morning expecting a decent write up.

Just 3 short paragraphs side snippets. Loads about union and cricket.

To be fair we'd lost Hodgson and Lockers, so it's hardly a surprise the players were blowing at the end. The bias from some of the media in the Sth hemisphere is ridiculous, especially in the Australian TV coverage. Kimmorley et al are a joke.

with 7mins to go and 20-0 up there wasnt any pressure!!

maybe clocked off/got tired/great tongan last effort/miracle after that but left themselves too much to do in the end.

England are battered, bruised and exhausted now.. will give it a good go for the first 30mins next week then it will all take its toll and aussies will run loose i think