Think Tonga may have been complacent versus Lebanon, England didn't exactly look brilliant against them either and had the benefit of a lot of refs calls.

I think it'll be close. Tonga will be up for it playing in NZ for a place in the final. They have the pack and the backs, it's just the spine I'm less sure about.

Is it that simple though? I mean, it's certainly not that simple when you look at other sports. England has a lot more people playing football than Iceland does, but that didn't stop us losing to them at the last Euros. And I'm sure that New Zealand doesn't have more people playing RU than every other country, but that doesn't stop them from being the best. Yes, population size and the number of people playing the game are definite factors, but I don't think that's the only reason. Unless RL is somehow different to other sports in that regard.

Maybe the NRL and Origin are better preparing the Australian players for the big games, I dunno.

Or maybe the best athletes and most talented sportsmen in England are choosing to play other sports instead of RL.

I think football is a sport where the underdog can have its day more often owing to the limited physical nature and the size of the 'scoring zone'. Also of the players playing in the premier league only about 30% are English (the england squad is picked from approx only 70 players). RL numbers in england are almost half that of Aus and im sure the gaps participation are much more close in RU. Maybe i was remiss in saying its that simple, as RL in england is so poorly run and could without doubt reduce the gap.

We thought that about Fitler, Lockyer and Johns, England have to try improve rather than wait for great players to retire

Morgan can play 6 or 7 so he could be partnered with Milford, Reynolds, Cherry-Evens, Pearce, Hunt, Moses or even one of the younger guys like Taylor or Cleary.
The fullback will likely be Tedesco for a long time and Friend or Peats could do a great job at hooker.

The RFU has more registered players than all of the other Unions around the world combined...well they did in 2011.


I'd say it's a cultural thing as well as coaching. The Aussies just don't do "plucky losers"....neither do the Kiwis whilst the Brits are always happy to say "well played"..."hard luck" etc.
Touch rugby is absolutely huge here in NZ....some of the teenagers in our social comp have insane skills and play both codes, with Union at School and League at Club level.....I'd say that the RFL need to get all over the touch rugby scene in the heartlands.

I'm a bit doubtful about that England RU figure mind. Unless it includes people like me playing RUWC on the playstation.