we sold out England v Fiji and Ireland in 2013, you got a smaller crowd for your *opening ceremony*. Australia shouldn't be allowed to host a World Cup game for at least twenty years.

If you could arrange that, it'd be really good

You're doing a great job of winding people up whether intentional or not.

I never want to hear a referee say "contact with the head" in SL again. The rule doesn't exist in this RLWC

Its often the case that inferior nations appear more passionate, i'm not sure of the psychology, but if you could all go away, read some Freud & get back to me

France are putting in a decent effort. Far better than the last time they played in Australia I think. They are making good progress.

yep, a great outing for France, they would have taken 38-6 at the start I reckon for 60mins.

I have to say this Aussie team need to step up a bit if they are going to cruise through this tourney.

Need more internationals

The score blew out a bit, but Australia had to work all game.

France we decent in defence for long spells but the class of the Aussies just shines through

Perhaps part of the problem is the fact that Australia have been so dominant, that fans can be choosey and not interested in games were they know they going to win, it's just by how many.

As I put in another thread, Australians tend to put international RL 3rd ( behind soo, then nrl). Because they win most of the time, and there's just no interest in games that are predictable, and of little competition to them.

This Aussie team is certainly very good and clear favorites to go on and win the comp but their three quarter line is not scary by any means, slater aside. When comparing to the last WC down there when you had a younger Slater in his pomp, Inglis and Folau in the centres and Lockyer and Thurston feeding them. I still fancy them to win it but sense they come right up against it in at least one game the semi or the final. A lot is resting on the wily shoulders of Cam Smith.

I agree they look a little flat in attack do Australia, there's quite a lot of new combinations out there so maybe it is down to that. However, they have beat England and France easily without getting out of 2nd gear. I expect we'll have to wait for the final for them to step it up and get somewhere near their best.

Dugans not the easiest by all accounts but his first try oozed class.

You could argue that for the last 2 tournaments (last year's 4 nations and this wc), that this is an average Australian side by there standards.

And yet there still a level above, and it would take a massive effort to beat them.
Could explain the poor attendance's that are happening.