Geta grip we was a ankle tap from probably winning the final in 2017 against aussies

I think we would of had a chance had lomax, percival, Walmsley and Roby been fit/played

Think Samoa are stronger than NZ and will be a serious threat to Australia

A lot of key Penrith players who have dominated the nrl last few years so the gelling issue shouldn't be a problem

Would have only made it 6-6. We'd have still had to score again.

I think the problem for Samoa and Tonga, even Australia is that we're likely to see mass pullouts. Once one big name does it, tons of them will.

I don't think they will. There are players from Somoa and Tonga who turned down the chance to earn great money to play for Australia.

They wont turn down the Green and Gold
only then to pull out.

We have to face up to the fact that we overestimate the quality of a lot of players, who perform in super league but look out of their depth against Austrailia.

In the past though, we've had a least a few 'top-quality' players (Sculthorpe, peacock, etc) whereas now, even taking into account injuries I don't think there's any top top quality. It's a very meh squad.

Put it into perspective though, we're basically relying on players from a few small northern English pit towns. It's David and Goliath.

I think over the years we have had the players to beat Australia and even win a world cup.

A lot of the time we play players out of position instead of playing out and out positional players.

Wellens on the wing? Widdop at FB. Bateman at centre. It’s just trying to shoehorn players in.

We actually have a top pack. And a back line that’s decent:

Young
Farnworth
? - Not sure who we’ll pick here.
Makinson

Lees
McIllorum
Thompson
Bateman
Whitehead
Radley

That pack will mix it with them all. Our quality in the halves will let us down this year.

England set to rotate the squad in the next game, I hope there is genuine competition for places as I felt that our best 17 wasn't on the field against Samoa. It might be easy to dismiss anyone impressing against "lesser" opposition, but I hope Wane gives everyone a fair go at showing their form.
If it is just a case of resting the favourites to bring them back no matter how well someone plays it would be disappointing, although i recall it took until the semis in 2013 for the England coach to put the best team out on the field.

i didn't see a lot of mcmeeken at the weekend, saw a bit of whitehead but not too much of right side backrow, i dont know what the stats say.

i think its just sensible rotation of the squad for a game(s) that we should be winning

keep the squad fresh for the quarter final and pick his best 17 from there on in. The best 17 will possibly be impacted by injury / concussion protocol / suspension, so keep everyone interested and match fit, til you need them

the plus side, is that we wont have the physical battering that Tonga / PNG and Cook Islands will have all been giving each other. Group A and D should chuck up 2 interesting quarter finals looking at it

Difficult to enjoy any game with Jon Wilkin talking over it, but pretty average from England today.

Really think that in a tournament, you need to work on that 80 minute performance. Samoa didn't turn up last week, but first bit of resistance from the French and England dropped off. Switch off for ten against the better sides and you are 18 points worse off.

Ill discipline from England today. They need to improve that by the time they get to the knockout stages.

I think Cooper, Lees and Knowles are more "in your face" players and that was missing when France got some decent possession yesterday. Still worry about that No 9 spot though, that seems to be our weakest link so far.

Wane won't be happy with the amount of unecessary 6 agains at the wrong end of the pitch.

I'd like to see someone else at fullback next week, as I'm not impressed at all by Tomkins. Whoever plays next week should be told that they won't play in the quarters if they don't put in quality performance.