I've never doubted his ability. I've only ever been criticial of his sportsmanship. When he's cutting through defenses as good as NZ's you can't help but admire him. Mind you, I did have a sly chuckle when Sika Manu picked him up and bounced him like a basketball.

Here here. Was.

Briscos's stats are impressive also, showing the amount he was involved. Only 1 less scoot than Roby for example.

Roby 4 for 25m. Briscoe 3 for 26m.

For me I thought Peacock and Graham were awesome, especially JP, lead the side so well, and is obviously so proud of playing for his country.

Great performance, and made my mind up that I'll be at the Final next Sunday!

The best thing about this England side (imo) is that the backs and the pivots are all young (sinfield aside) and already managing to play to this level. They'll only improve and when the likes of Lomax and Widdop get more time as well, its looking good for the future.

where are the posters who were slating players like briscoe last week after the loss to aus, funny they haven't posted tonight, tomkins, hall and briscoe will be our back 3 for years to come, now time to bring more quality centres through

jjb totally suprised me tonight, thought he was fantastic, carvell did well, just could do without his silly offloading though

I thought that Heighington was very poor tonight. Dropped off tackles, didn't make much in attack and was slow returning to defensive/attacking lines. If it was up to me I would drop him.

I thought that we benefited from having the option of four props.

For me, I would have a pack next week of:

Peacock
Roby
Graham
Ellis
Westwood
Sinfield

Carvell
Morley
JJB

For an NRL backrower Heighington is a very weak defender. Dont think he won the collision once.

I've just watched the game again on tape and I thought that every man from 1 to 17 was superb for England tonight. It was a very professional performance and has filled me with a lot of confidence and optimism for next week.

Does anyone else recall McNamara saying that Heighington has actually been considered for England duty for a couple of years, I'm pretty certain that if Burgess, O'Loughlin and Joel Tomkins were available then he wouldn't be in the side.

I didn't think he did badly on first viewing though, more impact than Wilkin.

I really don't rate Jon Wilkin but I thought he ran some good lines tonight and looked dangerous in attack.

i thought he was finished at international level?

So did I.

Perhaps playing him for less time is the answer now he's a pensioner? Less time, more impact? He didn't do much defending, so perhaps thats the way to use him.

bring him on when the sh*t hits the fan...... he still has a good few rotations in him when it counts.... he can still turn it on when it counts.

Unfortunately he is in reality. I would expect him to retire at this level after the 4 nations. He (probably obviously) did his best work tonight when the Kiwis were well beaten.

He certainly isn't the dominant force he used to be but he's going out on a high.

The main difference between tonight and previous matches of the last few years is that England had a half-back with a kicking game - nothing flash, just simple, well executed kicks on the 5th tackle. How the hell any of our previous international coach thought we could compete at international level without a kicking game beggars belief and I this year the penny has dropped for MacNamara by picking SL's most intelligent player, Sinfield who can utilise his decision making skills and game sense to make the right kicks at the right time.

As for next week, if the team can stay patient and composed against the Aussies to the point where they're not on the wrong side of the penalty count and have a completion rate of say 75/80% then I personally don't think the Aussie forwards will stand up to the onslaught down the middle because they don't have the physical strength of the kiwis.

That said Aussie's backs seem to come up with something when it's needed even if their forwards are getting beat, but I think this time round, our backs are better equiped to neutralise them and I think the English lads really fancy their chances.

Can't wait till next week!!!