You would have to say New Zealand and Australia will be favourites to meet in the final. But if England can put their best team on the park they have a chance of an upset and sneaking in. France are in there for the experience and I don't expect them to win a game. But if they can run one of the other nations close that would be great.

All in all the concept is good and it will give other nations the chance to rumble with the big boys via the Euro and Pacific Cups

This will improve then 2nd tier nations which is what international rugby league needs.

Anyone backing the Kiwis that day must have had rocks in their head,sane people wouldn't have backed them...I bet you wont back them next time.

England could not get within a bulls roar of Australia,and probably New Zealand,Papua&new Guinea samoa andTonga will have a good chance of beating the poms,Australia could field a second team that would beat England.

what like the "weakened" australia that took to the SFS during the 2006 tri nations??? remind me of the score again????

This week Catalans beat Hull fielding a side with only 4 players who won't be eligible for France come the 4 nations. Of those 4, one of them was covering the injured half-back Bosc while Maguire (hooker) was covering for Kane Bently. Just from the Catalan side we have 15 of the starting 17 needed for France, the one key position we need to fill is stand off, a big issue, but a huge step forward where almost all the starting 17 will have SL experience.
I mentioned 4, the last of the 4 was a front row forward, we have decent SL level options there too.

Thats all well and good but France need players from several Superleague clubs and not just one, and inparticularly one that is only a mid-table Superleague team.

Good progress and hope it continues.... but a long long way to go!!!!

I would be surprised if Australia don't put more than 50 on the french.

i would be surprised if australia,england & nz don't put 50+ on the french

I suppose your right, maybe the french should be allowed to start with their whole 17? Might give them a tiny chance.

I dont think any poms should be talking rubbish about the French.

Yea your right because the French have posed such a threat to England over the last few years haven't they???

I think any English fan is save to talk rubbish about the french....

Especially with the last meeting being such a close run affair.

Presuming the competition will be played on a "Round Robin"basis there is no way England can get into the final,they have to beat New Zealand (nearly impossible) and Australia (TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE) so it has to be a Australia v New Zealand final so you poms will see a good game of Rugby live.

PS . Do you reckon Senior might still be playing for England then???