I remember when GB played in the 1999 Tri Nations down under. They played a warm-up game against Queensland Cup side Burleigh Bears and only narrowly won 10-6.

Today's result is more embarrassing.

Have you got anything to back up that up? Any sports science background or other research to say that "catching practise in the rain would be the best preparation"? Or are you just going out on a limb with your ignorance because you want to whinge about something?

Perhaps they were suffering from low-altitude sickness today?

It was a throwaway comment to illustrate the point that I don't see how the camp in SA will have been of any benefit.

Are you simply picking out a throwaway comment and asking for scientific evidence you know i won't have to make yourself appear more measured and knowledgeable?

Probably because the tournament is going to be played in the October/November drizzle of this country?

Seriously can anyone give a reason as to why we went to SA? We don't need altitude training or hot weather training for games in Wigan and Huddersfield!!! We're at home, why on earth do we need to go abroad to train?!?

oh dear....Aussies 10th team would have beat them.

Ironically, for once, McBanana has spoken some truth in his post match interview, probably because he knew he couldn't get away with anything less. He said that the team's attitude was all wrong and he promised that it would be better next week.

Too late, I would suggest. As you say, this result, and the apparently poor performance that went with it, has undermined what was some great momentum.

Apparently the go compare man put the drop goal over, and that chef off this morning scored the last try for them.

There's some bloody good players in that Italian set-up.

I thought luigi from the local pizzeria down the road got the decisive point?

Jetlag...yeah I'll go with jetlag

Quite

Not a lot of praise for the Italians here. They've got some good players & if they had Campese & Gower to help steer them around they could be a very handy side.

Shock result but a tough hit out will be more beneficial to England than a 70 pt win would have been.

...not many of them are Italian though and it's not like England RL aren't used to losing to Australians is it.

Haha jeez what can you say? Pathetic but atleast expectations will not be off the scale next week infact as things stand we are looking at a cricket score.

Things can only get better eh?