The big difference for me is that we've consistently kept ourselves in games against the Aussies and Kiwis. For three years now we've been in each and every game against them regardless of us winning them or not. When you compare that to the past we've always had a game when we collapse in a heap but that hasn't happened in a while.

We need to kick on now. I really do think we could win that next World Cup.

They've been gradually building towards this since Mcnamara took over in 2010. The regular training camps, the professionalism of the set up, fresher younger players being selected, the cohesion of the team play. McBanana cops some flack but he's set some real foundations in place.

What it needs now is a top quality coach to swoop in and add those finishing touches to what has been built. Like Maguire taking from noble at wigan. Smith from powell at leeds. Someone who comes into the team with everything in place and pushes them on to that next level.

I know it's not a popular model, but England's current talent is result of the franchising system. Clubs weren't recruiting to stay afloat and are producing there own talent, I know the top 4 have always promoted but this England has an even spread from all clubs. 10 years ago you wouldn't of had players from cas or huds in the team. Long may it continue when you compare this England to the England of 2008

I agree 100% and said the same at the game today.

McNamara has improved many things but we just look like we need somebody to push his hard work over the line.

Either way a long term de idiom needs to be made. If he stays then he stays until after the next World Cup as a minimum.

Worst thread ever but anyway, the last time Jared Warea Hargreaves spearheaded the Kiwi pack they lost by 30.

didn't read the thread just saw the author so instinct tells me

Who cares. A badly depleted England team managed by Mcbannana whohasnt got a clue, managed to beat France by about 200 points recently.

Super league has been so good for the french national team hasnt it

Regards

King james

At the start of this series when I thought about a potential 17 if George Burgess/Walmsley been fit I'd have possibly considering a team without Hill in it. I couldn't have been more wrong!

Literally the first name I'd put on the sheet now. He has been excellent and is constantly racking up the metres. Aside from one poor offload today he's been immense.

What a group of props we have by the way! Hill, Graham, George Burgess, Tom Burgess, Cooper and Walmsley. That's a scary set!!

Silliest comment ever.

You obviously didn't watch the Sydney Roosters in 2015. In the latter half of the season JWH was the outstanding prop in the NRL -- better than either James Graham, Jesse Bromwich or George Burgess.

A lot of players potentially classed as missing for England as well!

I've included McGillvery and Smith because they missed 2 of the 3 Test matches

Tomkins
McGillvery
Reed
Watkins
Hall
Widdop
Smith
Graham
Roby
G Burgess
S Burgess
Whitehead
O'Loughlin

Houghton
Hill
T Burgess
Walmsley

Regarding Graham. It may just be me, but I don't think he's been as good in this series as in previous tournaments. He's looked slower, he passes less at the line, and he runs an odd diagonal angle that reduces his go forward after contact, and takes up the space of the runners outside him.
Based on the evidence so far I don't think the NRL has made him any better than he was.

Jason Taumololo and JWH in his recent form have been inspirational forwards like the two missing Burgess brothers, George and Samuel.

But the actual play making skill level missing from the Kiwis this series, in the form of Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson is the major factor that has no equivalent among the missing Englishmen.

Jeans is probably right,New Zealand would have won with a full compliment out,but lets be honest England could have won this series 3.0 if things had gone a little bit different in the second test.

Cant help thinking i wish this series was against the aussies cos we'd probably have won 3.0

not sure I agree with that, Sam is a world class player who would start over Hardaker every time for me. Thought he was average at best during this test series Zak