France we decent in defence for long spells but the class of the Aussies just shines through

Perhaps part of the problem is the fact that Australia have been so dominant, that fans can be choosey and not interested in games were they know they going to win, it's just by how many.

As I put in another thread, Australians tend to put international RL 3rd ( behind soo, then nrl). Because they win most of the time, and there's just no interest in games that are predictable, and of little competition to them.

This Aussie team is certainly very good and clear favorites to go on and win the comp but their three quarter line is not scary by any means, slater aside. When comparing to the last WC down there when you had a younger Slater in his pomp, Inglis and Folau in the centres and Lockyer and Thurston feeding them. I still fancy them to win it but sense they come right up against it in at least one game the semi or the final. A lot is resting on the wily shoulders of Cam Smith.

I agree they look a little flat in attack do Australia, there's quite a lot of new combinations out there so maybe it is down to that. However, they have beat England and France easily without getting out of 2nd gear. I expect we'll have to wait for the final for them to step it up and get somewhere near their best.

Dugans not the easiest by all accounts but his first try oozed class.

You could argue that for the last 2 tournaments (last year's 4 nations and this wc), that this is an average Australian side by there standards.

And yet there still a level above, and it would take a massive effort to beat them.
Could explain the poor attendance's that are happening.

Are France improving? That's the main question for me. I hope they are because I think they are the one European country that has the potential to be Tier 1. I can never see Scotland, Wales or Ireland amounting to anything, sadly. Not with players actually from those countries - any country can be good if you fill it with Australians.

...is that the strap line for this world cup?
I'm in Hamilton for the epic encounter between ANZAC D v ANZAC C......I believe there are 2 of the 34 on show born in the nations they are representing and neither country has a professional club...in fact both domestic leagues are shambolic.

France are a work in progress and should continue to be nurtured by the RFL if we want them to grow.....Toulouse getting into SL in the next decade will help, but it won't happen overnight....I believe that at least one club from Ireland and one from Scotland need to be considered for CH1 in the next 3 years, but the problem the game has is that whilst professional, it is run like an amateur association with "members" agendas always to the fore....

France is improving in the basics, but needs some attacking weapons apart from Kheirallah. Morgan Escare and Anthony Gigot would have provided some of that. And Remi Casty might have made some half breaks up the middle for Escare to capitalize on. Sadly Theodore Fages did not make an impression on the game.

France lost to ANZAC E in their opener and will be absolutely hammered by the English next week....they need more international exposure with annual tours to the South Pacific if they are to truly grow....they are one of the true hopes for the game to grow and need to be backed to the hilt by the RFL and NRL......get them out there during Origin season......and if need be fly PNG to France each year for a test....that's the only way they will get better!

You get your fix through the NRL season? The NRL crowds are even lower than the world cup crowds



Im not surprised by the low attendance's at all, the Aussie RL crowds are pathetic, especially in Sydney, and tbh if you went to a game and felt how flat the atmosphere was you wouldn't want to go either

I think some of the Sydney football teams are getting bigger crowds now, and AFL teams regularly get 50,000+, which proves that the problem is the over entitled NRL fans who only get excited by the 3 origins

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I binned Sky Sports NZ this year in exchange for super fibre and access to everything online......I have seen nothing on domestic Freeview in regards to the RLWC here. I am a stadium member at the Westpac in Wellington and usually I am offered the chance to sell my Box for major events that I don't want to attend.....I've had nowt for the QF in a few weeks.....but I get regular offers to sell it for the Phoenix soccer side who get less at games than I do to a family BBQ......Perspective wise, I was offered NZ $45,000 for the Lions test here earlier this year......the box doesn't cost that for 4 years!

It's not apathy....it's arrogance. They (the NRL) really do believe that we should flock to games....even the dark side marketed the off the RWC11.....if you don't ask people they won't come.....It's not brain surgery.

I am tempted to start a thread on how badly this WC has been run but I'll hold off, purely because I'll be accused of being negative (or a troll), but the reality is that it's been terribly run!