surely you've understood by now that all HullKR players are the fastest, strongest, most talented individuals to ever walk planet earth

I was pleasantly surprised by Shenton, though maybe Inglis may have torn him in two as well.

Smith, McGuire, Westwood - all big FAIL.

Morley and Peacock, where were you?

Roby's passing was shocking. Get Moore back in.

Is that down necessarily to the players being slow or the fact that the Australian employ a far, far superior kicking game and chased it down well thus not allowing England the time to get out their own ten? Put it this way, you can't go fast if you've got no room.

I always laugh with HKR fans and Peter Fox and it does seem like a massive tirade against Briscoe. There is no way in hell that any of those tries would have been prevented with Fox in the team or not. Time and time again Smith came in-field and the massive gaping hole was there to see. And even if Fox had have played, and had have chased down whoever was in possession, the Aussies always had men in support to score.

But what people don't seem to be digesting is that the "arm-wrestle" is a cumulative effect hence why exit sets were executed far better in the second-half - the proof there.


Fox would have cut Inglis down for his last try when he had no support.

You mean when the aussies had switched off as the game was won.

Ah, you mean the half England dominated, the half where we forced Australia to kick from inside their own half rather than inside our 40? Again, if the opposition kicks from further out, of course they are going to have better "exit sets".

my thoughts having just watched the game:

1. We have learnt nothing since the WC about how to defend against the bread and butter Australian play of passing to the man out the back

2. McGuire is not and never will be an Int class stand off

3. Our forwards are better than Australias and oh for a decent outside back line to make the most of that talent!

4. Roby is not an Int quality hooker

5. Tompkins and Eastmond should be our half back pairing for the future.

6. We showed alot of heart in that 2nd half but lets be honest Australia was already thinking about the final and how to beat NZ when the 2nd half kicked off

7. our outside backs and fullback are simply not good enough and we should raid the coffers and sign some decent RU centres and wingers again!

Watched S Briscoe and his field positioning in defence, he lacks the mental speed of reading the game, still think Wellens is the more skilful and can offload better. Shame Owen isn,t available as an alternative.

Yes thats exactly why there was a 42 point shift in both halves - because the Aussies switched off.

I think owen still needs another year before he is ready to play for his country but when he does will be a very good fb for england.

No offence, but I think you are getting a little confused between Fox catching Inglis and Fox tackling Inglis

He may have done the former but that doesn’t guarantee the latter

I think young Briscoe did all that could be expected of him yesterday and was very unlucky to be taken off

Put it this way, I'm delighted it is Smith leaving us to seek his fortune in Union and not Briscoe, he will be twice the player Smith is

Fair point.