Why? It was us who should have run away with it but we panicked. You were second best because you were battered.

I've said it before and i'll say it again NZ were there for the taking and at 8-0 we should have sewn it up. I'm sure i'll probably watch it again later this week...

Watching the game back it went back and forward between the two teams in blocks. They had the better if the first 10-15 then it was us until just before half time. They then had the better of the first 10 mins of the second half before we dominated for 25 minutes up until the last 5 mins when they stole it. I'd say the scoreline at 18-14 to England was about right and would have been a fair result but they got their reward for sticking in. They could easily have turned it in when we were bashing their line after Sam Burgess had scored and Ben Westwood was an inch off sealing the win.

Fine lines but there was certainly no dominant force.

The way Burgess spoke after the game was staggering to me.

Just like you I would have only have been able to say nothing, cry or swear. For him to speak like that after putting that kind of effort in is possibly the most impressive show of sportsmanship and professionalism I've seen.

We said the same thing after the match.

One of the best all round performances I can remember seeing from England. It's just a shame about the predicted bitching about player "x" over player "y"; it's just pathetic (as is the coach bashing).

I was gutted by the result but felt a great deal of pride in the team.

My first time at the new wembly but thoroughly enjoyed it.

This. For those that didn't see it it's worth trying to find it on the internet. He came over incredibly professional and gracious in defeat. Fantastic player who outplayed the great Sonny Bill Williams...

Just seen ben Westwood drop the ball as he was about to score with 10ins to go - and Ryan halls just dropped the interception with 7 mins left.

Aaaaaaaaggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

When Leeds beat Manly in 2012 WCC at Headingley, Hall intercepts in pretty much the same spot, even has a juggle with it like at Wembley......but just manages to grab hold and go the length.

Even as a Leeds fan how I wish we could swap the two around and the England chance is caught and the Leeds one dropped. Never seen Hall react like that, he usually just has a ruthful smile on his face in that sort of situation.....at Wembley he looked like he wanted to explode, that's how much it meant.

It just wasn't meant to be at all.

All those chances that we bombed. I don't think I've ever seen Sinfield miss a conversion like that for Leeds! Then it was the Westwood knock on, then the hall failed interception, then high tackle and then the poor defence to let Johnson in. He'd done nothing all game, was very ordinary in defence and then he comes up with that play.

Someone, somewhere, didn't want us to win that game.

Sonny Bill for starters!

Not to mention Hall just slipping over on another run with just the full back to beat. There again that full-back pulled off a good ball and all tackle on Sinfield when he nearly went under the posts to score in the 2nd half.

In 20 years time the defeat will be looked upon as the agonising near miss that was nescessary to instill the mental toughness into a team that finally had the tools to go on and be top dogs again.

An agonising defeat that was ultimatley meant to be for the greater good of the england team.