I think this is backwards; SOO is high quality, high pressure rugby because the best Aussie players are top notch and there's lots of competition from the strength in depth.

Same reason the NRL is a better competition.

I think SoO is a red herring. It's just 3 matches. The Kiwis don't have it and still won the WC. Talking about SoO is just Sheen patronising us by finding excuses for us. The real difference in intensity is the NRL versus SL, where NRL teams play at a level of skill every week which is only matched in this country by games between Saints and Leeds. That's what teaches mental resolve, not three games in mid-season.

But as mentioned above, I don't think the issue is necessarily even that. The real issue is much simpler : we don't have any centres, wingers or fullbacks who would get a start with any NRL sides. Look at those stats against the Aussies. Bridge and Shenton made 40 tackles between them. Hodges and Inglis made 10. That's because the Aussies attack with their centres, while the English can't attack with theirs.

To put it another way, the English back five made a total of 4 tackle breaks between them. The Aussie back five made 22. Their centres are tremendous athletes with natural steps, fends, timing and speed. Ours are, well, not.

Mine do too mate. There is loads of competition in school sport. But my point is the element of winning and success being a major focus couldnt be further from the truth. Its all about participation. And in school sport I have to agree with that.

We have an obesity problem and if school sport isnt inclusive then we are in even more trouble

Then I disagree with Smith's tactics, the gameplan was too rigid.

Great to look over those stats.

If you didnt know the score you might suspect England just edged it.

Two things stand out for me. Australia made slightly more errors, but thats the theory that if you promote the ball more you will make more errors. When Bradford won the SL in 1997 they there or thereabout made more errors than anyone else, but passed it more than anyone else too.

Also, 3 penalties conceded by Chris Bridge. They were in the first half, but lots of coaches refer to "draining the tank." I wonder?

Its such a small thing but at that level, it appears to be major

I think tomkins should have played but not sure on eastmond to be honest.

No way they should have been our 6 and 7 last night.

I'm gutted with the loss but 60 minutes into the game I was jumping around thinking we might pull it off... it wasn't to be though

I thought the England players showed more heart and guts than during the World Cup so I can live with that... the Kangaroos are so good at rugby it is frightening at times

Don't ask why, but I had the misfortune of watching the full 80 minutes of England vs. Argentina at Twickenham on TV yesterday and it is no exaggeration to say that there was more rugby played in the first 10 minutes at Elland Road than in the full 80 there (the Twickenham crowd were booing England off at half time so even they may be getting the message!)

I am proud our sport can produce a game like that yesterday evening

Well done to Australia

The writing was on the wall looking at the stats from the first half and it was only a matter of time before they edged us.

What really stood out for me was the attacking lines. when Aus had the ball they ran with dummy runners and with plenty of players in motion, wheras we attacked individually and ther was very little fluidity.

Also, the majority of their tries in the last 20 minutes came from kicks not from running through our line. The standard of kicking was exceptional.

I don't think them playing SOO has anything at all to do with them being better than us.

After all it's only 3 games a year.

The SOO players also back up and play in NRL that same weekend which means they playing 2 games in 3/4 days! Can't be great on the players.

We moan like hell about the 2 games at Easter about players no getting enough recovery, burnout and how super league takes a dip the following weeks after the Easter games. These Aussie guys do it 3 times a year!

So IMO SOO has no impact on it all.

Shenton was the top try scoring centre in Superleague this year...

The main reason they had more runners in there attacking line was because they had two halfbacks that have played a lot of rugby in the NRL and at international level.

Not taking anything away from tomkins or eastmond but they havnt played enough rugby at super league level to form a good attacking pairing.

All our play was from sinfield at dummy half which is a lot easier for the Aussies to defend.

Awesome attacking play, sat in the stand and could not keep track of the runners, just awesome rugby league.

They make it look so easy and its a pleasure to watch.

Especially with the passes he was throwing out.

Tomkins and Eastmond are both world class talents, but if they were Australian no way would either of them be considered number 7s, I think that is one of Englands biggest problems, we dont produce complete halfbacks, the same can be said about Burrow and Mcguire in my opinion, both can be match winners and even unplayable at times but dont get the team around and lack some of the basics physically and mentally needed to be a top class 7, which the aussies have a lot of players capable of this (although many pundits in Australia are saying the position of halfback is dying) aswell as coming up with moments of magic now and again, last night Eastmond just looked to lack the character in my opinion needed, and although he is just a kid its not something that players tend to pick up with experience.