The South Africa thing was a joke from start to finish. Far too short to make up for the downside of it being such a long flight, and all I saw were pictures of players eating nice meals and generally having a good time. Now, to be fair, people have to eat, and I'm sure they worked hard, it's just that it gave a poor impression, making it look like a jolly boys day out, even if it wasn't. It worries me that players were in the mindset of posting all these 'fun' pictures. Get serious and look serious.

Anyhow, at least we've had a massive kick up the backside, so if it is fixable, it'll happen. Other than that, there is almost no positive spin you can put on today. A massive shock, and very scary. Let's hope it was just a freak and hasn't caused too much damage to confidence.

The problem with such a massive shock at this stage is the difficult decisions it poses and the danger of making a rash call now. At ths stage, the team should be building towards peak performance and rehearsing game plans. You expect a few teething troubles and can see that as quite rightly, 'warming up'. But when you get stunned like that, it inevitably raises the question 'have we got this all wrong?' Neither answer to that question makes next week a happy prospect! Of all the concerns I had about this RLWC (most of which were happily fading away), England being p00p wasn't one of them!

To be fair, he's always been poor at the top level - Fantastic player for Leeds, but he's the best example of how Super League isn't quite the at the level that Sky might like you to believe.

If the guy had any ambition to better himself, he should have done a Morley and gone to Australia years ago, instead of staying in the comfort zone of Leeds and Super League.... As a defence though, he isn't the only big name British player of recent years that this could be aimed at - Sean Long and Leon Pryce are two more similarly hyped players who always disappeared at International level.

not going to shoot them down yet, but not surprised with the players attitude as the coach hardly instills hard work and discipline by his past record.

There's an added problem WRT Sinfield though.

That problem is the selection of a skipper a whole year before the World Cup tournament even begins, no matter what the skippers form is like! Age has rapidly caught up with King Kev during the past 12 months. He's a mere shadow of the player he once was, and he wasn't international class back in his heyday either. That's why he needs to retire now before it's too late to repair the damage.

I agree that it's too early to be gnawing fingernails down, but it is a real concern that the team they face next week would have stuck 50+on the Italian (sic) side before easing off in the second half.....

I haven't seen today's game, was he particularly bad? ( in fact, that's not my problem with Sinfield, he's not prone to awful games, but just lacks any fear factor. Is any Aus/NZ coach going to be fretting about how to deal with Sinfied? No. )

South Africa was always doomed. Running drills in good hot weather is not going to be good preperation for live games in chilly wet weather, for a start. Just seems like it's been used as the opportunity for a nice end of season jolly whilst also throwing in a bit of world cup ''prep''.

Next week is make or break. If england stink the joint out, it will put a halt on the good momentum built in recent weeks.

Were you at the game?

I though league freak AKA William eve lived in Australia?

No idea

Completely agree - the Aussies have come up against him and dealt with him before. He has zero x-factor and a history of going AWOL at international level before...

For me the Italy game sums up one of the biggest problems with England over the past few years - their mentality. For a team to have the wrong attitude a week before a world cup final is completely unacceptable. Who's preparing these players phsychologically? If Australia score first next week, will they have the mental strength not to just give up?

How can anyone be surprised that a team containing one former Golden Boot winner, and several accomplished top flight NRL players should defeat England?

With the likes of Anthony Minichiello, Aiden Guerra (both Sydney Roosters 2013 NRL Grand Final winners), James Tedesco (West Tigers), and Josh Mantellato (Newcastle), in the backs and Mark Minichiello (Gold Coast), Cameron Ciraldo (Penrith), Anthony Laffranchi (St Helens), and Joel Reithmuller (North Queensland) in the forwards, a win by Italy was always in the offing.

Imagine what the score would have been had the late withdrawing injured star halves Terry Campese and Craig Gower had been playing?

Have both below average this season.

Josh Mantellato has played 1 or 2 games for the knights but he is probably close to being 1 of the best kickers in rugby. more than likely end up in superleague after this tournament.

The only player who you would pick for the England sqaud would be Aiden Guerra so underrated it unbelievable

Not so.

Guerra is outstanding and underrated.

However James Tedesco, who is full back for Wests Tigers, would walk into the England side as stand off.

Josh Mantellato has been playing behind two of the five top wingers in the NRL -- James MacManus and Akuila Uate --- with superb fullback/winger Kevin Naiqama also ahead of him.

I would also rate Mark Minichiello ahead of the thuggish workhorse Ben Westwood.


This Italian team has class across the park.

I agree with you on Guerra.

We already have better stand off's who wont get in the squad for 1 reason or another. He is an exciting run and full of heart tho.

I like Mantellato but he is not better than Charnley or Hall.

Ben westwood has been off form for awhile now but i still would say we have better players than Mark Minichiello he is solid more than anything.