Super League needs to be re-named !

Eddie & Stevo with their OTT commentary do not fool us Championship 'scum' Rugby League fans !!!!

All seemed ok up to kick off.

But the crowd was very quiet for first 20 minutes which seemed to worsen an attitude that didn't seem right.
Only two played to anything like potential - Tomkins and Sinfield. For those who are criticising Sinfield, note he was off the field for most of the middle 40+ minutes.

The 20 minute torrential downpour before half time didn't seem to please the English players!

Think another factor was that they didn't want to use key plays in front of the watching Australia team

Noting what RL Bandit said, it did seem to me that a good number of players looked somewhat overweight & sluggish. A few days of hard fitness and speed training are needed this week.

The intensity of the occasion next week will bring the best out of England and, if they can also come out with the right attitude, all is certainly not lost at this stage.

Sorry, i don't buy that. The season's only just finished and the players are about to play in some of the biggest games of their careers. They should definitely not be overweight or sluggish. If their attitude wasn't right then that is unforgivable. I hope the match was a big reality check for some of them...

So the RFL thinks their fans always buy tickets late and so things will be alright on the night? What will this result do to ticket sales?

I agree that warm weather training is no preparation for lashing rain and freezing temperatures. Am I right in recalling they did sometging similar before the last disastrous WC here? If they did - didn't they learn from their mistakes?

I think the result may help - England now realise that just how bad they are and will now hopefully play for pride and get some results. Certainly they need to forget anything their coach has told them. Do that and they may do OK.

I think the WC's ticket sales will now depend on Australia letting us win the first one.

Well. That was unexpected. Scotland need to watch out.

Half back combos

Chase/Sinfield got 30mins. Didn't click, not on same wavelength.
Chase/Widdop got next 30mins, bit better, but well short of what they can individually do
Burrow/Widdop got 10mins, forgettable
Burrow/Sinfield finished. They at least can play together, but have nothing to disturb NZ, or the various levels of Aussie teams in the comp

The props were ok, but didn't stand out

Sam burgess had an attack of "need to do everything myself"

All the 2nd rowers had problems holding onto the ball, or put in a poor pass to their centres which allowed the defence to get across.

Plenty to work on. Especially the 2nd rowers

You don't get jetlag from SA to UK

sounds like a train wreck

Tomkins would get his hands on the ball if he played stand off. He'll never make a FB because he can't catch when the pressure's on. Hardaker should be FB and Tomkins SO - especially as we have no other remotely credible SO.

No Myler, No Brough. Picking a player with virtually no experience ahead of Crabtree.

Macbanna has always been a joke coach and know he has the opportunity to showcase himself on the world stage.

Very embarrassing for all concerned. Worst ever defeat for England RL?

Still, that 'Italian' side was a pretty strong line up dominated by NRL and international veterans. They were never going to be any mugs and if I'd known about the 50-odd point start the bookies gave them I'd have had that bet.

While it's a shock, I'm not reading too much into a mix & match, swap & change team in the pouring rain in front of a small and subdued crowd with the Aussies watching on. Sounds like the only ones up for it were the Italians and when one side is fired up while the other is having a stroll things will never be easy.

That said, Australia will be even more confident than usual. We're in for a tough ride next week. 2.302734375:10