Quote: MTaylor59 "I genuinely thought Cudjoe did his job, they actually number up well but Sean just couldn't get across and got found a bit lacking in pace.
Anyway ratings....
Tomkins 5 - proved pretty ineffective (although much of that is down to the service he recieved) and I was left wondering whether he was actually wearing boots. Despite that, he is clearly the future, a match - winner and one of the few England players with the ability to create and excite.
Goulding 5 - An admirable 'scooter' who played on one leg and didn't let anyone down. Unfortunately he doesn't have the X Factor that an International winger should.
Atkins 2 - Absolutely hopeless. Can't pass, can't tackle and toothless carrying the ball. Looked completely fazed by the big stage and was a massive disappointment.
Cudjoe 5 - Undoubtedly a winger. Leroy has considerable potential. His defence will continue to improve under Brown and I thought he carried fairly well when asked. Athletic enough to compete with the Aussie and Kiwi boys and definitely should be given time. Think the criticism over the first try is harsh, but he definitly should have pounced on the loose ball that resulted in Lewis? going over.
Briscoe 4/5 - Disappointed with his errors, but Briscoe is a very impressive youngster who will be an internatial winger for years to come. He carried very strongly, just wish he had done so more and taken the pressure off some of his forwards a bit more, especially in the second quarter.
O' Loughlin 5 - Completely unfair to put Sean in that position and I thought he went okay considering. Is our first choice 13 because of his work rate in defence, as well as having the ability to throw a pass and carry strongly.
Robinson 7 - Considering he was playing behind a beaten pack, Luke Robinson was excellent. Scoots very well, punches above his weight in defence (makes Atkins look like ridiculous) and scored an excellent opportunistic try.
Burgess 5/6 - Asked to play out of position to where he has played all year, it's very hard to see people slagging him off for not carrying the pack. How old is the lad again? Oh that's right....21! Carried fiercely at Prop, hit pretty hard in defence and just let himself down with sloppy errors. Still the best player in the England team, along with Ellis. Fact.
Roby 7 - Absolutely fearless Rugby League player who punches miles above his weight and was defensively outstanding in this game. Uncharacteristic error that slightly detracts from his performance but despite that was very impressed by him.
Graham 7/8 - Very impressed with him as captain. Worked extremely hard for his team and took his form for Saints into the International arena. Would like to have seen him play more minutes in the First Half.
Ellis 6 - Asked to play a completely different role to his one at the Tigers. Used to seeing Gareth cut angles out wide off a World Class halve, not doing the grunt work. Defended admirably and I can't really understand the criticism of a guy playing in a beaten pack!
Tomkins 5 - Carried strongly but his defence needs to rapidly improve. For such a big guy he consistently loses the collision when tackling and it's very disappointing considering the hype over his aggression. Still, impressed in the wrestle and his workrate is pretty good.
Westwood 5/6 - MOM in my opinion against the Kiwi's but his discipline let him down in this game. Would suit the NRL as a no - nonsense back - rower who carries strong, has an outstanding workrate and stops people dead in their tracks.
Fielden 5/6
Crabtree 5/6
Lunt 5
Harrison 5/6'"
Very fair assessment – I would perhaps have upped Westwood to 7 or so as he was strong both going forward and in defence but discipline is vital at international level so I will accept the 5/6
The travesty that could happen from this tour/match is the English coaching staff panicking and casting aside the likes of Cudjoe, Briscoe and Tomkins to bring back the ‘old guard’. At 22, 20 and 21 years old respectively, these three could be in the England team for years to come and could help England to a decent performance in the 2013 World Cup... add in the likes of Eastmond and Myler and the future is much brighter than some of the doom mongers profess
