Quote: just_browny "Was it the best game of rugby league any of us have ever seen? No.
Was it the best contest that it was possible to create for England mid-season? Absolutely. England looked up for the game and the Exiles, while not fluent, certainly didn't take it lying down. The conditions prevented it from being a free-flowing classic, but it surely gives the England set-up a better insight into where we need to improve than battering somebody would have.
Of course, I'd still like to see us playing France and Wales but I have no problem with this fixture/concept.
I think it's funny that people are saying the Exiles are finished because of a declining quality of import, when the best England have done so far is beat them by 8 points. We'll cross that particular bridge when/if we give them a good hiding. Otherwise, let's see how it pans out rather than scrapping it based on speculation.
In terms of what the concept is for, surely it is for giving England a chance to get a run out as a team, and trying to build combinations. One of the reasons for Australia's ability to function so smoothly as a side is the continuity they have in their team
I agree with you, up to a point.
My preference would to be have a probables v possibles. Not wanting to dilute the Exiles concept, which in its itself is a good idea. Out playing your opposite number, doesn't really give you a push towards a start. If the player opposite you, is quite literally up your , trying to take that shirt off you, it should spur you on to do your best. To avoid performances being a one-off, I would have the Exiles included as a round-robin tournament, to ensure the possibles maintain their level of importance.
