It rains an awful lot in NZ, Rob. The players will be familiar with playing in those conditions.

Nothing to do with conditions, our pack simply got on top of theirs. End of discussion. Didn't think either backline was too flash, it was whoever got on top in the middle, would go on to win. I think the last World Cup, when NZ did a job on us, it was in wet conditions then, we just weren't good enough that night, we were last night. We were in danger of getting reffed out of it in the first half but did well during that period.

I don't think we should 'downplay' this win, far from it. It was the World Champions out there, who drew with Australia a fortnight back, enjoy the win, in fact talk it up, why not, we're all quick to criticise defeat, we should celebrate success in equal measure, not look for ways to 'dumb it down'.

Thought we would get beat yesterday, but Smith has finally got the squad working together & got his team selection right and more importantly the tactics right.

I would love to see us beating the Aussies but I don't see it, having said that anything is possible just look @ the CC final!

SO he wins the challenge cup with one of the easiest sets of matches in the history of the challenge cup. Then his england team struggle for large amounts against the heavyweights of France. Australia could have put 80 past us but decided to ease off and then we beat one of the worst NZ sides for decades.

Where did his club team finish in SL? This is more indicative of his coaching "skills"

Fuck off, you clueless gimp.

And remind us all who did Saints play in there last three Challenge Cup finals?

Please don't entertain him.

Nice to see the forum flooded with Wigan and Saints fans admitting they were wrong about Che...s.

This the same NZ who should of beat the Aussie a few weeks ago but drew?

Also the World Cup winners beating the Aussies?

Gimp

Nobody is down playing our win last night, it was a very good England win that showed grit and determination.

To your first point, the bulk of that kiwi squad are based in Australia and play for Australian clubs.

Your other point where you said it was raining when we played the kiwis in the world cup last year, it wasn`t raining, they blew us away in dry conditions. They showed some of the highlights of that game in the build up on sky.

As for your point about us beating the world cup winners, at leasst 8 of the Kiwis world cup winning team didn`t even travel over to play.

Southern hemispehere teams like to move the ball along the line at every available oppertunity, those conditions last night didn`t allow for that which is why it became a game down the middle for the majority of the night and its why we didn`t see much back play with ball in hand from both sides, both the kiwi and england half backs were spectators for a lot of the game.

Rain and a greasy pitch will always be a leveller to a certain extent when your coming up against sides that like to move the ball along the line at pace, compare the speed at which the aussies and kiwis move the ball in dry conditions to how we moved it against France and Wales, the difference is like night and day.

Even you can`t be that blinkered to say that wet conditions wouldn`t be an advantage to us against either the kiwis or australia.

Also remind us all of who Saints got knocked out by in this year's Cup competition??...

Quote: JWP "It rains an awful lot in NZ, Rob. The players will be familiar with playing in those conditions. Nothing to do with conditions, our pack simply got on top of theirs. End of discussion. Didn't think either backline was too flash, it was whoever got on top in the middle, would go on to win. I think the last World Cup, when NZ did a job on us, it was in wet conditions then, we just weren't good enough that night, we were last night. We were in danger of getting reffed out of it in the first half but did well during that period. I don't think we should 'downplay' this win, far from it. It was the World Champions out there, who drew with Australia a fortnight back, enjoy the win, in fact talk it up, why not, we're all quick to criticise defeat, we should celebrate success in equal measure, not look for ways to 'dumb it down'.'" www.emigratenz.org/NewZealandCli ... l#auckland this would seemingly back up your statement

Quote: JWP "It rains an awful lot in NZ, Rob. The players will be familiar with playing in those conditions. Nothing to do with conditions, our pack simply got on top of theirs. End of discussion. Didn't think either backline was too flash, it was whoever got on top in the middle, would go on to win. I think the last World Cup, when NZ did a job on us, it was in wet conditions then, we just weren't good enough that night, we were last night. We were in danger of getting reffed out of it in the first half but did well during that period. I don't think we should 'downplay' this win, far from it. It was the World Champions out there, who drew with Australia a fortnight back, enjoy the win, in fact talk it up, why not, we're all quick to criticise defeat, we should celebrate success in equal measure, not look for ways to 'dumb it down'.'" www.emigratenz.org/NewZealandCli ... l#auckland this would seemingly back up your statement

Great Coach, not afraid to try something different, glad weve got him at Warrington, best coach by a country mile.

We Beat 3 of the top 5 . Hkr .. Wigan ..... Hudds...... when we played those three iirc they were all on top form too..... oh yeah and at some point during the season all those 3 Handed out a good beating to Saint too ..... Bye now