................rlItalyrl

Should provide a stern test before we face Australia and New Zealand

For gods sake. Didn't they used to play exhibition games against SL clubs before a test series? Surely that would make more sense, and dare I say it, a few fans might actually turn up

Italy look to have a strong line up for the World Cup so it could actually be a pretty good test.

Also from our point of view, dependant on how things develop we may have our new fullback playing for Italy so there's an added interest for Wigan fans, potentially.

"The match against Italy represents the final piece in the jigsaw for England," said England coach Steve McNamara.
"It will allow us to put the finishing touches to our extensive preparations for the World Cup."


Although, it might get marginally more people watching than the second billing at Cardiff

Ticket prices will be interesting to see, probably more cost effective to play it behind closed doors

For heaven's sake give the guy a break. It's not like he has much choice out there. The only Super League team he could play would be those who didn't qualify for the playoffs, then subtract those with Aussie coaches (why should they bother about helping England?) and Wakefield (coach is with France) and you're left with...Salford or maybe Widnes (on a banned pitch!!)

He probably didn't fancy lining up against the likes of Tonga and Samoa and can you really blame him. Someone is bound to get injured dodging the old 'Samoan side-step'.

Let's at least wait until the World Cup starts before we lay into the coach!!!

Why? This game is 2 weeks after the grand final.

I presumed that the game is being planned now. Let's say he wanted to play Wigan. He might be politely told, we've got bigger fish to fry mate. If it is a game for paying customers then it will take longer to plan. Notice to the Police for a start etc etc. It won't rule out playing a team in an opposed training session of course.

more than happy to, more critical of this being on at all.

Just send them up Rivington half a dozen times if it's a fitness thing.
If it's who's playing where, exactly what will he learn that he should already know by then?
If it's team-bonding, I refer m'lud to my previous point.

Also, if they've got warm weather training in South Africa, have they scheduled any friendlies down there or is it just a bit of a jolly?

Haha, good points.

New Zealand played Hull FC and Saints before GB in 2002, both teams made the play offs and Saints won the final that year. Could be an alright money-spinner too. I'd definitely go and watch Wigan v England but I don't think I'll be paying to see Italy v England unless it's a fiver a ticket.

England should win quite comfortably but it'll be an interesting fixture with some of the names likely to feature for Italy. I'm all for supporting international RL so I expect I'll attend with it only being 25 minutes up the road.

Be sure to penne this in your diaries

The people who moan won't attend and will moan that not many attended overall. They also won't attend World Cup fixtures yet will moan as soon as any crowds are poor.

They need to get off their ar*es and play their part if not for this fixture then in the World Cup. It's no good people moaning about issues they play a part in causing.

I really don't get people criticising a warm up fixture against a decent Italy side.

If it really is a "decent" Italian side then good, but exactly what would constitute such? How "decent" can they really be?

And for the record, I'm off to Cardiff, the quarter at ours and the final - i bought my tickets ages ago (and got my free beenie hat). So it's not any apathy towards the WC, just questioning how much of a run-out this fixture could actually be.