I love Billy

At one point in the 2nd half, that whole side was open right from the middle of the field out to the wing. That would be unnaceptable in my Lads team, and he plays at U8's!

If I'm being honest I can't stand the little $hit but he's a very good player and IMO is best yougster from this country since I 1st saw a young KC.

What I liked about him today and nearly everytime I've seen him is he plays with no fear and gets stuck in and very good in defence for a thin guy.

He was my England man of match today and it's pitty few other players couldn't play with the same attitude as Sam today.

I think few years down the line tomkins and eastmond would give the convicts something to think about at 6 and 7.

Well done Sam, Ellis, Crabtree, Burgess did ok as well, but Maquire !

Sam was excellent today, I thought, especially in the second half when he really started taking on the line. I also thought Burgess, Graham, Crabtree, Sinfield, Eastmond and Westwood had good games.

I disagree with Conroy's cynical view about the second half. I don't think Australia took their foot off the gass or anything like that. Given their tonking of us in the world cup, if they'd have had opportunities to muller us they would have done, and gleefully. As it is they got all petulant and dropped some ball too. I think it was rather fortunate for them that we were so totally rubbish in the first half. Had we played in the first half like we did in the second, I think we might have won that game. It certainly would have gone to the wire anyway.

I liked what I saw in the second half, bar a couple of players who can't seem to get their act together (McGuire and my own dear Roby, who really does need to practise his passing, bless him). If we can take that level of energy, skill, inventiveness and determination - or even a greater level of all those - to the match next week then I think we could beat the Kiwis. So long as our forwards can handle their big guys!

I'm not saying we WILL beat the Kiwis, but I have more hope after today's match than I did after seeing England play the Kumuls last year!

Tomkins was fantastic in the second half.

I have to admit, I hate the little runt when he plays against Saints, but when he pulls on the england shirt, I love him to bits. One of only a small few, who you can tell has the win at all costs ethos. I just know he would go toe to toe with Gallen if the situation called for it such is his pride.

Youve got a goodun wigan, lets hope he becomes the player we all know he can become. Eastmond and Tomkins as our half backs for years to come. Love it.

I have to agree about Slater....Great player though he is, what an absolute ar$e he can be with his attitude.

Imagine the stick he'd take in Super League from the crowds, with that type of demeanour.

Actually thought he was lucky to stay on at the end with his throwing the ball away antics....I think if Thurston hadn't already gone, then Ganson may just have shown him 10 minutes in the bin....

...Definitely agree.....However, over here at Wire, we have got Richie Mathers, so to be honest we have the next best thing....

Liked the way Sam T, did take a backward step in defence even throwing Hodges around like a rag doll. Took a big dump tackle from Gallen as well. But in attack he really did look good, surprised Smith didn't get Eastmond on earlier. Eastmond and Tomkins really gave us some impetus in attack. Though Burgess started slow one big hit and he came to life Crabtree and Graham did ok, Peacock and Morley where quiet. Roby is gash.

For me Roby seems to have 'lost it' since he got MOS, maybe he felt guilty recieving it and lost his confidence due to feeling like a fake.

I never got the Roby hype, just thought he was a average player who came off the bench to give Cunningham a breather.

He was more than that. He would create zip at a time when defences were tiring which under the old system worked very well, as Wigan found out to their cost. However, he hasn't adapted to the new way of playing and has been poor all season. I am surprised Smith picked him to be honest but then he did do better in the second half when Sinfield took his place. So maybe he simply needs to play elsewhere.

Also, he tackles like a demon, which is useful against the Aussies.

I honestly don't believe he is good enough to play anywhere else, it shows how poor our no9 situation is, when the best hooker in SL in going to call it a day next year.
If was Smith I would of got Diskin & Cunningham for this 4 nations, ballcocks to youth & the world cup we should be building of a good basis and getting shown up in the 4 nations imo is not a good basis to be building from.

The problem with Roby is that he was built up every other week by Abbot & Costello on SKY as 'The saviour of Rugby League / Best youngster in World RL...etc'. Similar story to Wellens & Maguire, pumped up as true greats when realistically they would be lucky to serve in any NRL teams at all.

Not the players faults just the hype around them is and has been ridiculous for years, so much so when they play truly class sides like the Aussies and Kiwis they are shown to be what they truly are: distinctly average.