Quote: jonh "Really disagree with this to be honest.
I don’t know if you were at the game of if you watched it on tv.
I was at the game and was underwhelmed by the contact from kick off. I was expecting huge hits from the off but they didn’t deliver instead going for a more measured approach.
Intensity did increase at about the 30 minute mark when you could hear the contacts from time to time and there was obviously a big hit or 2 not least from Katoa on the wing.
One thing that was very noticeable was line speed or lack of it.
Having been to a few England games our line speed has been unbelievable and been the foundation for our attacking defence.
Both Tonga and Samoa in comparison to England looked very laboured jogging off the line, where England have been running/sprinting.'"
Totally agree, some people are easily pleased.
It was a good game but nothing more than you see in the better SL tussles.
People are confusing being big with being physical, they are not the same thing.
It may well be different when we play them in the semi but so far Samoa have not matched England in physicality, line speed and handling and they have been nowhere near on game management.
The only team I’ve seen who look possibly better than us are Australia, but you have to factor in that so far they haven’t played anyone. Potentially NZ but rather like Samoa they are yet to truly impress.
Of course all that may change at the weekend, but for now we can only go on what we’ve seen.
It’s very typical for Brits to put themselves down, but anyone being honest has to say that so far England have technically been excellent and by far the most entertaining imo.
The only team I fear are Australia, but that’s a given, you’d be an idiot not to.