Changed my mind on Taupau lol. Wouldn’t take any of those Samoa players on that performance

England in any sport are at there best when written off. Wane now has to keep them feeling that way, the moment we believe we are gods gift we are stuffed.

Great result all the same, didn’t see that scoreline in a million years.

Yes really suprised me that one, well played 1 to 17.
However only one Yorkshire club player in the 17 and he is a Lancastrian.

Shocked me totally… that’s not what I’ve seen from this quality group of Samoan players this year… the passion of the Siva Tau wasn’t translated into structure or energy on the pitch… it was like they’d been told to run one out and overpower the English… and when that didn’t work … and their back were to the wall they collapsed!

That said the English team very well(we lost the feed in Australia for almost half an hour in the second half and the game was won by the time it came back)

The edges were excellent and the middle stood up and pushed the Samoans back


So much that I actually wonder if they can recover from that..:

have to feel for the injury to May… that looked nasty and the tackle looked much like the ‘hip drop’ putting dangerous body weight on already stretched joints…

So?

Does it matter where they come from if they qualify and have pride in the shirt?

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... p-25240497 interesting read

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... p-25240497 interesting read

No that is not what I was getting at. It just seems like t'other side of the hill have the monopoly on international players at the moment

Apologies, seen a few having a moan about the Lancashire dominance which I find frustrating especially after such a positive start by the England squad.

Could it be they're the best players?

The statue outside Wembley tells you all you need to know about where the power in the game is.

Well if we are looking to pick up a couple from the World Cup it’s been pretty slim pickings so far.

I’d say Nakubawaii showed up well for Fiji yesterday and would be a good pick up for us.

Didn’t really see much from Wakeham to be fair to excite.

Watching AJ Wallace for Jamaica today. Maybe some potential there but not sure he’d be better than Windrow. As the games going on though he looks to be putting in some good tackles and decent runs. Could be worth a look at.

Not sure so far there’s many hidden gems but there’s plenty of games to go yet I guess.

That number 8 for Lebanon looks good.

Kayne Kalanche - Newtown jets prop or second row. Looks a big unit and quite mobile. Mixing it with the NZ team quite well.

A few very handy looking forwards in this Lebanon team.

I think you’ve inadvertently highlighted the problem these days with imports.

He probably is very handy and would do well. However the Newtown Jets are no bush team. He will be on a fair wedge there. I know it’s not full time money but it won’t be bad. Add that to a lower cost of living and a weak pound and the U.K. becomes less tempting.

He won’t come here for peanuts or to fulfil his ambition, he will want big money, far more than he’d ever get in Oz.

It’s not that we couldn’t afford him or tempt him but you have to ask a very honest question.

Is this lower grade Australian worth the same money or more that we payed Arona or even more pertinent what we likely pay Ashurst. Are we going to pay big money for a gem or are we paying big money for mediocrity?

That’s my dilemma and has been in recent years, is this lad really better than what we could find and nurture in the U.K.

I know it was just one game but there was nothing from that Wakeman that suggested to me he was any better than Morgan Smith.

Just how I see it, but I think these days good overseas players are thin pickings if I’m honest. I think we were hugely lucky with Whitebread who’s ambition thankfully matched his obvious physical prowess.

Tricky these days.