It was the first time during the WC that I'd managed to get to an England game as opposed to watching on TV (I've seen the Kiwi's three times including the Keepmoat match). I thought that in the main we were pedestrian at best and made too many errors. On that form we won't get within 20 points of NZ although clearly we are a little better than we showed at Wigan.

We are a percentages team, and nothing else. All our chances only come at the end of periods of sustained pressure when we have completed consecutive sets.

Playing the percentages is all well and good, and even admirable, but only really works when you're playing teams worse than yourself. Against the better sides periods of pressure are shorter and fewer, and when they arise a bit more craft is needed. Look at the French for a good example, for the second half they played the percentage s better and were camped in our half but couldn't get through (one big positive was the England defence in that case).

We need to create our own breaks from this point on, or we are out. Chase has been pedestrian for me and needs to step up, I can only 3 half chances he created in the France game, a stand off should be doing 5 or 6 a half. He is not totally at fault there though, we are essentially playing with only one half back (Sinfield is not a 7) so it's easy to see where the ball is going to go. I'd be tempted to play Widdup in the next game, just because it won't be as obvious.

The shame is, we probably have the most exciting three quarters since Offiah, Connely, Newlove, Robinson playing in front of a fantastic attacking fullback; and easily one of the best packs we've had for a long time, I'd argue the best at the tournament. But this has coincided with the most defensive minded coach we could have got our hands on who doesn't know how to link the two up, and a situation where we have 1 recognised ball player on the pitch.

we need Widdop and Burrow at the halves

Chase doesn't do enough for me
and i agree with jemmos last staement

Noticed in the RL Express that Dave Scott is wrongly labelled a Fev player still.

Didn't someone post somewhere that as his contract with them has not yet expired it is technically true? (or at least was when the squads were announced)

Its to do with the changeover date of his contract, which was the 1st November.

About time mcnamara saw sense
he has dropped Chase for N Zealand game hope he has put Burrow in
also put Ablett back in squad will need him for his defence if he is picked to play that is.

Just read he has been replaced by Widdop

Discipline on the field may be a problem for Chase , no doubt the Kiwis would have got to him !

Hope to see some Dons fans on Saturday !

Absolutely fantastic England
i am gutted!
we were the better side overall i thought
as usual we get kicked in the teeth at the last minute.

Incredibly unlucky. Silly penalty to give away near the end though which assisted the Kiwi's.

England don't know HOW to win.
For Christ sake the game was as good as won.

I knew that Sinfield missing that EASY conversion would come back to haunt us ... either that we would not score again and lose by two or go four ahead and always be at risk.

I suppose it saved us from humiliation again at the hands of the Aussies.

Brilliant effort and body with no brains to direct it.
Get a better coach now.

Have been today , very upset , said at the time hope that missed kick doesnt come back to haunt us. Shame we gave away the penalty that lead to the try !

The ref was crap.

Perhaps Watkin could have turned inside to put ball down nearer posts and made kick easier but an excellent performance and a very exciting game. Well done England

We lost ......
We lost two consecutive games at Wembley in football for the first time since the seventies.
We lost to NZ in RU.
We are currently being dismantled by the Aussies in cricket.
We are good at losing lately.
I see nothing to get excited about.

And if I hear that we have learned a lot in defeat again from any of our losing coach/managers I will want to know just exactly what?!