England Seal Series Win With Anfield Victory : Sun Nov 04, 2018 4:41 pm  

England Seal Series Win With Anfield Victory England had the chance to seal a series win over New Zealand, for the second time in four years, as the two sides met for a Sunday afternoon encounter at Anfield in Liverpool. With skipper Sean O'Loughlin out injured it was down to veteran star James Graham to marshall his troops against what was sure to be a New Zealand onslaught as they looked to level the series ahead of next weekends game at Elland Road in Leeds. The Kiwi's were slight favourites with the bookies but there was very little to choose between the two sides whose only changes from last week were both at loose forward. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

England Seal Series Win With Anfield Victory England had the chance to seal a series win over New Zealand, for the second time in four years, as the two sides met for a Sunday afternoon encounter at Anfield in Liverpool. With skipper Sean O'Loughlin out injured it was down to veteran star James Graham to marshall his troops against what was sure to be a New Zealand onslaught as they looked to level the series ahead of next weekends game at Elland Road in Leeds. The Kiwi's were slight favourites with the bookies but there was very little to choose between the two sides whose only changes from last week were both at loose forward. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Re: England Seal Series Win With Anfield Victory : Sun Nov 04, 2018 5:08 pm  

Great test match and a very very good win for England both in the match and the series. We were very much the underdog. That New Zealand side was a very good one.

The most pleasing aspect for me is Makinson and Connors performances. Thought the pack were great and we had a few big names missing like Sam Burgess and Ryan Hall. Very positive stuff

Re: England Seal Series Win With Anfield Victory : Sun Nov 04, 2018 6:59 pm  

Trebor1 wrote:

Great test match and a very very good win for England both in the match and the series. We were very much the underdog. That New Zealand side was a very good one.

The most pleasing aspect for me is Makinson and Connors performances. Thought the pack were great and we had a few big names missing like Sam Burgess and Ryan Hall. Very positive stuff

Absolutely. Don’t think Ryan would have added much from the wing, we could have used Sam at loose though. Great matches so far, let’s hope Elland Road is another.

Re: England Seal Series Win With Anfield Victory : Mon Nov 05, 2018 4:42 am  

It was great to see us hold our nerve towards the end and keep the defence solid - in years gone by we'd have given away a couple of sloppy penalties or dropped off a few tackles and found a way to lose it. There's a solid core of a young-ish team with a few more experienced players in key spots - if you also consider the Aussies have lost a clutch of key players it could be a good 4 or 5 years for us internationally.

Re: England Seal Series Win With Anfield Victory : Mon Nov 05, 2018 8:54 am  

Always rated Makinson and delighted he took his chance due to Hall`s absence.
Amazed at one or two posters who felt Makinson was average at best.
With the likes of Johnstone and Manfredi waiting in the wings pardon the pun Hall will have to do some to get back in and McGilvary might be looking over his shoulder too.
Great performance all round yesterday.
Do you think he will give some of the fringe players a run next Sunday?

Re: England Seal Series Win With Anfield Victory : Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:19 am  

I thought it was a very good performance and at the end showed a good professional attitude.

For me, the backrowers were superb, arguably smaller than the Kiwis, but great strength and stamina and much as it pains me to say this, our number 7 had a good game and worried the kiwis with the ball....

Re: England Seal Series Win With Anfield Victory : Mon Nov 05, 2018 10:48 am  

chapylad wrote:

Do you think he will give some of the fringe players a run next Sunday?

Hope not for two reasons; one it would be nice to make a statement and whitewash a quality NZ team. Two i'm going and want to see a test match played at the level of the first two.

Re: England Seal Series Win With Anfield Victory : Mon Nov 05, 2018 12:23 pm  

While it was never going to be anybody else as MOM after a hat trick, I thought Elliot Whitehead has been the best player on the park in both games. His stamina is exceptional for a player who walks on looking knackered. That last minute strip typified his approach.

Re: England Seal Series Win With Anfield Victory : Mon Nov 05, 2018 1:09 pm  

chapylad wrote: Do you think he will give some of the fringe players a run next Sunday? Not according to this Bennett says England caps "are too valuable" and he will not hand them to players in next week's final Test at Elland Road "to be nice to someone". https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/46092184

chapylad wrote: Do you think he will give some of the fringe players a run next Sunday? Not according to this Bennett says England caps "are too valuable" and he will not hand them to players in next week's final Test at Elland Road "to be nice to someone". https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/46092184

Re: England Seal Series Win With Anfield Victory : Mon Nov 05, 2018 1:37 pm  

That`s good to hear and I hope that gives the team added bite to go on and win the series 3-0.
At least one change with Clark missing through injury.
Maybe Greenwood for one of the Burgess brothers.
No idea which one though.