England launch Elite squad : Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:03 pm  

Thoughts? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 990239.stm

Thoughts? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 990239.stm

: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:10 pm  

Any ideas that improves that cr@p I watched in Australia last year should be applauded.

If it will work or not is another thing.

: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:12 pm  

as long as we have 2 dominant teams and not an even spread we will struggle

: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:23 pm  

Saint Simon wrote:

as long as we have 2 dominant teams and not an even spread we will struggle

Nothing to do with it.

It's the quality of the players that is the problem
Competitive does not equate quality.

: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:46 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Nothing to do with it.

It's the quality of the players that is the problem
Competitive does not equate quality.

It help's if we have 3 or 4 fighting for the same spot's surely????

: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:50 pm  

rhinoms wrote:

It help's if we have 3 or 4 fighting for the same spot's surely????

Not if they are all poor.

: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:51 pm  

rhinoms wrote:

It help's if we have 3 or 4 fighting for the same spot's surely????

It depends on the quality of those 3-4 teams. If we had a league whereby anyone could win it, but the teams were of Wakefield/Hull Kr/Castleford quality, instead of Leeds/Saints quality, would that be a good thing for the international game?

: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:53 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Nothing to do with it.

It's the quality of the players that is the problem
Competitive does not equate quality.

I agree, we was half decent when the GB team was dominated by Wigan players.

When you've got players of the caliber of Ben Westwood and Kevin Sinfield challenging for positions you know you've got problems.

: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:54 pm  

I think the training squad should help, because the players will have more time together to gel.

: Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:56 pm  

Eurob0y wrote:

It depends on the quality of those 3-4 teams. If we had a league whereby anyone could win it, but the teams were of Wakefield/Hull Kr/Castleford quality, instead of Leeds/Saints quality, would that be a good thing for the international game?

You're almost there.

We saw "the quality" of the Leeds and Saints players in Australia. What's below it is even worse.

It's how we raise the standard all the way through the game, from academy, reserve, NL and Superleague that is the problem.

I just hope this new initiative works.