Seconded.

Why anyone is even humouring this Richard is beyond me.

Just ignore his waffle and he'll have no-one to engage, simples!

As for the game I think it's clear to see the weaknesses within the starting XIII. Fullback, SH & Centre. Stick a Radlinski, Newlove & Gregory in that team and we win that match IMO. Some poor individual errors cost us a couple of tries yesterday and a couple of more than generous refereeing decisions.

On a plus note I have to give massive credit to our wingers. Hall has been bang average in SL for the past couple of seasons but he just elevates his game to another level for England and JM was outstanding. I'd give Williams, Percival & Walmsley (pending illness) a run out in the next match. As for Gale, I don't want to knock the guy but he's the perfect example of a player who excels within a certain structure, playing alongside certain players. That Cas team have been superbly coached and the combinations just work. He was undoubtedly the best 7 in SL and as such deserved a crack at claiming the England starting shirt. I'm not convinced he'll be anywhere near as effective at International level tho and if he fails to shine in the next match I'd be tempted to go Widdop/Williams.

All in all, whilst losing to the Aussies is never nice, there are plenty of positives to be taken. If we can get through to the final we have to be faultless. Complete sets, build pressure and they're not infallible. Kick the ball down the throat of Slater every 6th tackle tho and we'll be starting defensive sets on halfway and will be asking for trouble.

Errors aside I thought Lomax was pretty good, and his footwork could cause problems later on. Gale wasn't very good - we'd be better off with Hodgson at 7, as he at least challenges the defence.

Main lessons for me were England's inability to control field position. Even in the second half where we did better, there were a number of sets where Australia rumbled 50 yards upfield on the back of quick PTBs and one-out rugby.

Defensively that area around Gale was a clear problem, and if Gale/Bateman play again expect them to be targeted. Both of Australia's first half tries could and should have been stopped. for the first as well as Gale the inside defence was lazy - at this level nobody should be able to score simply by stepping inside. The second was a misread, but Bateman was glued to the line - in that position he couldn't have stopped anyone. The potential plus for me is that defence in those areas can improve - its not like Gale is a poor defender due to his size like Milford.

Hopefully Hall/McGillvary showed why they are easily the best wingers we have at this level.

AFL (34k) is the most attended football sport in 'stralia followed by NRL(15k) and then Union (?)...in Summer it's Cricket (30k) and Soccer (12k).....the only reason you'd think that League isn't big is if you were in Western Australia, where there is now no rugby of either code.
The TV audiences and financial contracts point to the NRL being pretty important.

Well seeing you're so fond of the truth let's start with soap dodgers shall we. I've lived in Aus and you guys fecking stink! Blame the hot weather and constant water shortages all you like but there's only 1 set if soap dodgers and they're all on that side if the globe.

Weter shortages?? lol
I've lived in England, constantly castigated for being late to work due to the fact i had to wait to have a shower, people i worked with really just didn't understand the need for a shower every day

I did also see an article not long ago where it stated that the British were the "dirtiest" people in the western world & bathed the least, it didn't surprise me..."SOAP DODGERS" lol

One shower a day? Jesus mate, I'm not surprised you guys stink!

Quote Phuzzy="Phuzzy"One shower a day? Jesus mate, I'm not surprised you guys stink!'" www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 65854.html you really are a third world lot

Quote Phuzzy="Phuzzy"One shower a day? Jesus mate, I'm not surprised you guys stink!'" www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 65854.html you really are a third world lot

says a racist "chain rattler"?
[urlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/6099785/UN-criticises-Australias-treatment-of-Aborigines-as-racist.html[/url

Gee, you're scraping the barrel now Cletus, the UN says eh??

coming from Britain?? lol racism?? I'd suggest you sort out you're own problems

you're the only country in the world that constantly uses "Glass" as a verb...violent, alcohol soaked, racist intolerant knobs

And you can't play Rugby League

Not British......and Australia is the most racist country I have ever visited....with an underclass of Boguns and wife beaters

We're far less racist than you knuckle draggers, you like to think of yourselves as a sophisticated country, but haven lived there for nearly 3 years i'm more than aware how the pure drudgery & depressed state of life turns people into violent alcoholics who like to blame foreigners for all the ills in their sad little lives

[urlhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-09/australia-is-becoming-a-more-racist-country-survey/8254592[/url
[urlhttps://www.amnesty.org.au/is-australia-rasict/[/url
[urlhttp://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/australia-is-most-comfortably-racist-says-daily-show-presenter-20130416-2hxg5.html[/url
So your press, amnesty international and satirists think your racist, but you reckon Britain, one of the most multicultural countries in the world is more so?
Maybe it's just because you spent 3 years pulling pints in London rather than getting around and seeing it's cultural heritage that you think all Poms are alcoholic depressives, but the reality is that it's all that I'd expect from a bloke who's home nation has less culture than a pot of Yoplait.
[urlhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-15/hanson-speech-makes-racism-mainstream/7846430[/url
Politicians making racism mainstream in Queensland
[urlhttp://www.smh.com.au/national/new-aussie-antiislamic-party-guns-for-20-per-cent-of-the-vote-20150731-giol8k.html[/url

The Brits may not be perfect, but by christ they're a vastly better educated and read nation than you lot....