England 10 - 22 NZ

[KOOCH]

Just watched the match after working this morning. No real surprise in that we lost to a good team. Couple of stand out players that caught my eye.Namely Lockers,Graham, though reluctant to admit it.Sam T. Of course I am slightly biased.Shenton was utter shite in defence as was Atkins. Although Shenton did show more go forward than Atkins. Goulding did his usual solid work rate.Other that I was unimpressed.Mind you what can one expect with the coaching set up.It took the clowns an absolute age to realise that Sam was more effective at Fb.I suppose that after what we have wittnessed with Wigan this season this was bound to be an anti climax.

[Panchitta Marra]

First of all it was 24-10 second of all why do people not listen to me in the first place? Ryan Atkins is shitting himself in defence and his arse drops out when he has the ball, everyone needs to put their todgers away over him cause he was the cause of 2 of New Zealands tries.

I've said all along that Gareth Widdop should be in the centres but noooooo everyone wants Atkins this and Atkins that, the guy is terrible and how muuch better did we look when Sam went to full back and Widdop went to the centres with Robinson at 7? Everyone bangs on about Robinson being a hooker etc, no he isn't, he is an organiser, a scrum half he started out as a scrum half and it's only since the game has progressed and hookers are just another half back that people have started calling him a hooker, Roby is fit enough to play 80 minutes like Cameron Smith does, Roby was our best player today by far.

Tomkins needs to play full back is the be all and end all, we're missing a few players but we have to work with what we've got and this is it:

1. Tomkins
2. Goulding
3. Shenton
4. Widdop
5. Briscoe/Hall
6. Brown
7. Robinson
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Fielden
11. Ellis
12. Burgess
13. O'Loughlin (Another who played well today)

14. Crabtree
15. Westwood
16. J. Tomkins
17. Lunt

Would drop Widdop, Atkins and put Brown on the bench. This would be my team against Australia next week:

1. S. Tomkins
2. R. Hall
3. M. Shenton
4. D. Goulding
5. T. Briscoe
6. S. O'Loughlin
7. L. Robinson
8. S. Fielden
9. J. Roby
10.J. Graham (capt)
11.G.Ellis
12.B.Westwood
13.S.Burgess
Subs
14.K.Brown
15.E.Crabtree
16.G.Carvell
17.J.Tomkins

My changes would be:
Tomkins to replace Widdop at Full back, Widdop moves to the Centres replacing Atkins.
Robinson at Scrum half where he is capable of playing.
Lunt on the bench to interchange with Roby.
Carvell on the bench as he has fresh legs having not played a full Superleague season.
Ellis as captain, Graham is not a leader of men and showed this today.
Team as:

1. S.Tomkins
2. Goulding
3. Shenton
4. Widdop
5. Briscoe
6. Brown
7. Robinson
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Fielden
11. Ellis (Captain)
12. Burgess
13. O'Loughlin

14. Carvell
15. Westwood
16. J. Tomkins
17. Lunt

[gpartin]

Thought Widdop did OK, Shenton was appalling in defence. The only time I realised Griffin was on the pitch was when NZ scored their third try by waltzing through our line.
Westwood, who normally I don't rate, was for me our best player today, showed a great deal of desire, and looked fired up. Perhaps Morley had a word with him prior to his departure?

look at Westwood's effort 'tackling' for their third try.

[x Wigan Warrior x]

Thought Widdop did OK, Shenton was appalling in defence. The only time I realised Griffin was on the pitch was when NZ scored their third try by waltzing through our line.
Westwood, who normally I don't rate, was for me our best player today, showed a great deal of desire, and looked fired up. Perhaps Morley had a word with him prior to his departure?

look at Westwood's effort 'tackling' for their third try.

i thought westwood was very poor in defence, ok going forward.

[cpwigan]

Westwood had a decent game IMO. He's solid / no frills / low mistakes

[The Eclipse]

Thought Widdop did OK, Shenton was appalling in defence. The only time I realised Griffin was on the pitch was when NZ scored their third try by waltzing through our line.
Westwood, who normally I don't rate, was for me our best player today, showed a great deal of desire, and looked fired up. Perhaps Morley had a word with him prior to his departure?

look at Westwood's effort 'tackling' for their third try.

Griffin was as much too blame, awful attempt.

[cpwigan]

I hated seeing Griffin trying to keep up with Luke when he broke. It was desparate and his RL know how must be limited coming into the sport late. Too many silly selections. Clubb for example.

[jacko32]

griffin, westwood, atkins, shenton all less than average roby made too many errors j.tompkins wasnt great but didnt really have a fair crack at it and wether or not people like crabtree he should have been in he always makes an impact on a game and his offloads give the opposition something extra to think about.
sam was much better at FB like a young darren lockyer!
mcnamara should stand aside and let brian smith call the shots we could make some real in roads with his NRL experience.
IMO o'loughlin should have been made captain hes a much better leader and organizer than graham.
just watched the ausis and they are looking excellent much better than NZ so we need to seriously raise our game!

[Mr Sergent]

Does anybody know where i can find player stats for this game?

[old hooker]

Shenton,Atkins and Brown were poor,the front row were outmuscled.God knows what Shillington,Learoyd-Lars and company will do to them.Back row played well as did Westwood when he came on.Sam very good when he moved to FB.