18K, but each stand appears to have a 4-5K capacity? so one stand being empty and 14k in sounds about right. I'm sure a Saints fan can confirm.

I don't know how that approach has failed to convince a high court judge... It's like trying to joke with an immigration officer in the USA... Not a good idea
!

There were still about 1,000 in the south stand, albeit mostly stuffed into one side of it. The north and west were close to capacity and the East was about 3/4 full at its busiest.

Each end is about 4k

The sides are similar with about 1k in the corners, if memory serves.

This Aussie team is there for the taking. They're not the youngest squad and I don't recall seeing a Kangaroo team make so many errors - tonight and at Cardiff. In the past the ball always seemed to stick and they always got the bounce - but that little bit of magic appears to be lacking this year.

Rarely have we ever seen teams making yards down the middle against Aus defences or stop their hugely powerful forwards in their tracks - but we've seen that in this competition.

I don't believe they're easing off at all, it just seems they haven't 'clicked' yet. Problem is, when they do they'll be back to their best. As in 2004 when GB went into the final high on confidence and we all know what happened over the first 40 minutes.

If England can eliminate errors and penalties, and play like they did in their best spells at Cardiff, they've got them.

Mmm wont we have to get past NZ first assuming we get to the semi finals

Correct.And on current evidence the Kiwis could well be a tougher task.

Life at Langtree Park has been the same for two years now. I don't think Saints can be bothered improving the stadium catering. It's utter garbage. The corporate stuff is great, and that appears to be where Saints' sole focus is.

I can't imagine Saints building a brand new stadium (only two years old) and not first consulting with lawyers on the H&S requirements of the build.

However, the hoardings weren't the problem per se. It was the steel railings they are attached to that will have caused the problems.

Just watched the game again, and I get the feeling Fiji went into the game thinking they couldn't win and were just concentrating on putting in a good defensive effort with good discipline.
I hope they throw caution to the wind and get stuck in with passion against England.

What did people think of Apisai Koroisau? He's contracted to Souths, but was their reserve grade's (North Sydney) player of the Year.

To think I used to strap him in the U18s. Bless him. Good player. I expect to see him in first grade for the Bunnies next season, injuries permitting.

You a strapper Rooster?
I thought you were Trent Robinson.

The fixtures are part of the stadium and the liability will probably lie with the owners of the ground.
They can chase suppliers if they wish.

I think Lewis should take advice and pursue a claim, its the biggest event in his Sporting life and he may have been robbed of forfilling his dream because of unsafe advertising hoardings to close to the pitch.

I've not been impressed too much by the Kiwis either to be honest. They let in 5 tries against the Samoans. Their defence isn't all there. Yeah they billed the French, but the French couldn't score in a brothel that night!

There doesn't seem to be the same unstoppable nature of the Aussies and Kiwis that there's been at the previous two World Cups. We just need to make sure we're not as useless as we've been at the last two World Cups!

I diont think that was a full strength Australia team they did have a few players missing, salter, cronk and tate among others, and they dispatched fiji what looked like easily think they only had 2-3 actual scoring chances - chief among which was the attempt which would have been a try if the grass was an inch longer, amazing strength from the 2 aussie defender to pull the fijian player up from the goal line to prevent him scoring.

2 or 3 plays or a couple of quick passes and the the aussies are past you, that what you have to watch they may not be the youngest but they know how to win and i got the impression they dont think they hit top gear through that game and when they went up a gear they scored, dont know what some where watching but thurston and C-E's kicking game was great with the weather.

TBH i cant see past austalia againe this year, i hope england win but i cant see how they can be beat, they did start sluggish for the first 10 mins or so but then kicked into gear, fiji could have done with more than the penalty they kicked.

But well played to them they didnt let their heads go down and the partisan support for them may have pushed them along abit, they can hit hard aswell.

I wonder what the reaction on these boards would have been if Watkins or Cudjoe had thrown the ball to the touch judge as often as Jennings did

It was poor conditions today and a player like Jennings has probably never felt cold like that, he did it twice.
Jennings is not know as a ball handler but when he steps on the pedal not many can catch him especially over 0-30 yards.

Just take a look at what you have written

An Australian centre is ‘not a ball handler’, I can’t remember another era when the Australian centres were forgiven for not being able to pass because they could run fast

And I can’t agree that the conditions were a factor – I would forgive a few handling errors (catching) in those conditions but was it really so cold he couldn’t pass the ball?

I wonder what the reaction on these boards would be if sinfield dropped as much ball, and caught on the last as much as thurston.

Sadly Rooster often has problems separating fact from fiction.

Nope. I'm not.

Are you smart? No need to answer.

No need for insults Booster, I guess you don't have a sense of humour then.

There have been many outside backs that are not great at passing in both directions at speed.

Look at the 2008 World Cup it appeared that the majority of the English team could neither pass or catch in a reasonable manner.
Who was the English Half that could not pass to his right so he would turn his back to the defense and always pass to his left?

Having been there, weather was certainly a factor. Rain was coming straight at them.
I can't imagine Jennings ousting Slater with Inglis moving but they were horrible conditions to prove yourself.

I do have a sense of humour. You make me laugh for example.

As for insults. I let your little digs go through to the keeper



Anyway enjoy the World Cup Buggo me old matey chum.