His own fault for backing himself in to a corner. Could have dealt with this as soon a sit happened. His post-game interview reminded me of a teenager been stroppy with a teacher who had just told him off. Pathetic.

He was perhaps a bit annoyed that Tanya Arnold brought team discipline up again in the pre match interview, either way I couldn't really give a monkeys wether he's stroppy to a few journalists if the team performs.

Chase and Sinfield didn't cut it as a pairing for me again. I don't see why we're shifting everything around to get Widdop on. I'd start him with Sinfield and either bring McIlorum or Burrow in to the team. As for others in danger, Tom Burgess looks well short of international quality. His ball handling is atrocious. I didn't see a great deal from Ablett to suggest he's a better bet then Farrell.

On the plus side Briscoe was impressive, Cudjoe looked a handful and Ferres and Hill have taken to international rugby like ducks to water.

Team for next week-

Tomkins
Briscoe Watkins Cudjoe Hall
Sinfield Widdop
Hill McIlorum Graham
Ferres S Burgess O'Loughlin

Subs- G Burgess, Westwood, Farrell, Roby.

Him and Westwood both, and if they lose a collision they tend to show a bad reaction pushing opposing player on the floor after the tackle.
Hill on the other hand has been great, disciplined ball control he leans into contact wins the collision and keeps his legs pumping very impressed.

And then you'll be moaning if we win the WC and only get small column inches...

If we win the World Cup I won't be moaning about anything at all, we've been getting great coverage so far what makes you think that would suddenly change

If we win the World Cup I won't be moaning about anything at all, we've been getting great coverage so far what makes you think that would suddenly change

For me Tom Burgess, Widdop and Ablett don,t really offer enough when they come on.
Also when Roby goes off and Sinfield goes to 9 the play the ball is too slow and has little variation.
Another good stint from Chris Hill in both attack and defence, Graham good defence and passing game.
Has SOL done enough to get the Fiji game I,m not sure, Rangi Chase still not doing enough minutes to influence the game.
Will next week against Fiji be a banana skin for McBanana.

Has there ever been a try scored in the history of the game that wasn't ''sooo simPEL''?

Johnathon davies doesn't think so.

McBanana is our banana skin

In both the Australian game and today, the England team looked far more structured in both attack and defence than they have been for years (they are a far better attacking unit than they were under Smith for example) and I credit McNamara for the consistency in his selections and clearly building on a stable unit

We will see the same halves as we move forward and Roby at 9. I would like to see Burrow or McIlorum on the bench and keep Sinfield and Chase together for the full 80 minutes although Widdop on the bench seems the more likely scenario

With Sam Burgess available and assuming no injuries the question is who drops out and the choice is either Tom Burgess or Ablett. I guess it comes down to where Sam is selected but with Ferres going well in the second row, Westwood looking like he is a favourite and O’Loughlin coming through the game I would play Sam Burgess up front and have a front row interchange of S. Burgess, G. Burgess, Hill and Graham which is very strong and won’t lose any momentum for the 80 minutes

Briscoe looked sharp and probably deserves to keep his spot. McNamara may decide to rest players next week (I hope not) but this is currently our strongest 17 in my opinion

Tomkins, Briscoe, Watkins, Cudjoe, Hall, Chase, Sinfield, Hill, Roby, S. Burgess, Ferres, Westwood, O'Loughlin. Replacements: McIlorum/Burrow, Ablett, G. Burgess, Graham

They still don't do the basics well enough. Let's face it, todays ''irish'' team was a rabble.

But against the aussies, little things matter, they matter big.

Last week roby did a kick from fummy half from our 40 metre line, it was scuffed and went dead in the aussie 35. A pretty innocuous piece of play, not something that jumps out at you. But it means that by the time the aussies reach the 5th tackle they are in prime position for an attacking kick. They scored from the resultant position. This stemmed from the fact the kick was poor. We can't allow the aussie to start their sets anywehere other than their own 20 metres.

England need to ruthlessly and relentlessly do the little things and basics well, to near perfection, and that's something they can't do.

The England coach can work on structures and organisation in both attack and defence

What you are talking about is basic skills which should be coached through junior and academy teams, it’s very difficult if not impossible for an international coach to influence this

Of course McNamara could replace Roby with a better hooker. But, there isn’t one

Roby had the ability to do a good kick. That bit's not the issue, it's those sloppy little bits of play and little lapses in concentration.

I'l be honest I think that was the complete worst kind of game England needed.

Ireland were awful and English players looked much better than they really were as a result.

The half back combination was practically useless, and some players arent performing well.

Put it down to what you want, the coach or whatever, but last week I felt England could improve on their game against Aussies. This week I just hope we can turn up and make a fight of it in the big games.

England should have run riot today, instead it looked sloppy.

On top of that we have a coach throwing his toys out the pram. Little wonder why we get stick here as a small time sport.

Quiz question of the future:

Name the brothers who played rugby for England on 2nd November 2013 but for different teams?

Why is McNamara ALWAYS so miserable/serious when being interviewed ?
Cheer up ya 'Yorkshire Pudding'.
EVERY other coach in this RLWC are more than approachable, Victor Meldrew would be proud of Steve.

The man has no idea on how to deal with people, that's the problem with many ex professional sports persons, they have had no other outside experience aside from the sport itself.
That doesn't aid dealing with situations like this, aside from the fact I think he's a crap coach he clearly hasn't the ability or persona to handle the situation in a manner that doesn't say I'm/we're hiding something and we aren't going to tell you so feck off..
Quite sad really when you consider he's the 'top' coach for our country..

But he hasn't, he's spent of his time, when fit, playing reserve grade over here.

Having said that George had poor ball retention playing reserve grade over here too.

George played reserve grade before getting a chance in the NRL. Tom has a little bit of Super League experience add that to now been surrounded by better players at Souths I think in the next year we will make big steps.

I do agree that he possibly shouldn't be in the England squad this year. but its good experience for him. apart from some handling errors he hasn't really let anyone down yet IMO

would agree with this.Maybe Burrow for McIlorum and start with Roby.


The best thing that can hapeen to England is for one of Widdop, Sifield or Chase to do a hamstring.

WE need the two halves who are going to play to play all the time and stick with it.

Banana does not know what his best half back combination is and i think it is affecting team plays and players performance. Whether you like Chase or not he is not playing his natural game. Without his natural game he is a passenger

If he is the first choice then Widdop should be dropped and rangi should be then given that boost of confidence and tols to go out and play.

If widdop is the first choice drop rangi and let him get on with sinfield.

If sinfield is going to be hooker then play him there and let the twp halves play.


No other serious team in the competition has gone into it thinking which one of these three do i play, " I know i will ;pick all three and just mess them arond"

What a load of shiite

Next year is too late for TOM. The WC is now. The next WC is 4 years ago. This is not about blooding players to give them international experience you should have your best players in the squad NOW.

He has let people down. His team mates and the fans. Dropping the ball helps no one. If we did not drop the ball and give penalties away against Australia they were beatable in the first game. The boost that woul dhave given the fans, the team and the whole competition would have been huge.

The worse of it is that we have a team now where we do not have 4 first pick props. Mossop and Tom are passengers. So we are forced to play someone who is not up to it or have to move second rowers around

Between the prop situation and the halve backs not been resolved England are right royally fooked.

IF we had won the WC this year the game would have taken off. SL etc would have had a sponsor next year, crowds up, piblicity up, sponsorship up. The game could probably have put it's financial problems behind it.

did tom burgess even play yesterday?! next weeks props should be graham, hill, s.burgess and g.burgess.

widdop and ablett offering little of the bench last two games, needs changing.

though chase got involved alot more yesterday and looked good, cudjoe again showed his class shutting the knockers up. Ferres fitted perfect, will keep his place on last two showings.

apart from that a good result! can beat fiji but will be a tougher test than the irish put up.

I'm not sure why you would drop Chase after his performance yesterday. He was one of our best players, along with Roby, who you've dropped to the bench for some reason.