Personally, I think we should stick with France, to help France get to where they need to be so that at some point in the future we can have a competitive international again. What we probably need to do is add another international but have it as Tony Smith suggested, with a team made up of other nations. If we have the France international in June and the other nations international in July (since CC cup final, playoffs and grand final are then around the corner) that provides England with two matches in increasing intensity towards the Four Nations or World Cup, whichever.

But I don't think we should abandon France.

This may stick in the throat a little, but I agree with you?

However, just as I argue about academy/ U18 games, a game like that tonight does no good to either side.

As a suggestion, maybe the French game should be against an U21/U23 English side, but the full England side should play against an English based Anzak team.

Two competitive games, with the added advantage of giving some of our youngsters more international experience.

I have been saying this for years. I even wrote to the RFL and got some flimsy response regarding the financial viability/fan interest in an England v SL based Overseas select team.

I am certain there would be more fan interest than a walk over against France.

I'd love to think so too, but the number of 'club not country' fans on here over the past week or so doesn't fill me with confidence.

Well Catalans/France playing our own academy sides (they start playing Under 20s on Tuesday and Under 18s next month) can only be start towards a better French team. You need to build from youth up not just expecting Catalans to produce a national side as well.

Also 5,698 attendance? I think the RFL made a big error going up against the England football match. Also having us all forking out for league games this weekend doesn't help the test match either.

Figure was closer to 8,000 announced at the game apparently (didn't hear it myself) so god knows where Sporting Life etc have got their figure from.

I dont think you get it tbh. I for one am not 'club over country' at all, its just stupid to play an international friendy and still have the Super League games going ahead. In the long run I would much see Wigan lift the league leaders shield then see England win a meaningless friendly. Add to that the fact its on the same day as England's WC opener. I still managed to watch both but its such a poor spectacle.

I know the calender is crowded, but really think if the RFL are serious about internationals, they should have a SL free weekend to play a series of internationals. Full international, under 20's & under 18's.

As regards who we play, think we need to stay with France to help them develop, after all apart from UK based aussies/kiwis, who else is there to play?

No idea where they got that figure from. The number announced at the game was 7,900 and something. I [idid[/i hear the announcement. I was surprised that there were as many people there as there were because I had been anticipating a half full stadium at best.

While I appreciate what people say about the match not being competitive, it would have been more competitive had Bobby had more players available to him of Superleague standard. If Bosc had been available, for instance, then there would have been more flair play. Thinking back to the Four Nations and France looked like they were developing, but that was because he had a decent team rather than a back row made up of Championship and below level players.

If we want to have a northern hemisphere challenge then we have to stick with France to encourage their development in the sport. After all, they once were dominant and if they can rediscover that level of interest in the sport - which will be helped by Catalans getting a better coach next season who will make them more competitive again - then there is no reason why over time they shouldn't compete with us again. We just need to be patient.

I don't see why we can't have both a France international and an Anzac style test. We can't have a three-way test though because of the reliance upon the Catalans side for the French team. Well, we would have to shorten the regular season to facilitate that anyway.

We've got to stick with France. Some years ago the RFU brought Italy into the then 5 nations and although the Italians aren't breaking any pots they are getting more competitive year on year, roughly on a par with Scotland I'd say. The main thing is that the Italian club game has also developed during that time and although there was an early reliance on overseas players (sound familiar) slowly but surely they are getting there as more hown grown players come through and some now can be seen in the weekly rounds of the Guinnes premiership. I don't think they'll ever be a world force but they are getting there, surely this a model we need to follow and have the foresight to support.

You say that but I know at least 5 people who managed to go to Leigh, watch England then get back to Wigan and watch the football in the pub.
The league matches being played is a good point though and something which could easily have led to a sell out.

The question should be, how many more people would of attended the England game had the game been played on a different day?

A lot more than 5 i reckon.

So how is that a problem? I myself know 5 people who went to Leigh, watched the game and still had time to get back to Wigan and watch the football in the pub.

I don't think anyone is listening to that kind of argument. I know a few Saints fans who said they couldn't watch France v England because of the soccer and yet the roads were empty coming out of Leigh Village last night. Everyone who went to the international could have been in a pub for kick off, no problem.

I agree!!

Me and the family went to watch Saints v Huddersfield on Friday and also the England v France game on Saturday, we had a great day out watching the elite of the superleague teams playng together on the same team which is something we don't see very often live, not to mention the banter between the fans all under one roof.

They showed how "top class rugby league" is still alive in England and that the future is bright.

We also got from Leigh back to St Helens in no time at all, we called at the Indian on the way and got back home just in time for kick off and a naan bread!

All of you who did not go and are using the world cup as an excuse should bow your heads in shame.........

YOU are all RUGBY LEAGUE fans (questionable) and should be supporting every aspect of it to develop the future in club AND country games!!





We looked at it as a weekend full of rugby with a dash of football on the side to finish the national day off, more should have done the same in my eyes!

Well said.

Did anyone else notice how cold the LSV was? It was about 10 degrees colder than outside.

Which stand was you in?

We was in the East stand and all the family has got sunburnt! It was roasting, the only thing keeping me cool was the lager



I know the West stand was in the shade all of the game...gutted for them... he he!

I was on the terrace and somehow the wind was coming from behind me.

If im not mistaken we have been playing RL in france alot longer than RU in italy and france havnt improved much

All thrm leythers with their hand held fans thinking they're posh!

[url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_6206100,00.htmlPeacock backs all-star clash[/url

[i"I'd like to see us play a Rest of the World team in mid-season. I think it would be exciting and get lot of people there.
"Why not give it a go? We're always trying new things in rugby league. It would be something different in the middle of the year.
"But let's make sure we still play France. We still want to play France but you've got to give them an opportunity to get their best team out there."[/i