Rugby League 4 Nations

[krissyboy31]

The 4 Nations starts tomorrow, with England playing France at Doncaster and the Aussies playing NZ at Quins.

 

England team announced:

 

1 Shaun Briscoe (Hull KR)

2 Tom Briscoe (Hull FC)

3 Lee Smith (Leeds Rhinos)

4 Michael Shenton (Castleford Tigers)

5 Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos)

6 Danny MCGuire (Leeds Rhinos)

7 Richard Myler (Salford City Reds)

8 Jamie Pea**** (Leeds Rhinos, capt )

9 Scott Moore (Huddersfield Giants)

10 Adrian Morley (Warrington Wolves)

11 Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers)

12 Sam Burgess (Bradford Bulls)

13 Kevin Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos)

 

INTERCHANGE

14 James Graham (St Helens)

15 James Roby (St Helens)

16 Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves)

17 Kyle Eastmond (St Helens).

 

FC's Little Tom Briscoe, a late squad replacement for Sean O'Laughlin, brought straight into the team on the wing, instead of Pikey Rovers' Peter Fox.

 

Lol at Peac_ock not getting through the swear filter.

Edited 21 October, 2009 by krissyboy31

[chrisobee]

O'Loughlin misses out again, that's a shame. First game tonight England v France Sky Sports 2 7.30pm, tomorrow Aussies v NZ, same time, same channel. Should be 2 cracking games, the French are no mugs these days.

[krissyboy31]

O'Loughlin misses out again, that's a shame. First game tonight England v France Sky Sports 2 7.30pm, tomorrow Aussies v NZ, same time, same channel. Should be 2 cracking games, the French are no mugs these days.

 

SO'L broke his thumb in last week's warm up game against the Welsh. Pretty young team, Briscoe, Myler and Eastmond all teenagers. Should have enough to comfortably beat the French. The Aussies and Kiwis are a completely different kettle of fish!

[krissyboy31]

After the somewhat patchy performance versus the French, England have made changes for this Saturday's game against the Kangaroos at Wigan.

 

S Briscoe (Hull KR); T Briscoe (Hull), Smith (Leeds), Shenton (Castleford), Hall (Leeds); McGuire (Leeds), Tomkins (Wigan); Morley (Warrington), Roby (St Helens), Graham (St Helens), Ellis (Wests Tigers), Peac_ock (Leeds, captain), Sinfield (Leeds)

Replacements: Burgess (Bradford), Crabtree (Huddersfield), Eastmond (St Helens), Westwood (Warrington).

 

Tomkins coming in for Myler; Roby starting in place of Moore, who drops out of the 17; Graham starting with Burgess moving to the bench and Crabtree taking the other replacement spot.

[chrisobee]

After the somewhat patchy performance versus the French, England have made changes for this Saturday's game against the Kangaroos at Wigan.

 

S Briscoe (Hull KR); T Briscoe (Hull), Smith (Leeds), Shenton (Castleford), Hall (Leeds); McGuire (Leeds), Tomkins (Wigan); Morley (Warrington), Roby (St Helens), Graham (St Helens), Ellis (Wests Tigers), Peac_ock (Leeds, captain), Sinfield (Leeds)

Replacements: Burgess (Bradford), Crabtree (Huddersfield), Eastmond (St Helens), Westwood (Warrington).

 

Tomkins coming in for Myler; Roby starting in place of Moore, who drops out of the 17; Graham starting with Burgess moving to the bench and Crabtree taking the other replacement spot.

 

Good to see Tomkins in though I though Myler did Ok v France. Might have started with Eastmond, looked good when he came on v France so maybe he can do the same v Australia. Seems very versatile.

On a different note the punishment handed to the 2 French players who were on report was pathetic. Jean Philippe Baille who was sent off and missed a whole one minute of the game, that was considered "suffucient punishment" and Ferriol only got a one match ban. What kind of message does that send out ? That foul play is pretty much accepted and indeed expected ?

[krissyboy31]

Good to see Tomkins in though I though Myler did Ok v France. Might have started with Eastmond, looked good when he came on v France so maybe he can do the same v Australia. Seems very versatile.

On a different note the punishment handed to the 2 French players who were on report was pathetic. Jean Philippe Baille who was sent off and missed a whole one minute of the game, that was considered "suffucient punishment" and Ferriol only got a one match ban. What kind of message does that send out ? That foul play is pretty much accepted and indeed expected ?

 

Yes, Myler was suffering from concussion so he's not being risked. Eastmond was class when he came on, Surprised to see him playing full-back but looked like he was natural.

 

The punishment for the French is a difficult one because it is only a 3 match tournament. In an ideal world they would both be given 2 match bans and would play no further part but that would mean that the French would be very much weakened against the Kiwis and the Aussies, which is unfair on England because we played them at full-strength (bar, as you say a couple of minutes). It wonder what the punishments would have been if those players were from England or the antipodes, where the squads and strength in depth much greater?

[chrisobee]

Yes, Myler was suffering from concussion so he's not being risked. Eastmond was class when he came on, Surprised to see him playing full-back but looked like he was natural.

 

The punishment for the French is a difficult one because it is only a 3 match tournament. In an ideal world they would both be given 2 match bans and would play no further part but that would mean that the French would be very much weakened against the Kiwis and the Aussies, which is unfair on England because we played them at full-strength (bar, as you say a couple of minutes). It wonder what the punishments would have been if those players were from England or the antipodes, where the squads and strength in depth much greater?

 

Yes, the point about France being severely weakened is a valid one but you cannot really use that as an excuse not to punish serious foul play. I reckon in SL it would have been a 3/4 match ban for each, two of the worst fouls I've seen for a long time.

[chrisobee]

This surprised me, the England v Australia game is on BBC1 at 2.00pm on Saturday. I wondered why Sky said last week they only were showing highlights. Anyway it's good it's available to a wider audience.

[saintwarwick]

This surprised me, the England v Australia game is on BBC1 at 2.00pm on Saturday. I wondered why Sky said last week they only were showing highlights. Anyway it's good it's available to a wider audience.

 

I thought Sky were showing the whole series, guess I wasn't paying attention. Sky are showing the France New Zealand game live followed by highlights of the England game. As I work nights I shall record the game on BBC but might just watch the highlights when I get up.

[bungle]

Ah, excellent. Hopefully it will be on iplayer and I can watch it when I get home from Orient!

[krissyboy31]

BBC Schedule:

 

Sat 31 Oct, BBC One, 2.10-4.30pm – Rugby League: Four Nations Live – England vs Australia

 

Sun 1 Nov, BBC Two, 10.45-11.30pm – Rugby League: Four Nations highlights (Fra v NZ)

 

Sat 7 Nov, BBC One, 2.00-4.30pm – Rugby League: Four Nations Live – France vs Australia

 

Sun 08 Nov, BBC Two, 3.00-4.00pm – Rugby League: Four Nations highlights (Eng v NZ)

 

The other games, including the final are on Sky.

[krissyboy31]

Have to say, after a complete mauling in the first thirty-odd minutes, England came back and were fantastic in the second half. Sam Tomkins, Eorl Crabtree, Gareth Ellis, Sam Burgess and Kyle Eastmond were pronominal. Unfortunately their task was just too much after the first half performance of the Kangaroos (particularly Inglis and Slater). Play like that next week and I don't think they have too much to fear from the Kiwis.

[chrisobee]

Have to say, after a complete mauling in the first thirty-odd minutes, England came back and were fantastic in the second half. Sam Tomkins, Eorl Crabtree, Gareth Ellis, Sam Burgess and Kyle Eastmond were pronominal. Unfortunately their task was just too much after the first half performance of the Kangaroos (particularly Inglis and Slater). Play like that next week and I don't think they have too much to fear from the Kiwis.

 

England were excellent in the 2nd half and will take a lot of confidence from that. Also NZ had such a stroll against France it was hardly a game to sharpen them up so I reckon England by 6-8 points.

[chrisobee]

England were excellent in the 2nd half and will take a lot of confidence from that. Also NZ had such a stroll against France it was hardly a game to sharpen them up so I reckon England by 6-8 points.

 

England it was and by 8 points Wish I had backed that and Haye to win on points as I also predicted!

[Master Bates]

Such a shame Kyle Eastmond is doing well, the Rugby Union clubs are sniffing around

[chrisobee]

Such a shame Kyle Eastmond is doing well, the Rugby Union clubs are sniffing around

 

Hopefully he'll tell them to get on their bike! As far as I know Sam Tomkins has committed himself to Wigan, I'd expect Eastmond to stay in RL for now at least. The grass isn't always greener on the other side.

[krissyboy31]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12206_5630262,00.html

 

Offiah's his agent and advising him to stick with RL for the foreseeable future.

[krissyboy31]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_5690948,00.html

 

Apparently Sinfield to start at Hooker (with Wilkin on the bench) to allow Tony Smith to play 4 specialist props in his starting 13.

 

I thought Lee Smith would have been recalled in place of either Shenton or Bridge at Centre.

[chrisobee]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12206_5630262,00.html

 

Offiah's his agent and advising him to stick with RL for the foreseeable future.

 

I heard he is keen to sign a new contract asap so I'm sure he'll be staying which is good for St Helens and RL in general.

[Master Bates]

I heard he is keen to sign a new contract asap so I'm sure he'll be staying which is good for St Helens and RL in general.

 

 

http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2199

[krissyboy31]

 

http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2199

 

Good news for St Helens and for England RL. Wouldn't be surprised if he didn't follow Ellis and Burgess out to the NRL in a couple years, rather than going over to the dark side like Lee Smith.

 

Planning to go to Knowsley Rd for the first game of the season. Will be in the away end though!!

[Master Bates]

Good news for St Helens and for England RL. Wouldn't be surprised if he didn't follow Ellis and Burgess out to the NRL in a couple years, rather than going over to the dark side like Lee Smith.

 

Planning to go to Knowsley Rd for the first game of the season. Will be in the away end though!!

 

Dirty ar5ehull

[krissyboy31]

Dirty ar5ehull

 

Expect Longy to come back and give a MoM performance!

[Master Bates]

Expect Longy to come back and give a MoM performance!

 

tbf I hope he does, I want Longy to prove that it was a mistake not offering him the 2 years he wanted.

[krissyboy31]

tbf I hope he does, I want Longy to prove that it was a mistake not offering him the 2 years he wanted.

 

2 reason's really. First, yer man Eastmond. His preferred position is scrum half (and has already been handed the number 7 jersey) and they don't want to hold him back any longer. Second. salary cap. With Eastmond being first choice scrum half, Long would become a bit part player and utility half back. That is no good to Long at this stage of his career and it also stifles team development because Long will be eating a huge chuck out of the salary cap (probably one of, if not the biggest wage earners.

[krissyboy31]

Could still join the dark side once his new contract expires?

 

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_5743479,00.html

[Master Bates]

Could still join the dark side once his new contract expires?

 

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_5743479,00.html

 

Not that soon

 

"I believe that, within a year or two, he'll sign another three or four-year deal with Saints and that will still only take him up to about 25," Offiah added.