The Four Nations.

toomevara wrote: »

Kiwis have lost Eastwood for Saturday's game.

http://www.rugbyleague.com/rugby-league-news/kiwis-lose-eastwood.html

Saw "Eastwood out of weekend's game" heading in the paper this morning and thought England had lost Eastmond!

Big loss for the Kiwis, he's a strike player and a huge fella. Kiwis without himself and Mannering is a different proposition. They have more than ample cover though.

toomevara wrote: »

Definitely, quite a rejig required in the pack, but as you say, no loss in intensity and physicality from the Kiwis, but he does have a really good rugby brain (for a forward;))...looks like he'll miss most of preseason for us as well....

Even after pre-season's he's had a bit of fat on him - can only imagine his shape after a few months off...

Good off loading game and seems to time his involvement in attack very well. One less headache for Smithy (Tony that is)

toomevara wrote: »

On another Leeds related note, McGuire's, unsurprisingly,been dropped for the NZ game.

true, he was poor last week

TS has completely ripped apart that right hand side

England: S Briscoe, Fox, Bridge, Shenton, Hall; Tomkins, Eastmond; Morley, Roby, Graham; Peacock (capt), Ellis, Sinfield.
Replacements: Burgess, Crabtree, Westwood, Wilkin.

Feel half-sorry for Briscoe on the wing - I thought Lee Smith was worse than him. Smith had to go after last week. Bridge and Fox is an unknown quantity, I think they might go alright. Delighted with the halves. I'm also a fan of Wilkin - he has the ability to turn games and has a nack of picking up tries in important games.

As for McGuire - I think that may have been his last chance. He had an opportunity to show his quality and be the 'older head' who brought through the younger lads but he just hasn't been controlling games.

Read an interesting comment from Sinfield saying that he's happier playing international at the moment and his form has improved because they haven't been trying to play him like a NRL loose-forward, instead he's been playin ghis natural role, like at Leeds. How much merit there is to his comment I don't know, but he certainly seems to be more involved in the last two games

Great to see that TS is playing ball and making the much needed changes. BUT i still think they lack size on the right hand size and niether Fox nor Bridge are extremely big players thought Senior could of seen a look in. It ll all depend on the collosions though, New Zealand were very effective at turning the man in the tackle to get a slow play so England have to be in control if they fancy winning this game.

Just saw the Kiwi team. I've just come over all believist (a friend of mine caught this illness last week before the Wigan game; he was cured within 10 minutes)

New Zealand: Hohaia (NZ Warriors); Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Foran (Manly), Sau (Newcastle), Goodwin (Canterbury Bulldogs); Marshall (Wests Tigers, capt), Fien (St George Illawarra); Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), Leuluai (Wigan), Moimoi (Parramatta), Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Pritchard (Penrith), Blair (Melbourne).
Substitutes: Luke (South Sydney), Lima (Melbourne), Matulino (NZ Warriors), Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly)

Their forward pack are big, quick and strong. Isaac Luke is the game breaker after 20 and Waerea-Hargreaves has looked good when I've seen him. A bit surprised Foran got the nod ahead of Inu, he's a half-back. I know Eastmond can cover centre and is a h/b but the Kiwis have Krisnan Inu sitting in the stands who is considered a great talent down under.

Saying that - people questioned Kearney's selection at the world cup and look what happened there...

toomevara wrote: »

I honestly think that if England can deal with the sheer, brutal aggression and physicality of the New Zealand pack they are more than capable of getting a result at the Galpharm. They've also got to start playing when the whistle blows and not 20/30 minutes in, like the Wales/Oz games.

I'd like to think the balance of the Eng pack should be more than a match. Older hard head like Morley and JP allied with more modern forwards ilke Ellis and Graham. Sinfield, when effective, is a useful foil to these lads. There's a bit of hype over Moimoi v Burgess II but I don't think it'll materialise into everyone hunting a big hit - if it does, I'd worry about Eng as they may lose focus.

Beauty try by Fox

NZ currently have 3 points - if England win they will have 4.

Think England are really up for this and are playing some great rugby. Expect real fireworks in the second-half.

Poor defence. Feeble attempts at tackling. Not the start that they needed - ominous.

Alibert's refereeing wasn't up to SL standard, it is simply disgraceful that he should be allowed to ref at international level:mad:

Just don't muck it up now England! Whats the bet they ll go asleep for the next 8 minutes.