Your Summary Of The Autumn Internationals? : Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:35 pm  

England-80 Wales-12 England-44 France-4 England-48 France-4 How can the RFL justify this competition? We'd have been better off having a 3-way format consisting of England, England Knights and the Exiles. I went to Craven Park last week and although a decent crowd turned up, I found the game completely boring to watch. I've had more fun watching amateur rugby, and even that's probably a massive under-statement! Sam Tomkins recently told Sky Sports "We've dominated Wales and France at the weekend put out a strong team and played relatively well to their own standards, but our defensive efforts have been outstanding in the last couple of weeks and contributed to the one-sided scorelines." In other words Sam, the opposition are absolutely pants and we are kidding no-one, certainly not the Aussies and Kiwis anyway. See more: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/15314/8233787/England-s-Sam-Tomkins-is-happy-with-the-quality-of-opposition-in-the-Autumn-Series Roll on the NEW Super League season!

England-80 Wales-12 England-44 France-4 England-48 France-4 How can the RFL justify this competition? We'd have been better off having a 3-way format consisting of England, England Knights and the Exiles. I went to Craven Park last week and although a decent crowd turned up, I found the game completely boring to watch. I've had more fun watching amateur rugby, and even that's probably a massive under-statement! Sam Tomkins recently told Sky Sports "We've dominated Wales and France at the weekend put out a strong team and played relatively well to their own standards, but our defensive efforts have been outstanding in the last couple of weeks and contributed to the one-sided scorelines." In other words Sam, the opposition are absolutely pants and we are kidding no-one, certainly not the Aussies and Kiwis anyway. See more: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/15314/8233787/England-s-Sam-Tomkins-is-happy-with-the-quality-of-opposition-in-the-Autumn-Series Roll on the NEW Super League season!

Re: Your Summary Of The Autumn Internationals? : Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:44 pm  

I suppose it's gone completely as expected. The moaners will be out in force, but England needed to play someone in preparation for the World Cup. The more time the players spend together the better, it's just a shame the opposition are so far behind. Gutted the attendances have been so low, especially when you see the crowds the onion lot have had over the weekend. But, RL folk can't even get behind Challenge Cup semi-finals, never mind an international...

Re: Your Summary Of The Autumn Internationals? : Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:44 pm  

waste of time

Re: Your Summary Of The Autumn Internationals? : Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:46 pm  

Not really learned anything and been a pointless exercise IMO half the squad aren't playing anyway so you can't say we've gelled. All we've done is extend an already extremely long season and shortened players pre-season. I'd rather we would be going into World Cup year fresh.

Re: Your Summary Of The Autumn Internationals? : Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:57 pm  

I just fail to see what france or wales got out of this as england got nothing. All it has done is give Steve Mcnamara some wins on his record which he needed considering how bad his reign has been.

Re: Your Summary Of The Autumn Internationals? : Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:04 pm  

We could have used this competition as an opportunity for England Knights (fringe players) to put themselves in the shop window ahead of next year's World Cup, even then I suspect we'd have easily won the competition.

As linger05 mentioned, none of the teams have remotely taken anything away from this series!

Re: Your Summary Of The Autumn Internationals? : Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:14 pm  

England winning it in hand is no surprise. Tough to call it a competition though, such was the ease of England's victory. The trophy presentation I have just seen reflects that perfectly, pretty much shoved at Sinfield as soon as they could get a camera to him!

I have been very disappointed with the French effort in particular. I don't think I'm alone in expecting better from them. They were awful against Wales, a fixture which only had a competitive scoreline due to the amount of errors - without doubt the worst game I have seen this season. Their attacking structure against England, particularly tonight, has been laughable.

Didn't expect much from Wales and they didn't disappoint. They have a long road ahead of them, especially with the defections of young talents such as Rhys Evans. They desperately need Lee Briers to play for them in the World Cup.

You could say that England have benefited from having an extended period together, but with so many injured and rested players to come back into the fold even that is open to question. We have integrated a few players who should be around for the World Cup but even against this level of opposition we have seen some dumb performances, Hock in particular although others will spring to mind if and when I have another look at the games. To their credit they have been very professional in their approach and have been ruthless defensively.

Re: Your Summary Of The Autumn Internationals? : Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:15 pm  

A thoroughly worthwhile exercise.

The England squad’s belief will be sky high, with some scintillating performances & team structures beginning to gel in preparation for our assault on rectifying forty years of hurt.

It’s also been good for the expansionist areas of France & Wales to go up against a side oozing class in their slow & steady progression to bolster the global ranks. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.

Ok it may take quite a few years but the futures so bright, we just need some more depth in France, one team isn’t enough, oh, & another assault into Wales as the Union game is dying – we must strike now.

I was a little jaded after another repetitive SL season, however, after this series I feel invigorated & full of hope for the future.

Oh, & to have Rugby Leagues version of Ronaldo in the England squad today was an added bonus.

I love Rugby League me.

Re: Your Summary Of The Autumn Internationals? : Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:16 pm  

The RFL have f***** up by not being able to predict the future. At half-time in the three England games, as it became apparent that England were staqrting to dominate, a competent governing body would have kneecapped a few England players to even up the contest. Farce, etc.

Re: Your Summary Of The Autumn Internationals? : Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:42 pm  

A farce and a disgrace