Re: England vs Samoa : Sun Oct 27, 2024 6:22 pm  

Nsemba should’ve been nailed on to play. Have to say, walking to the ground and I found out he wasn’t playing, on top of already knowing Wardle was missing and Thompson being banned, it really dampened the enthusiasm I had for the game. Nsemba is a marketable phenom we should be proud to have in the game and one that we need to get behind, not someone like Bateman who should be put out to pasture with a few others.

Re: England vs Samoa : Sun Oct 27, 2024 6:59 pm  

DannyT wrote:

Nsemba should’ve been nailed on to play. Have to say, walking to the ground and I found out he wasn’t playing, on top of already knowing Wardle was missing and Thompson being banned, it really dampened the enthusiasm I had for the game. Nsemba is a marketable phenom we should be proud to have in the game and one that we need to get behind, not someone like Bateman who should be put out to pasture with a few others.

I totally understand the selection today. I was disappointed Nsemba wasn’t picked but I get why and to be fair I think it was one of Batemans better performances.

We are in danger of fast tracking Nsemba and looking at the bigger picture he’s played 3/4 or a season and this is his first time in an England camp.

His time will come, maybe next week, or maybe next year let him develop, which he still has a lot to do.

Bateman brought his usual bit of niggle that was needed against the Samoan team.

Ashton and Young are nailed on starting wingers now if they are fit and rightly so. I wouldn’t swap Marshall for Ashton at club level but at international level I think Ashton is better suited, I actually had him as my MOTM today. Thought Farnworth, Radley and Havard were very good too.

Wane I think got his tactics and team selection right I’d expect to see Thompson next week but other than that if everyone is fit I’d be ok with same again.

Very enjoyable afternoon.

Re: England vs Samoa : Sun Oct 27, 2024 7:16 pm  

jonh wrote:

I totally understand the selection today. I was disappointed Nsemba wasn’t picked but I get why and to be fair I think it was one of Batemans better performances.

We are in danger of fast tracking Nsemba and looking at the bigger picture he’s played 3/4 or a season and this is his first time in an England camp.

His time will come, maybe next week, or maybe next year let him develop, which he still has a lot to do.

Bateman brought his usual bit of niggle that was needed against the Samoan team.

Ashton and Young are nailed on starting wingers now if they are fit and rightly so. I wouldn’t swap Marshall for Ashton at club level but at international level I think Ashton is better suited, I actually had him as my MOTM today. Thought Farnworth, Radley and Havard were very good too.

Wane I think got his tactics and team selection right I’d expect to see Thompson next week but other than that if everyone is fit I’d be ok with same again. Havard was superb and it was very clear we had no ruck control when he was off.

Very enjoyable afternoon.

In a two-test series Nsemba should be playing, he needs exposing to that level of physicality. I don’t disagree with what you say in the main, I just think he’s risen to such a level so quickly that it should be rewarded. Farnworth and Wardle would be an exceptional centre pairing and I’d look forward to Havard and Thompson being the starting front rowers next week.

Re: England vs Samoa : Sun Oct 27, 2024 7:20 pm  

England look very strong going forward aside from maybe looking a little lightweight upfront. At international level you need size and power in the front row and that's the one area where we've taken a dip after having Graham, Walmsley and the Burgess family available to us. On the plus side, Lees and Havard are very durable and solid defenders.

Re: England vs Samoa : Sun Oct 27, 2024 10:31 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

England look very strong going forward aside from maybe looking a little lightweight upfront. At international level you need size and power in the front row and that's the one area where we've taken a dip after having Graham, Walmsley and the Burgess family available to us. On the plus side, Lees and Havard are very durable and solid defenders.

Havard played well, Lees was probably the smallest prop on the pitch and held his own, Burgess is past his best.

Re: England vs Samoa : Sun Oct 27, 2024 10:50 pm  

Is Wardle available for Leeds? Thompson in that side would be a massive boost. I'll be interested as always to watch the game back, but it struck me afterwards that I don't recall seeing too much from the very highly rated Nanai? What did you guys think?

Re: England vs Samoa : Mon Oct 28, 2024 12:15 am  

moto748 wrote:

Is Wardle available for Leeds? Thompson in that side would be a massive boost. I'll be interested as always to watch the game back, but it struck me afterwards that I don't recall seeing too much from the very highly rated Nanai? What did you guys think?

Wardle isn’t available

Re: England vs Samoa : Mon Oct 28, 2024 1:07 am  

I feel like this England team has done a complete flip from where they were a decade ago.

Ten years ago, we had some of the best forwards in the world but our backline was severely lacking.
Ten years on, we have electric and exciting backs, but our forwards are nowhere near where they used to be; except in the second row with KPP and Nsemba. They still did the job and did it well. I just can't help but wonder how powerful the England side would be if we had the same forwards today. Can you imagine the Burgess brothers, Graham, Lockers etc combined with this generation's backs?

Still, this is a strong England team despite missing a few key players, and I'm genuinely excited for the future. Although I find some of Wane's selections questionable, to the point where I questioned his capability, I'm confident he's the right person for the job after watching that game tonight. Some of the rugby put on show was great, from both teams. Looking forward to the two games.

Re: England vs Samoa : Mon Oct 28, 2024 8:30 am  

I think some opposition fans are realising now that Wane isn't Wigan biased, he's just extremely loyal to players who've done well for him in the past and that leads to guys like Hill getting in the squad and Nsemba not getting a spot in the team, while players who've not had their best years, such as Burgess, McMeekan and Bateman get in. I've not real issue with it in the main, you can never pick an international side solely on form but certain players absolutely smash the door down and make it impossible not to pick them and Nsemba has done that. It wouldn't be Bateman I'd have been looking at to leave out, it would've been one of Knowles or McMeekan on the bench and I'd have used Nsemba to cause some chaos alongside Mickey Lewis. You don't need two grafting loose forwards in your 17, especially when your starting loose forward is comfortably the best one in the squad but you could use Knowles at prop if you're desperate to get him in.

Outside of the Nsemba stuff though I was happy enough with it all. Both sides will be better for the run out but we're looking good. That England backline is as good as anything we've had for a long while.

Re: England vs Samoa : Mon Oct 28, 2024 8:56 am  

i think the Samoan's were definitely undercooked and would have benefitted from a game before that test

re England (i'm still in the GB camp having been brought up watching Britain), its good to see us score some well worked tries through hard graft up front, and then a bit of class out wide. Its also good to know that we have Wardle, Marshall, Makinson (know he's probably retired from international now), Percival, Handley still available to come into the backline, and it wouldnt suffer

onto the forwards, and as others have mentioned, our pack looks lacking in true world class stars, but we know Havard and Lees can both do long minutes at intensity, add Thompson to that next week, and we have 3 effective props and can then use either McMeekan or Burgess, and its likely one of those wont be in the team next week. Knowles is in a strange position, as he wont get a gig in front of Radley, so going to be very sparsely used

Lewis on the bench proved to be the right call. Harry organising everything, and letting Williams do the running. All the pre-match pundits agreed that Harry was the right decision, and it should have been Smith and Williams / Lewis, not a pick between Smith and Lewis. They even showed the SL stats to show that Lewis should be the player to pick but all said in the big games they would only go with Smith as he controls the show, and his kicking into the corners builds control and pressure

re the debate on 2nd rows, KPP was quiet initially but grew into the game, and got his offloading game going causing problems. Bateman was what we know he is, a grafter, and also a nuisance, getting under the skin of the Samoans. Does Junior deserve a chance, probably yes given the season he's had, but equally, happy for him to be involved to get the experience, but then get a good off season to refresh, and come back firing for next season. Again, with the pack, we have some good depth, with Dupree, Faz, Minchella, Smith (leeds) Mulhearn all missing out, and wouldnt let us down if selected