Kiwis polish off sad England 36-24
How low can England go ? There were 6,000 England supporters here in Newcastle. Each and every one of them was let down by a second half performance that, yes, was worse than the capitulation against Australia. This was a surrender from 24-8 up, a hoisting of the white flag unprecedented in my opinion. Paul Wellens hobbled off and the whole stack of cards collapsed. Paul Sykes, Eric Sykes, Bill Sykes ? What on earth was going on in the England defensive line ?
Three of Manu Vatuvei's four tries were walk ins. This is a World Cup campaign going from bad to worse. Right now, I cannot see any way that England can beat the Kiwis in next week's semi-final. Not that New Zealand are especially good. It's that England are now so riddled with self doubt, confused tactically and bereft of any backbone that it is beyond a joke.
Ask the poor punters who've travelled 11,000 miles. Tony Smith says that he and his team angry. I'm bloody furious and I'm not the only feeling that way in this godforesaken town where you had to wait over an hour for a taxi to escape the scene of England's misery. PNG can knock us out by beating Australia by three points or more. Maybe it'd be a merciful release.... come on Ireland! PICTURE BY COL WHELAN/ANDREW VARLEY AGENCY
Look on the bright side - at least the whingeing Aussies are getting spanked in the cricket!
Posted by: JJ Flash | 10 Nov 2008 09:05:41
Look on the bright side - at least the whingeing Aussies are getting spanked in the cricket!
Posted by: JJ Flash | 10 Nov 2008 09:05:24
Probably should have read Mr Irvine article more thoroughly, "PNG can knock us out by beating Australia by three points or more".
I was confused by the confidence with which Mr Sinfield stated we would at least get another shot at them in the semi final on 5live earlier today.
Australia wouldn't throw it? would they?
Posted by: AndyL | 8 Nov 2008 22:35:58
Makes the team selection for the semi final interesting. Actually, if PNG turn the Australians over tomorrow, does that mean we don't qualify?!?!
I like that pack actually, and would like to see Graham and Roby off the bench to provide some much needed impact. Thought Higham played well, both him and Roby are a must for the semi
Although Wellens hasn't been great this tournament, he is the best option at full back. Sykes had a shocker, he was frightened to death of Vatuvei (can't blame him like, I was scared and I was lying on the couch!) and kept running infield! Awful!
Posted by: AndyL | 8 Nov 2008 22:33:07
After Wellens hobbled off the team lacked any shape and those not accustomed to certain positions ended up playing in those positions. Surely the players know how to readjust in the event of losing players to injury?
Also, why was Higham substituted? I thought he was England's best player in the first half.
Posted by: Jay - Surrey | 8 Nov 2008 21:14:56
Why didn't we play in the second half like we played in the first? Against the Kiwis that would have been enough to win the game. What does Tony Smith say at halftime? Whatever it is, I wish he'd shut up. And I wish he'd stop moving players about during the match. I got totally confused in the end, not knowing who was playing where. What's the man trying to do? Confuse what remnant of clue we might have had totally out of our collective heads?
Posted by: St Di | 8 Nov 2008 20:18:58
Gday cobbers, well me old sweaty poms had a barbie at my place today cracked a few tinnies wirh me mates and threw a few lobsters on the barbie, jees though we needed a laugh so guess what I said lets watch the poms against the kiwis and boy did we have a laugh your a joke you pommie b......s go home now how much did it cost you to watch a bunch of loser amateurs. Note to your coach teach them defence and play with passion watch a few aussie tapes and try and get it right. I will be waving you off at the airport next week
and to the pommie twit that said I was somebody else don't be so upset mate your Sheilas are good maybe you should watch them instead or maybe you are one!!!! ha ha ha ha ha ha
Posted by: jolly Swagman | 8 Nov 2008 20:18:31
FOR ONCE I AM SPEECHLESS
Posted by: Mike hunt | 8 Nov 2008 17:42:12
Oh dear. The Kiwis aren't great, but we were diabolical. Too many average players, too many players past their best. Though who else is there? Yes, Burgess would have helped, though Shenton, Westermen, Clubb and Louis McS are probably too inexperienced, Fox and Briscoe - not any better than what we have out there. Fieldon - not the player he was (like Senior and Morely!). We really are clutching at straws. Pray for a PNG miracle and put us out of our misery.
Posted by: David N | 8 Nov 2008 15:27:02
Awful truly bloody inexcusably awful.
Posted by: Numptyboy | 8 Nov 2008 14:32:43