The only way England will beat Australia on Saturday is if the Kangaroos have bought Gareth Hocks alarm clock and don't turn up.

Yep, I wouldn't fancy our forwards in the Queensbury Rules stakes against the likes of Gallen and Bird.

They'll be more than up for mixing it if required.

We have to hope our forwards totally dominate. I can't see it though - our pack is weaker than it has been in recent years. If possession is 50:50 they'll destroy us via their stand-off and especially centres.

Fair point, we are not going to bully them into submission, but I think our only real chance of winning is by dragging it down into being a scrap. We wont compete in an open game, so we need to make it scrappy.

The games there for Australia to lose.



It's not going to be so much of what England can bring, more of what Australia can be bothered bringing.



I'd love it not to be the case, but I can't see it.

I like your thinking. If nothing else it would create media attention and really put the game in the spotlight. All publicity is good publicity, after all.



Somebody has to put the biff on in the opening minutes for the good of the game! My money is on one of the Burgii to get in a fight with Fifita at some point - particularly if England get hammered on the scoreboard.

Looking at the team sheets it doesnt look too good.

Ive genually believed England could win in the past, in the days we had Scully, Farrell, Long, Cunningham etc.. but now im not not convinced at all.

Not even sure they will make the semi finals.

By his "slug" I assume that you are referring to his penis?



If so, I wish to inform you that investigations have shown that it was the recipient of his "sexting" photo -- presumably a female -- who posted the photo on the net.



What that all has to do with his rugby league playing ability I do not know.

Wow! Cameron Smith is so good, he has his own copyright, and when did Gallen get the Victoria Cross? Australia by 24.

It has been the case for as long as I remember that Australia will beat us 8/9 times out of every 10 games. On paper they are much stronger but England have to give it to them and test their resolve. There is little point trying to arm wrestle a low scoring victory. To win it Burgess, Chase, Tomkins, Watkins have to trouble them in defence and we have to score points. Apart from Wembley 1994 we have had to score over 20 to beat them on every occasion in the last 25 years.



Any sort of strong performance at Cardiff will be okay with me (win or lose). For those who were at Elland Road in 2004 or Melbourne 2008 the depressing thing is watching a team get mullered and not competing at all.

Same here.I dont want to see us going down without a fight.Ive said it too many times in recent years we tend to just stand back and watch them for the first quarter and before we know it we are down by a few scores.We need to get into their faces and hammer them in the tackles,the crowd will get behind the team and it may make the Aussies think about what they are doing which could force mistakes.Standing off them will lead to them ripping us apart as per usual.



Like you and many more i dont expect a win but a real close battle would please me no end.

An individual non team player and a one trick pony versus 2 of the most talented half ever to play rugby (of either code).

Just based on that it is probable that the outcome can be foreseen.

When Gallen has softened the English half backs, then the rest will be history.

Sad but true.