The new South Stand was opened for the Bath game at the beginning of October increasing the capacity to circa 14500. Sorry about the approx figure as at all grounds the true figure is never given as I believe they have to keep a number of seats free for safety reasons.

I think England will have grown in confidence watching that game and believe if their forwards can contain things (which shouldn’t be out of the question) they may just be able to cause a boil over.

Time will tell.

I must admit I only felt slightly vindicated after Cranky Frank’s game. But Steve Kearney deserves the most respect admit pulling the right reign and selecting Junior Sa’u over Krisnan Inu. Those asking “what is he thinking” before the game where pretty quiet afterwards.

I was there and I wasn’t too impressed by the Kangaroos. The Kiwis were the better side and as I see on another thread there are concerns about Ganson is not really the answer. The Kangaroos seemed to be deviod of ideas and direction and were lucky to draw and if the Kiwi kicker had been on song they would have lost.

I suspect the Kangaroos will be better for the run out and should thrash England who were pretty poor in their first game.

It is a blessed relief the that the Kiwis don’t’ play much real footy because that would be the ultimate indignation to our national libido having them humiliate us at our own game – and they probably would believe me.

Everyone says they play better in tournys than they do in the one off, however when they consistently beat us, rather than make a game of it every now and then, I will be worried. Not to say I am not worried now…

I think Sheens is not a good national coach, I think there have been some bad selections in the Kanga forward pack and the Kiwis have got a good up and coming coach, and some passion to play footy rather than bash people for 30 minutes and then fall away like they used too. Although they do a good job of bashing people too…

I think with the right people in the right places, Australia would always be unbeatable, however in looking at the squad that went over, it was completely wrong. I don’t know who picked it or why, but I wouldn’t mind knowing why they picked the back row they did, why they picked Gallen, Gidley etc. Some bad selections there that don’t warrant their pick.

But the same psychology is at work here as exists (or has existed) when Qld plays NSW in SOO or when SA used to play Victoria in the AFL version.

You don’t need to employ team psychologists under those sorts of circumstances!!

NZ have derived a great deal from being able to access the Australian elite league comp for some years now however the question must be asked has Aust simply been a bifg fish in a little pond all this time, since there are only two serious competitors internationally in the sport that is really just a two horse race with one a Goliath, having NO fire in the belly while the oteher is a mere David with heaps of pride and passion, especially when pitted against Australia.

I also believe Sheens is a less than ordinary motivator to be coaching a team of this stature. The Kwis will have another crack at us in the final, running rings around a burnt out Australian line up me thinks. Now they dominate both rugby codes it would seem.

The Kiwis looked very organised in attack, Melbourne Stormesque the way they played both sides of the ruck.

Blair was awesome and Fui Fui gave the Australian defenders something to think about.

It was a great game.

I said elsewhere that I was sad not to see him playing for the last two years since the ARC. All the talk when he signed for League was that he was of the ilk of SBW, however I think he is probably not as mobile now, due to massive bulk being put on. At the time it might have been right, as he was a pretty mobile flanker, but I doubt he has the ball skills of SBW.

Also, Link, it is a bit different that he has grown up playing Ruggers, and so he might have been right playing super 14 two years ago. He certainly would have been under the pump playing league straight away, and probably wouldn’t have made it then. What I am trying to say is I find it infinitely more interesting the way League differs from Union in the way they bring players through Grade, teaching them the game, rather than what Rugby does in this country, and announce the League convert signing and then give them a jersey straight away, before even knowing if they have any rugby nouse what-so-ever.

League way makes much more sense, but then when money is involved, sense often isn’t hey?

Indeed NZ’s performance was the best thing that happened to the Roosters in 2009. Hargreaves is a star in the making while Frank Paul Nuuasala ran the ball with verve that i have not seen in Roosters colours yet. They will all be better players for this experience and i am now looking forward to 2010 with a little more optimism!!!!!!

One of their last tests against England got 12 000

Key question to decide the 4 nations is do the Kiwis have another gear on top of this performance? Rest assured the Aussies were stuck in 2nd for most of the game. A re-match in 3 weeks looks assured.

It will be interesting to see how many tickets they can see for the RL international in Toulouse. Their team’s average in the National League One is around 2,000. The aristocrats of Stade Toulouse rugby union club cast a long shadow, me semble-t-il.

By the way, Steve, do Australian people really see the average Frenchman as an “effeminate figure riding a bicycle while smoking a long cigarette” ???? That’s a bit like people over here saying that Aussie has no culture. Apart from anything else, the government brought in an anti-smoking ban a couple of years ago ( in public places, at least ).

As for the bicycles, they’re no good at these days. The Grande Boucle is more likely to be won by an Aussie ( Cadel Evans ) than by a Frenchman. 24 years and counting…..

Best wishes,