England vs NZ

[mrbates78]

Poms played really well..should give Aus a run for their money in the final if they can get off to a good start. I thought Rhino had a much better game, esp in the fist half. Benji was quiet again, however he looked like he was stepping up his game in the 2nd half as the kiwi's came back, however it was too little too late. I think Benji needs some serious rest, before he comes back strong for the start of the season. Didnt notice Blair to much to be honest….

 

[tigersrule4life]

yeh but i so lots of defence by blair and benji fired up more in the second half.

 

[happy_tiger]

Yeah the Poms have really surprised me Seems like the added NRL experience with the likes of Ellis,Rhino,Morley ,Widdup has really hardened them up

Australia will still go in as raging favourites and should win by 13+ barring any serious injuries in Wales game

 

[tigerlogic]

The whole kiwi team looked flat.. Being a kiwi myself living in aust I was very disappointed… Felt we lacked leadership wen it mattered
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[clifferdSH]

When I woke up this morning and heard the score, I was pretty shocked. But it's good to see England are being competitive and it should set up a good final against Australia next weekend.

 

[black_and_white_tige]

Have too agree with you TL, the Kiwi's did look very flat and tired. Very undisciplined effort, gave away too many silly penalties at the wrong end of the park. Tompkins seems to be the only dangerman for the Aussies next week, very allusive player when he's running the ball back. Having said that the Aussies will have to be on their game.
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[Tigerdave]

The Poms were really good, especially in defence. Should be a very good game next week.

How's Isaac Luke's form? that was pretty blatant, twisting Stanley's knee

 

[innsaneink]

England won on the back of their defence, they attacked in D where NZ were lethargic

Skinny 10 from Cechhin probably helped England, but Foran & Marshall went missing, benji seems to be turning into one of those players that resent getting tackled, Blair was dominated and Luke is turning into an A1 grub

 

[Flippedy]

Australia first, daylight second! The Poms have buckleys :sunglasses:

 

[Tiger_Watto]

**Chase has final say as Kiwis crash out**
By Ian McCullough AAP Sun, Nov 13, 2011 - 1:10 PM

England halfback Rangi Chase has revealed he was targeted by New Zealand skipper Benji Marshall during his side's shock 28-6 win that ended the world champions' Four Nations campaign on Saturday at Hull.

The victory secured the hosts place in next week's final at Elland Road against Australia and Kiwi-born Chase, who played with Marshall at Wests Tigers, admitted it was difficult facing the haka before the game as well as his former team-mate.

Marshall and Issac Luke, who was one of three Kiwi players placed on report, both had scuffles with Chase in a bad-tempered affair.

South Sydney hooker Luke was censured by Australian referee Matt Cecchin for twisting the England playmaker's leg in a dangerous manner late in the first half joining Ben Mautilino and Jeremy Smith, who will also face potential charges for dangerous tackles.

"He (Marshall) was giving me a hard time and it was expected," Chase said.

"They are passionate people and as soon as I pledged my allegiance to England I knew this was going to happen.

"People were going to get fired up and want to have a go at me. In a way it is a good thing because they are trying to put me off my game and I respect them.

"What happens on the field stays on the field and if I had of reacted in a different way they probably would have got what they wanted."

England coach Steve McNamara said he had to speak to Chase at halftime in an attempt to get him to re-focus after his bust-up with Luke just before the interval.

"I thought it was his most controlled performance for England and he opened them up a few times with some lovely passes," McNamara said.

"He started to get a bit niggly and why wouldn't you if you get your leg half twisted off.

"We got his eyes back with us at halftime and did well in the second half."

Chase insisted he had no problems with Luke, who was put on report for the second time in the tournament following his cannonball tackle on Australia prop David Shillington in the tournament opener in Warrington.

"I haven't really seen what he did but it is a physical game and you are out there to try and hurt people within the rules," Chase said.

"But if it is against the rules then it is not really in the game. If it was UFC it would be a different story. It is rugby league, those things happen. I am not really complaining about it. It's done. I can't say too much, I've done a few bad things on the field as well.

"Not particularly in that game but in the heat of the moment, so I will just roll on with it."

Marshall, who struggled to leave an impression on the match, tried to play down the situation, refusing to comment on what he had said to Chase.

"They won, he played well," Marshall said.

Coach Stephen Kearney also brushed aside Chase's claims.

"He's just left our dressing room so it can't be that bad," he said.

Tries from Tom Briscoe, Ryan Hall, James Graham and Sam Tomkins sealed the win for the hosts, with Kevin Sinfield kicking six goals.

Jason Nightingale crossed for the Kiwis' only try.
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http://www.nrl.com/chase-has-final-say-as-kiwis-crash-out/tabid/10874/newsid/65460/default.aspx

 

[Tbone]

I think we're being too kind to Benji. He was pretty awful for most of the series. He probably had 10 good mins in the 2nd half last night but otherwise he was 3/10\. His kicking in general play was poor and his options were dreadful, made worse by the even clumsier execution of those bad options.

Blair played in the front row and whilst he didn't make a lot of bustling runs, i think he played the full 80 again. I actually thought he had a good game and must have been close to the Kiwi's best in a bad team. He was put on his backside a couple of times but it was on the back of excruciatingly slow one-off ball. His defence was excellent. He made at least one try saving tackle (which incidently went unrecognised by the pom broadcasters) and two times when the English made breaks through the ruck it was coincidentally when Blair was the tackler at market and not in the defensive line.

All in all the English were good and the Kiwis looked unmotivated and lazy.

As for Heighington, I barely remember seeing him throughout the match so i dont know what that says for his performance. I haven't re-watched the game so maybe I'm being harsh, but he was quiet in attack at least.

Hopefully Keefy and Lawrence have good games today (although I think I heard Chris may be left out to give Tonga a run)

 

[jais_tigez]

Just watched the highlights Isaac Luke is a grub
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[clifferdSH]

Just watched the highlights Isaac Luke is a grub
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Agreed. He is becoming a world class grub really fast, I think he's done 4 dog acts in as many weeks?

 

[stryker]

Benji must be devastated with his 4 nations campaign after playing so well for the majority of the year. He'd be lucky to score 5/10 for the tournament.

Isaac Luke needs a very long suspension. he has been purposefully trying to take players out of the game with illegal, dirty tactics. Thaiday, Shillington, one of the Wales boys and Chase…you are correct Cliffered, 4 dog acts in 4 games.

 

[spearby]

i only watched the 1st half benji was very quite in attack. is he carrying an injury .also for wt in the finals i thought he was very quite for benji or do i expect to much

 

[happy_tiger]

Benji must be devastated with his 4 nations campaign after playing so well for the majority of the year. He'd be lucky to score 5/10 for the tournament.

Isaac Luke needs a very long suspension. he has been purposefully trying to take players out of the game with illegal, dirty tactics. Thaiday, Shillington, one of the Wales boys and Chase…you are correct Cliffered, 4 dog acts in 4 games.

To give credit where credit is due Stryker You stuck your neck out and said Poms would beat NZ Good call Brother Qlder and Tiger

 

[Tbone]

Benji must be devastated with his 4 nations campaign after playing so well for the majority of the year. He'd be lucky to score 5/10 for the tournament.

Isaac Luke needs a very long suspension. he has been purposefully trying to take players out of the game with illegal, dirty tactics. Thaiday, Shillington, one of the Wales boys and Chase…you are correct Cliffered, 4 dog acts in 4 games.

To give credit where credit is due Stryker You stuck your neck out and said Poms would beat NZ Good call Brother Qlder and Tiger

I actually wondered whether he was injured myself. He may just be down on confidence and motivation. He looked a yard slower, his timing was off and so was his balance, especially when throwing the long ball.

Personally it doesnt bother me too much. I always want WTs players to do well, but if its not for WTs my care factor is nowhere near as high. Players as good as him dont stay down for long. He's never been as consistent as Lockyer, Smith, Cronk, Thurston etc. More brilliant but less consistent.

On that note, I think we'd all give away a bit of his brilliance for a bit more consistency. :blah

 

[Tbone]

I quoted the wrong post above :crazy

Should have been the one asking if Benj is carrying an injury.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

<big>**I tried to break his leg**</big>
Liam Napier November 20, 2011

NEW ZEALAND hooker Issac Luke has admitted he deliberately tried to break cousin Rangi Chase's leg during the Four Nations.

Luke returned to Sydney this week after a Four Nations campaign in Britain that was as much a personal disaster for him as it was for the Kiwis, who failed to make the final.

The South Sydney star came under fire for not only his cannonball-style tackling technique but also for the leg wrench he inflicted on England's New Zealand-born playmaker Chase last weekend. He was suspended for two matches.

Luke made the stunning admission yesterday it was Chase's decision to switch allegiance from New Zealand to England that pushed him over the edge.

''I just saw red,'' Luke said. ''A lot of the legends that played in the black and white jersey, they wanted blood. I know Rubes [assistant coach Ruben Wiki] wanted blood.

''I guess that's the mentality us young ones have taken on board. We had a talk the night before about what the jersey meant and that must have come out.

''When you come up against your family you want to outplay them. I didn't outplay him. I tried to break his leg. It was the wrong thing to do.

''Now I see that; at the time I didn't. After the game I said sorry. He said it stays on the field.''

He has since apologised to Chase, a junior league teammate from Taranaki who was seen in the Kiwis' dressing room afterwards, and regrets the moment of madness that could have put his cousin on crutches.

''I've got to try and control my aggression rather than try to break everyone. I'm regretting it but I can't take it back. I need to wipe all that stuff out of my game,'' Luke said.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/i-tried-to-break-his-leg-20111119-1nofi.html

I find this admission bloody terrible… Should something more be done about this???

 

[Florrie]

And that's a direct quote? Wow. Just…wow.

Luke is a genuine grub.