Thought Australia and England had a very similar approach to the game and the pattern of play was similar as well. Our weakness looks to be the No 9 position compared to Australia who just bring Grant into that position to up the game. Wane needs to sort that position out before we go into knock out rugby.

Wane can place Radley there if needs must.

I wondered what Keith Richards was doing in the Samoa dug out.

To be fair. I thought Ackers would have excelled yesterday when the likes of Tomkins, Welsby and Williams were tearing up the ruck. McIllorum’s distribution needs sorting but he was a lot more solid against Samoa’s pack than I thought he would be. That will be important early doors against the likes of Big Tino/RCG and Big NAS/Fisher-Harris.

Thought McLlorum's defence was decent in the first quarter, I think both No 9's struggled with their distribution, Levi had a really bad spell didn't know his passing options and picked the wrong players at times and didn't mix it up with short and long passes.

I'm far from being a "doom monger", but do they actually have a PA system at St James' Park? There was a bit of annoying noise, but no actual words could be discerned!!