Tournament craft - all about peaking. Particularly with Rugby as it's a game all about momentum. Physically and mentally. If they had met SA and then NZ they probably would have won it.

I really did think England would win it from the start.

FranticPea wrote:

Cracking advertisement for Rugby League that game was. *runs*

On the contrary - to people like me it showed the type of game that could never exist in League. A good solid physical battle is a thing of beauty. As a neutral I would have thought it was a cracking match.

Then again, I like Italian football, so what do I know?

While true it’s a bit like saying that bit in cricket where stokes scored the winning runs wouldn’t happen in football.

There will be moments in league that couldn’t happen in Union because the field is just crammed with men. I don’t know the sport that well but I imagine the pressure of needed to do the business in five goes brings its own interesting moments.

mistercrayon wrote:

I imagine the pressure of needed to do the business in five goes brings its own interesting moments.

It does, and I like league too. But I just disagree that a game about attrition, grit and unbelievable levels of physical conviction and discipline is an advert for league because, hey, there could have been a few more long runs.