Part-time Wales perform against full-time England.

It would have been one of the most insignificant upsets in sporting history. For seventy minutes a part-time Wales squad fought toe-to-toe with Super League's finest English players and very nearly succeeded, not for the lack of fitness in the Welsh team.

After conceding 74 points a year ago in Doncaster, the Wales side did their country proud to have limited England's score to less than fifty. They did even better to stay within touching distance, trailing only by eight points after Ian Watson's quick tap from some quick thinking when England were penalised on their own try line early in the second half.

The reason they lost was simply due to the high level of consistency maintained by the English side, which is due to all of its players being full time professionals. The English level of fitness shone in the final fifteen minutes and they ran in 28 points within the final quarter of the game, which was so similar to watching a Super League side take on a Championship team in the Challenge Cup.

But full credit to Iestyn Harris and the entire Welsh squad for giving England a kick up the backside. Its encouraging from an expansionists point of view because it shows Wales are developing, despite the misfortunes of Celtic in recent months. Now what concerns me the most is England's upcoming performance in the Four Nations, and the form of certain individuals who played in this international friendly.

The most concerning of all is Paul Sykes. At full back he was inept at catching the simplist of kicks, with his knock ons giving Wales the ball within England's twenty metres on two occesions.
Admittingly Sean O'Loughlin played out of position in the centres, but even he failed to show his face until his try sixty minutes into the game. Even when he was moved into the loose forward's role, he went missing like a set of house keys minutes before your about to leave.
Richie Myler has an excuse for playing like he did. He hasn't played since July, which makes his inclusion into England's Four Nations squad even more unusual. I think he was played as a chance for him to blow off the cobwebs. I expect him to star in England's opener against France.
As for Thomkins, I would start him at scrum half on Friday. I would start him in the number seven shirt against Australia and I would put him at number seven against New Zealand as well. Yes, it was only a friendly against part-time opposition, but when you consider who else can play in the halfs in that 24 man squad he is easily the best man for the job.

So while Wales can look forward to a exciting European Nations Cup with games against Serbia and Ireland, England will be working hard in preperation to face Australia, France and New Zealand in a weeks time.

A previw on England and the entire Four Nations tournament is coming soon...