Last updated: 19th November 2008
Robinson: World Cup winner
England had a warm-up against Wales, which was a total non-event - and then just 10 days to prepare for their opening game. That is no way to build for a World Cup in Australia.
Jason Robinson
Quotes of the week
Former Wigan great Jason Robinson reckons a lack of preparation played a key part in England's World Cup flop.
The dual code international is a rugby union World Cup winner and he draws a stark contrast between England's preparations for that tournament in Australia in 2003 and their league counterparts Down Under this year.
He told the Daily Express: "It is all a matter of preparation - when I played for England at rugby union we had the Six Nations, a summer tour and the autumn internationals to mould a side and get used to playing in a pressure environment.
"Mental toughness is as important as physical toughness and England failed in that department."
"Australia have the State of Origin series to help them reach that intensity on top of the ultra-competitive NRL, where most of the New Zealand Test side play.
"England had a warm-up against Wales, which was a total non-event - and then just 10 days to prepare for their opening game. That is no way to build for a World Cup in Australia."
Robinson went on to urge an expansion of the international fixture list.
"If we are serious about international rugby league, there has to be a way to give England more games in the course of a season before they face an international programme in the autumn," he added.
"Why not make use of the quality overseas players in the Super League and form a Rest of the World side, including the likes of Brent Webb and Steve Menzies, to play England?
"Two weeks need to be taken out of the Super League season for such a game to be fitted in, if we are serious about improving the fortunes of our national side."
"You would have to overcome the inbuilt selfishness of the Super League clubs to do that - but the nettle has to be grasped.
"The best solution would be for England to play Australia or New Zealand on a yearly basis in mid-season to go along with a match against France, who at the moment cannot provide England with the necessary competition."

Pictures from Rhinos' victory over Tony Smith's Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Pictures from the World Club Challenge final between Leeds and Manly at Elland Road.
Pictures from Friday night's match where Giants claimed their first league win at Bulls for 40 years.
Pictures from Headingley Carnegie where Leeds and Celtic Crusaders kicked off the new season.
Pictures from Rhinos' victory over Tony Smith's Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Engage Super League | |
| Saturday 4th July | |
| 17:00 | Hull vs Leeds |
| 18:00 | Celtic Crusaders vs Warrington |
| 20:00 | Catalans Dragons vs Hull K R |
| Sunday 5th July | |
| 15:00 | Bradford vs Castleford |
| 15:00 | Huddersfield vs Wakefield |
| Friday 10th July | |
| 20:00 | Wigan vs Catalans Dragons |
| 20:00 | Wakefield vs Leeds |
| Saturday 11th July | |
| 15:00 | Harlequins RL vs Huddersfield |
| 18:00 | Celtic Crusaders vs Salford |
| Sunday 12th July | |
| 15:00 | Hull K R vs Bradford |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Engage Super League | |
| Friday 3rd July | |
| Salford 20 - 10 St Helens | |
| Wigan 40 - 12 Harlequins RL | |
| Sunday 28th June | |
| Hull K R 28 - 36 Wigan | |
| Wakefield 20 - 18 Harlequins RL | |
| Warrington 24 - 12 Hull | |
| Saturday 27th June | |
| Castleford 20 - 22 Catalans Dragons | |
| Friday 26th June | |
| Leeds 33 - 20 Bradford | |
| Salford 10 - 34 Huddersfield | |
| St Helens 30 - 0 Celtic Crusaders | |
| Sunday 21st June | |
| Bradford 18 - 44 St Helens | |
Read what Sky Sports' experts and bloggers have been talking about over the last seven days in sport...
As clubs start planning for 2010, Luke Dorn explains why July can be a nervous month for players.
Ian Millward told Boots 'n' All that it is his ambition to lead Leigh Centurions into the Super League.
Sean Long will be absent for around two months after it was confirmed he suffered a broken jaw in St Helens' 20-10 defeat at Salford
Sydney Roosters forward Mark O'Meley has agreed a three-year deal to become Hull's fourth signing for 2010.
Hull FC coach Richard Agar has been forced to make two changes to his squad for Saturday.
Dane Carlaw has been ruled out of Catalans Dragons' clash at home to Hull KR on Saturday.
Celtic Crusaders forward Darren Mapp has been ruled out for the season after having an operation to repair a torn pectoral muscle.