Most teams have made progress since the last WC.

I'd say PNG have made the most progress, and have great plans in place to keep improving rapidly.

Tonga, Samoa and Fiji have made good progress too. Fiji are unfortunate in that Korbin and Tariq Sims, Kane Evans, Daniel Saifiti and Regan Campbell-Gillard are all unavailable, and that would be their starting forwards I think.

France has made some progress, but unfortunately, the Pacific Island teams have progressed much more.



USA and Canada need to be the focus for the next 2 world cups. I'm told this cup will make decent money, and I'd just about spend it all on giving the US and Canada as many development opportunities as possible.

I'll start with a negative first. Then finish on the positives as I think they are the most important here:



Negatives



1. Crowds - yes I know that the crowds in Australia have been poor. But I think a lot of that is also down to poor stadium allocation. For example, France vs Lebanon was played in a 25k stadium in Canberra and 5K turned up. This should have been played in an area with a high percentage of Lebanese Australians such as Sydney in a 10-15k capacity stadium. Would have attracted more spectators, a better atmosphere and the grounds don't look as empty. Also hosting the England vs Lebanon match at the 45k Sydney Football Stadium was an absolute brainfart. Realistically how many people over in Aus are going to watch that game? Similarly I don't think Australia vs Lebanon will fill half that stadium so pointless having that game there too. I think we got this right in the 2013 WC making use of Rochdale's links with Fijian RL players by hosting a Fiji match there, also making use of the smaller Workington ground (yet situated in a big RL area) for 'lower' matches. Yet seemed to sell these out. And matches like Scotland vs USA were played in Salford (12k capacity) and a 6k attendance. It all just seems like there is no thinking behind the stadium allocation.



2. Home Nations - so far the home nations have performed shockingly. England haven't looked good yet although I will hold judgement on them until the QF's. However Wales and Scotland might as well have stayed at home. On paper they don't have bad teams but they have been so poor is ridiculous.



3. Blowouts - compared to the 2013 WC there have been some absolute blowouts so far. However I expect the QF's and SF's to be more competitive this time around and there won't be a repeat of the AUS 62-0 USA (QF) and AUS 64-0 FIJI (SF) in 2013.



Positives



1. PNG Home Games - the decision to give PNG 3 home matches in the group stages was bang on (maybe there is brains in the organisation after all). The two games so far have been fantastic! And if PNG do get to the QF's I would swap their match from Melbourne (against England) to PNG. Yes it will put us at a disadvantage but if ENG vs AUS cannot generate a buzz at Melbourne then ENG vs PNG won't. So move it to Port Morsby and I guarantee that will be the game of the QF's!



2. Pacific Nations - they have all been fantastic! I feel for Samoa, there were so competitive in the 2014 Four Nations but the emergence of Tonga and the resurgence of PNG coupled with the high flying Fijians has seen Samoa become the 4th best Pacific Nation! However either one could upset the Tier 1 nations.



3. Ireland - personally I expected them to be the worse performing of the home nations but they have played extremely well, a good win against Italy and although I haven't watched the PNG game I'm assuming they must have played well for it to have only finished 14-6!



4. USA - although they have been spanked, I like that the majority of their squad is American and they are using this as a way to expose their players to a high standard. Shame that they finished 5th in 2013 and probably 12th here. But at least they have been slightly better than Scotland and Wales. They have great development opportunities between now and the 2025 World Cup. Hopefully the inclusion of a New York team in 2019 helps to kickstart RL in that country!



For the future I would like to see the Pacific Islands host home games the next time the World Cup is down under. I have personally seen first hand the passion Fiji has for rugby so for them to host a couple of home games in Suva would be massive! It would be packed out and I imagine Samoa and Tonga would be the same. Also I hope when GB or England tour down under we have one or two test matches against PNG in Port Morsby as really think we need to be taking good rugby there and make sure PNG eventually become the 4th nation which can compete with Eng/Aus/NZ on a regular basis.

I have been impressed with the speed of the video refs calls.

I feel it has generally been a good World CUp so far, the stadium issues already raised plague also the NRL, using telstra and allianz for games that will get 10-15K is not a sign of strength but a sign of weakness, the games should have been at Belmore etc.....



Overall the standard of play is up and I put that down to the change in qualification criteria for players, this is definately the best way forward, the pacific islands have always been strong but they just got a shot in the arm with a few extra players here and there due to the change.



The home nations have really been embarrassing, except Enlgand who are easing in I feel, Scotland last year were running it with the Kiwis but are now getting whacked by teams well below them.



Wales too, Ireland have done their best I think with what they have and France are the ever under achievers and need Toulouse to get promoted before they can start to get enough home grown players going.



Australia look unbeatable, but the world cup should not be about that, it should be about promoting the game and developing the game and nurturing the smaller nations giving them something to aspire to.



It has done that already the Port Moresby and Hamilton crowds alone.

Loving it so far. Only negatives so far for me are England's performances, the poor crowds, and the fact that Vossy isn't doing any commentary

To echo the views on the Pacific Island nations, they've made this tournament worth getting up in the morning for. I'd love to see those nations integrated more into the international calendar more so that they get more exposure to the T1 nations, because it's very enjoyable to watch.

I would have given PNG a quarter final tie whether they were playing in the game or not

The tickets at the stadium in png go for 30 PGK - which is about $10Aus - and even that is a weeks wages for some people in PNG.

Something which has frustrated me is the constant interference at the ruck and the referees inability to deal with it. We're often told that the NRL monitors this aspect of the game much better that the SL, but from what I've seen, that's simply not true.

I'm personally loving it. Been getting up early to watch the games live and have enjoyed them.



The Toa Samoa v Mate Ma'a Tonga game was the best international rugby league game I’ve ever seen and easily the best and most passionate sporting pre-game spectacle I’ve ever seen.



England were okay against Aus and dreadful against Lebanon. They are playing like Wayne Bennett’s interviews; uncomfortable to watch and boring.



Papua New Guinea have been great to watch and their fans are loving it. It's a shame their 1/4 final isn't in Port Moresby.



Then New Zealand v Tonga next week has the potential to be the game of the tournament!



Great start to the World Cup, just a shame England have been average and that the Aussie public haven't bothered turning up.

Good game but can't beat 2nd test against the Aussies in 1990. Brilliant game even though we lost. Back on topic. Ive been a bit meh about this world cup. That's possibly to do with it being down under though and I can't get to see many games because of work.

That's because they have an official on the pitch whose job it is to police the ruck in the NRL