I'd have said Chase was excellent in defence (very strong and helped out immensely out wide against Australia) and part of a reasonably well-structured backline.

An argument could have been made for McNamara selecting Widdopp ahead of Chase before the cup started, but one of the weaknesses England has is that unless we pick a club partnership, our halfbacks (and in fact the whole team) very rarely get to play together.

McNamara had to choose and stick with a halfback partnership before the tournament started. Compare to Australia where Slater, Cronk, Smith and Thurston have played oodles of times for Qld, and 3 of them every week for the Storm.

The only thing that could and should have changed McNamara's selections was as others have said if the reserve halfback was so awesome off the bench that they forced their way in. Widdopp has been OK off the bench. But has he put in performances demanding of a start? I think not.

In fact what England need more than anything isn't Chase to do much more (or Widdopp) but Sam Tomkins to start firing. He was OK in patches against Australia but hasn't really been the great attacking threat he needs to be.

Did you actually read what I posted or just see what you wanted to see and then spewed out some guff onto your keyboard?

I don't rate Widdop because he plays in the NRL, I rate him because he's a good player. That doesn't mean I don't rate Chase, just that I think Widdop is better suited to one style of play and Chase to another. If England can find a way unleashing Chase's talents then fantastic. But does that leave too much on Sinfield's shoulders?

At the start of the tournament I'd have started Widdop, but as others have said Chase has played well and Widdop hasn't, so Chase deserves starting now.

We'll see just how good Widdop is next year when he doesn't have Smith, Slater and Cronk calling the plays around him. I'm not saying he'll fail but he won't have the excellence around him that he's had the Storm.

What sport do you suggest clown boy?

Calling somebody a clown when you walk around with a ginger clowns wig on your head is slightly ironic!,

Come on treacle, that's awful! Terrible [ishanter[/i

It's not shanter, it's based on evidenced based observation.

Let's be honest sugar I'd have to be vain or you to wear a wig

Doesn't make sense, evidence that my tax has been wasted on your University education.

It's taken you three days to think of that and you have been posting everywhere else


oh dear

What is Jon Wilkin on? On the red button show, theyve shown the England team he would pick against NZ and he would drop Hall to play Widdop in his place on the wing!

Wilkin loves the sound of his own voice. He's RL's answer to Gary Neville, although Neville knows what he's talking about a lot of the time.