The principal of picking the players that give you the best chance to win?

Follow that principle through and ask why Jamie Peacock is playing ahead of Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook.

I am a great believer in International Rugby League. I think International Rugby League would flourish if we could win this series. I think to do that you pick the best team available to you. Smith is available.

Your example of Farrell and Robinson is moot because I don't think a scenario like this ever occurred.

I wasn't a fan of Noble as GB coach but one sentiment he expressed that I do agree with is that international jerseys should be earned and not handed out just because of what you might think some you kid could, potentially do in the future.

The main reason we struggled so much in the World Cup (and there were a lot of reasons, many of Tony Smith's making) was that we didn't take enough Props over there in the first place. I'd hoped with this squad including Crabtree and Carvell, Smith had seen his error and would *put two bloody props on the bench and spell the forwards more effectively so that Peacock and Morley aren't shot by the time we play NZ*. But no, Tony Smith doesn't make mistakes. Tony Smith is right all along. We'll see.

I wouldn't be surprised with a PNG 2008-style game vs. France.

Not sure if this has already been mentioned but this is a real chance for Sinfield to stamp his authority on the international scene and stake a claim for future captaincy.

Spot on.
Once Fassavalou (sp) got injured we wwre shot.

Oh and Smith also only took one specialised fullback, who had a nightmare series.

Depends how Smith uses him.

If he uses him in the same pivot role he plays at Leeds he'll do just fine.

If he does what he's done with him since he took the England job (and Noble/Waite before him did) and ask him to play as a running loose forward then he'll struggle and the usual "not good enough at that level" voices will be out in force.

Still, at least unlike both Waite and Noble he seems to have figured out that he needs to be selected at loose forward, not stand off or hooker.

Quote Richie="Richie"Well, here's your team www.englandrl.co.uk/article.php?id=15740 1 Shaun Briscoe (Hull KR) 2 Tom Briscoe (Hull FC) 3 Lee Smith (Leeds Rhinos) 4 Michael Shenton (Castleford Tigers) 5 Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos) 6 Danny MCGuire (Leeds Rhinos) 7 Richard Myler (Salford City Reds) 8 Jamie Peacock (Leeds Rhinos, capt ) 9 Scott Moore (Huddersfield Giants) 10 Adrian Morley (Warrington Wolves) 11 Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers) 12 Sam Burgess (Bradford Bulls) 13 Kevin Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos) Interchange 14 James Graham (St Helens) 15 James Roby (St Helens) 16 Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves) 17 Kyle Eastmond (St Helens)'" That is a strange team. Surely Tomkins has to be ahead of Myler if we're picking on form. OK its only against France but I would have liked to see McGuire and Tomkins play together before sticking them in against the Aussies and the Kiwi's and this was the perfect game to let them get used to each other a bit. As for the bench, thats just bizarre.

Quote Richie="Richie"Well, here's your team www.englandrl.co.uk/article.php?id=15740 1 Shaun Briscoe (Hull KR) 2 Tom Briscoe (Hull FC) 3 Lee Smith (Leeds Rhinos) 4 Michael Shenton (Castleford Tigers) 5 Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos) 6 Danny MCGuire (Leeds Rhinos) 7 Richard Myler (Salford City Reds) 8 Jamie Peacock (Leeds Rhinos, capt ) 9 Scott Moore (Huddersfield Giants) 10 Adrian Morley (Warrington Wolves) 11 Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers) 12 Sam Burgess (Bradford Bulls) 13 Kevin Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos) Interchange 14 James Graham (St Helens) 15 James Roby (St Helens) 16 Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves) 17 Kyle Eastmond (St Helens)'" That is a strange team. Surely Tomkins has to be ahead of Myler if we're picking on form. OK its only against France but I would have liked to see McGuire and Tomkins play together before sticking them in against the Aussies and the Kiwi's and this was the perfect game to let them get used to each other a bit. As for the bench, thats just bizarre.

Got to disagree there.
JP for me every time without doubt.

Biscuits are far too dry, you would get terrible dry mouth-----a yoghurt, ice cream, chocolate, that kind of thing is much better

I know we are supposed to hate saints players here, but Ade Gardner, an average at best player, is a better player than Peter Fox, who should now be beginning to peak in his career, and he still isnt really a threat

Completely agree AG it's a point that's been over-looked by many when wanting to stick the boot into sinfield at international level!

Me too but that is not the point I was making. I will illustrating that you don't simply discard players because they may not be around to play international Rugby in the distant future.