Thoughts on Englands performance

Quote: Banielates "Mcguire hasn't even been playing international RL for a decade. Didn't he make his debut in 2004? I can't remember all his appearances, but let's look at this.

In 2004, he did well. He came on late against the aussies in the first game, and then showed up very well in the 3 games (which gb won well) before being left on the bench in the final.

He missed the 2005 tri nation IIRC.

In 2006 he played when they narrowly lost the first game to the kiwis. He missed the win over australia then came back to play the kiwis when the whole team was completly smashed in wellington. He played the final game against australia when i seem to remember he scored a try, playing with richard horne whom to my knowledge he's never played with before, or since in the halfback positions.

In 2007 Gb won a series against the kiwis but it was burrow and pryce at halfback. If mcguire played it was a cameo role at best and hardly much opportunity.

The 2008 world cup, we all know what happened there. It's hard to remember team selections and performances throughout the tournament, but in the most important game I do remember a class performance from mcguire in the final game against the kiwis, where both teams were playing to make the final.

In 2009 mcguire was poor. That's the first time you could say that in his international career.

In 2010 he was injured.

Then we arrive at 2011 and yet to be decided. I hardly think 1 or 2 poor performances in 2009 equate to ''[iutter rubbish and out of his depth on the international stage for the best part of a decade. ''[/i

You think you know everything Keith (jeff) but sometimes your opinions are just plain bullsh*t.'"

It must be very difficult to recall McGuire's performances in 2006 and 2008 down under when you weren't there. Thankfully, I was in attendance at both, so I can help you out here.

McGuire was dropped after the first game against the Kiwis in Christchurch in 2006 for a poor performance and replaced by Pryce at stand off for the game against Australia in Sydney, which GB won in his absence. Due to Carney's injury and exit from the tour after the win against Australia, Pryce had to replace Carney on the wing for the rest of the tour, hence McGuire's enforced reselection due to lack of alternatives. Despite another poor performance from McGuire in Wellington, there was no option but to select him and Horne for the final game against Australia in Brisbane due to the early departure home of Sean Long due to personal reasons. McGuire was crap throughout the 2006 Tri Nations.

In the 2008 World Cup, McGuire was dropped after the 52-4 loss against Australia. Apart from the missed tackles, the errors, the spear tackle on Inglis resulting in a penalty and the sublime grubber kick straight into the hands of Inglis leading to a length of the field try for Slater, I don't recall McGuire doing anything else of note. His return to the side for the Semi Final against the Kiwis saw him score two tries, but he was also directly responsible for the concession of three Kiwi tries along with a turnstile role in the concession of a fourth. Three further missed tackles and an ineffective tackle in that game is hardly worthy of your claim that it was a class performance from McGuire. In terms of an erroneous performance, he matched Ade Gardner that night.

If 2008 wasn't deemed as enough-is-enough, 2009 should certainly have closed the final curtain on McGuire's international career, because a couple of promising performances way back in 2004 prior to a role in the 4-44 hammering at Elland Rd just doesn't cut the mustard.