Maybe he is just a diddlydonk.

He's saving his best combinatins and personnel for the final...

No really

Lee Smith is still the only player in the squad that makes no sense at all - either for today (Senior being a far better centre right now) or the 'future' since he'll likely be in Union.

As for Tomkins, I did predict that Smith may do this. Another way to look at this is that Tomkins was always first choice, but Myler hadn't played a real game for months. The game against France was therefore the logical chance to get Myler a game in case McGuire/Tomkins get injured. He couldn't risk playing both together against France in case things went pear-shaped. If that's the case it suggests Smith must see Tomkins/Myler as the future, as there'd be other choices like Rob Burrow for second string halfback.

It's interesting that so much focus has been put on Tomkins, because for England to stand any chance at all I think it's actually McGuire that has to play a blinder.

I like the pack and I think the bench has the right balance. I am just worried about the threequarters.

I think the only people worried by our threequarters are England fans. I suspect Australia and NZ don't know anything about them and really don't care. In a way that's a good thing - it's up to our lads to show the world they can play a bit.

Really - you think the Aussies will be quaking in their boots at the thought of Tomkins ball in hand?

The Aussies will concentrating on their own game because they know if they play to anything like their collective ability this game will be a massacre.

Presumably you'd be getting some sort of holiday in Australia for your money as well, not just nipping over for the games? No disrespect to Wigan and Doncaster, but they don't have the same appeal as holiday destinations.

On an unrelated note, my grammar detectors are unhappy about the use of the phrase "He's got some offload" attributed to Tony Smith.

I am reminded very much of the build up to the 1990 tour.

All the pre match build up was about the size and power of the Aussie centres, Menninga and McGaw. They were bigger and better than Hodges and Inglis. Mal Reilly selected two midgets in comparison to deal with them, Darryl Powell and Carl Gibson. The rest is history.

Maybe, just maybe, we could see another David and Goliath on Saturday?

Or am I just desperately trying to find some optimism.

Nice to see the usual suspects letting the bile they reserve for Smith rise to the surface.

I don't think the problems lay at the feet of Smith, he has made a few questionable decisions, but none that will determine the outcome of the tournament.

The omissions of Senior, Pryce and Burrow seem a bit controversial. But if he wins on Saturday, or next week then the tournament is a sucess

But the pack is not a lot different to this team and we know what happened then.

Paul Wellens
Ade Gardner
Mark Calderwood
Keith Senior
Martin Gleeson
Leon Pryce
Rob Burrow
Kevin Sinfield
Gareth Ellis
James Roby
Jamie Peacock
Adrian Morley
James Graham
Substitues
Danny McGuire
Jon Wilkin
Gareth Hock
Maurie Fa'asavalu

Quote: G1 "I am reminded very much of the build up to the 1990 tour. All the pre match build up was about the size and power of the Aussie centres, Menninga and McGaw. They were bigger and better than Hodges and Inglis. Mal Reilly selected two midgets in comparison to deal with them, Darryl Powell and Carl Gibson. The rest is history. Maybe, just maybe, we could see another David and Goliath on Saturday? Or am I just desperately trying to find some optimism. Nice to see the usual suspects letting the bile they reserve for Smith rise to the surface.'" I'm desperately trying to find some optimism too, and found a little bit here www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjZ7HsspI3o . Stephenson and Loughlin in the centres. David Hulme vs. Wally Lewis at stand-off. Mr.Reliable at full-back. Not a chance. Rewatching the highlights, Andy Gregory absolutely *ran* that game though. Also considerable Headingley connections in that match: 12 of the starting 26 played at some point for Leeds (easy quiz if anyone wants to play). And none of them won anything beyond a Yorkshire Cup

Quote: G1 "I am reminded very much of the build up to the 1990 tour. All the pre match build up was about the size and power of the Aussie centres, Menninga and McGaw. They were bigger and better than Hodges and Inglis. Mal Reilly selected two midgets in comparison to deal with them, Darryl Powell and Carl Gibson. The rest is history. Maybe, just maybe, we could see another David and Goliath on Saturday? Or am I just desperately trying to find some optimism. Nice to see the usual suspects letting the bile they reserve for Smith rise to the surface.'" I'm desperately trying to find some optimism too, and found a little bit here www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjZ7HsspI3o . Stephenson and Loughlin in the centres. David Hulme vs. Wally Lewis at stand-off. Mr.Reliable at full-back. Not a chance. Rewatching the highlights, Andy Gregory absolutely *ran* that game though. Also considerable Headingley connections in that match: 12 of the starting 26 played at some point for Leeds (easy quiz if anyone wants to play). And none of them won anything beyond a Yorkshire Cup

Who else could England have as coach who is more qualified than Smith? the thought that the likes of Harrison might have got the job is too frightening to contemplate.

McRae will be the next England coach IMO which is a massive step backwards compared to the current encumbent

Yes but none of those backs are playing so just wait until Hodges and Inglis get a load of Smith and Shenton............

Oh goodness me, come on people. This is a test against the Aussies. Its' on BBC on a Saturday afternoon. lets' get all nostalgic and pretend we have a chance.

The only one I would cite as controversial is the omission of Burrow.

Senior had retired and so, I suppose, his commitment to the cause might be questioned. Pryce had been woefully out of form and for years we had been asking for a coach to pick players on form.

The 7 shirt was Burrows (ignoring the France mid season meaningless games) and I don't think Myler or Tomkins had done enough YET to take it off him. Particularly after he had such a big game, yet again, in the Grand Final and particularly as he was just one international series away from being man of the series. He's been discarded way too quickly.

I think Smith is, like David says, the best available man for the job and, like you, I don't think Smith's selections are going to be what causes us to not win this series, if indeed we do not win this series. Its' hardly rocket science to recognise that their players are, still, much better than ours and we have a lot of work to do.

Still, that won't stop the usual suspects on here getting the knives out for Smith.