That was the point of my original post & what Keith was saying. If Sinfield plays he has to call all the shots. He is neither the best SO or 13 (though the more obvious alternatives are injured) we have, but is head & shoulders above everyone else as a captain.

If Sinfield had been captain, the outcome would have been the same. Do you think a well-worded Sinfield speech would have caused the ref to reverse his decision?

FOr the record, JP speaks perfectly eloquently and intelligently when he isn't on camera. I don't think he likes the media spotlight. I'd bet his speeches to his team are a bit different. I also like leaders who do things by example. Miles better than frilly words. As alluded to above, there are plenty of talkers in the England team already. Non-issue for me.

More than likely. I've seen Sinfield talk to refs aplenty but, off the top of my head, can't think of any decisions that were reversed as a result. Besides, Webb deserved some benefit for bouncing a ball off Wilkin's head. Just a pity it wasn't a water bottle, boot, brick etc

For me Widdop to replace Yeaman at centre and Carvell on the bench. Otherwise same team.

Something else for him to moan about

Just slightly off topic, but about the England team all the same. Personally I just don't see the big thing about this Heighington fella. Seen nothing in him in the two games played to suggest he is any better for the role than others.

Would peronally prefer Sinfield at 13, but if the coaches decide 6 is best, then I would go for Ellis at 13 instead of Heighington, and bring Ablett in. IMO Ablett looks better than him.

Apologies if this upsets the NRL apologists, but I often see players written off for England after just one below par performance, so why shouldn't this guy be?

The only thing I noticed was that he got smashed by one of the welsh in the first half, then went off for quite a long time soon after. Not overly impressed so far.

Forwards for England

Graham - Roby - Peacock
Westwood - Ellis
Heighington

Subs

Morley
Carvell
Sinfield (interchange hooker)
[delPeacock[/del JJB

Good stint for Peacock there, starting prop, and off the bench !

The reason Sinfield does it, the reason Farrell & Sculthorp did it, the reason every Aussie captain I have seen in 30 years did it, the reason Alex Ferguson continually questions every decision, is not to reverse the decision just made but to make the ref think twice the next time before ruling against their team.

You didn't say that though, you asked whether a specific decision would've been reversed

However, you make a serious point. Whether Sinfield's comments to refs have been effective in the way you suggest I couldn't say. There have been times when I've suspected he's been too persistent, to a point where the ref's got hacked off and actually given our opponents the benefit of any doubt going.

Agree. Looks to have been selected largely on the basis that he plays in the NRL to me. Maybe he'll prove us wrong with subsequent performances.

If it were up to me (whicvh thankfully it isn't) I'd go for a big ball carrier at 13 to start with, and consider moving Sinfield there and adding another creative player off the bench later in the game.

It doesn't work. Leeds lost nearly every penalty count last year despite Sir Kev's silvery tongue. And don't even mention wendyball, for f***s sake, they are ALL gob$h!tes. I don't know how you can single any one of them out.

You made a stupid statement about Peacock and now you are stuck trying to defend it.