Sorry you're right, it's all his fault we lost. He didn't boss that game from the off at all and definitely didn't set up 2 tries or nearly score a third.
Should've been Kevin Brown out there or Myler. That would've shown em.

Considering he only had 1 tournament as captain he did pretty well.
Did OK in the last 4N too, with his MOM against NZ taking us to the final.

Haha, coming from the man who tried many times to ascribe England's international failure at the door of Sinfield given the less-than-ordinary nature of the England/GB team as a whole for many decades now......pot kettle black William. Come on I thought you were better than that or does highlighting the England team showing good signs of improvement under Sinfield's captaincy irritate you that much. Let's not forget Sinfield only took over as captain roughlyl 12 months prior to the WC and we closed the gap quite a bit compared to our recent WC showings, we went from embarrassing batterings to making the Aussies/Kiwis fight to the wire for their wins.....imagine what could've happened had we give the guy the captaincy several years earlier and had more time to stamp his leadership over the national team

Burrow has proven his worth both in big games for Leeds and for GB. He offers a more dynamic threat but it really depends how Roby's game alters (if at all) as he gets older and if you feel the need for another pivot. If you don't have a Sinfield/O'Loughlin at loose who can play a bit and go with a workhorse backrower or another prop at Loose then you might want someone on the bench with more of a halfback's game.

Like the best that Bangkok has to offer, Burrow provides something different to other, regular hookers.

The problem with Roby is his inability to play 80 minutes. If he can then the bench can be set up very differently. Having to pick a player who can sub at hooker on the bench means no room for either a genuine big forward or utility back.

Is that what you've been left with? A warm-up match? Oh dear that sabbatical hasn't done you any good has it.

Lets be honest, up until the last WC sinfield had endured quite a torid time on the international stage.But during his periods in the team until that point he was steering a rudderless ship, our team on the whole was so far behind the NZ and OZ teams as shown in results from the mid 2000's on so its hardly surprising he couldn't shine.

In the WC, Sinfield finally had a side around him who could genuinly compete for 80 minutes with the other 2 big nations and and,surprise surprise! , he delivered in every game. Its a shame of course what happened at the end of the semi (in which he was excellent on the whole), but imo he retires at least with his head held high, if not with the legacy he will leave when he retires from his club.

A true professional whose determination, commitment and attitude could never be questioned. Shame the entire team and coaching set up is so far behind the Aussies, but I don't think Sinfield can be blamed for that.

He will probably do a good job captaining the team from the medical room.

You keep saying this, but Roby plays 80 minutes every week. Also, why is picking a half back or utility on the bench a better tactic than playing a 2nd hooker?

"In the WC, Sinfield finally had a side around him"

This is the key part. His first 8 years for England 2000-2008 he wasn't really given the reigns. He sometimes got picked, sometimes not. Some in the halves, loose, 2nd row, hooker, bench. Once he got given the 6 shirt and more importantly the captaincy he started to show what he could do.

Even the Aussie press had him rated quite highly on a list best international performers over the last few years didn't they?

He might not have lead us past New Zealand and Australia (might've done the latter had James Graham not made himself unpickable for that game and had O'Loughlin been fit, both the main contenders for the captaincy now. Instead we got Tom Burgess and Mossop taking their places for the opener ) but only given the captains role the previous year was perhaps too short a turnaround. Remember in 2003 in his first year as Leeds captain we fell short but Rome wasn't built in a day....or year in these cases)

The biggest mistake regarding Sinfield and the 2013 WC was that we didn't make him captain straight after the 2008 WC.

I though Sinny may go around one last time. After falling to fit in whilst Farrell and Sculthorpe were around and being criminally wasted by Noble he'd finally settled and was leading the team and playing well, very well in many games.

Still the decision makes absolute sense for him and is good new for the club.

As for his replacement O'Loughlin is the obvious choice though I do like Damo's suggestion of Shenton, a player I have never rated that much but who has impressed me massively this year.