Hardaker did what he needed to do. He'll improve on that performance. The kiwis read some of our plays really well resulting in Hardaker getting manand ball on occasion. To say he flopped is one eyed nonsense from a Tomkins apologist. Hed have got flattened had he played. I still think despite his tackling Farrell is a touch to lightweught for test rygby. Good player though but undersized against the massive kiwis

The more I see of Widdopp the more I think he is Ben Walker reincarnated - looks classy, seems to do everything you'd expect of a great stand off, but then after a while you start to wonder where the breaks are (none), half breaks (almost none) and try-scoring passes (almost none). He is a better defender than Walker though.

I think he's less prone to daft mistakes and probably a lot more professional than Walker. But I agree with the general point. A lot of activity but not much actually ends up happening.

I don't think he flopped but I think he was pretty anonymous but as others have said it wasn't a game where he had many chances to shine due to the style of the battle.

I do however think if Tomkins was fit and performed the same way these boards would go into melt down calling for him to be dropped. That is a mute point however as he isn't fit and Hardaker is our 1 for this series at least and deserves the backing of the England fans.

The only real disappointment for me with his performance was I feel he could have really stood up and made a name for himself on the first try, I think it was, that was his only real "test" and he couldn't prevent the try when he had a reasonable shot at doing so. Being realistic this Kiwi team is miles off the pace missing most of their key players and they should not win a game in this series, I think opportunities will be few and far between for him to be tested in defense so when they come along I think he needs to take them to show up his ability in this respect.

It was his first run out at this level however and I am sure there is more to come, hopefully if we can be a bit more expansive we will see more of him going forward as against this Kiwi squad that is probably where he is going to get more opportunity to show off his talent.

Not sure how you've figured out that given the angles and how close Harris was to the line when he made the break that it's one any full-back could have prevented?

I don't care who is at full-back, Harris should be scoring there 99 times out of a hundred.

I'm amazed this thread has gone this far. Even the Wigan lot called it a day after a few posts

Very passive aggressive post from a massive Tomkins/Wigan fan.

This honestly feels like a knives sharpening post if I have ever seen one.

People have failed to mention that his kick offs add another threat from the start and his organisation of the goal line defence especially in the second half was outstanding.

Tomkins attack is benign at test level. It seems obvious to go with a FB who can catch and tackle.

For his first real international game he was perfectly steady.

Thought he did well just to get near stopping the kiwi's first try. Harris would've gone in untouched by quite a few FB's who'd have given it up.

I thought Widdop was excellent and wondered what the h*ll Williams contributed. He is the best half back prospect in SL but did sweet FA in this match. Out of hid depth, unsurprisingly.

I thought he warmed to the task and by full time had a solid game.

As I've said on another Thread, Danny Mags should be selected for England. If they want to try New Halfback Combinations, then isn't that what the England Knights concept is for?

This series and next years 4 nations should be used to develop the squad for the 2017 world cup. there aren't that many opportunities to play players together at international level.

Leave Danny mags out and concentrate on the players we hope to be playing in 2017.

Genuinely surprised at this. Once he found his feet I thought Williams showed a lot of class. He has that extra seconds with the ball magic about him.

The problem with this is exactly what has been said. Williams nor Smith will be the Halves in 2017. They swap and change depending on who has had a decent club season.

Instead of trying out different Halves year on year, why not have them play the in the England Knights Team and play the Australian Schoolboys and Kiwi Schoolboys and bring them up together like a Club would?

Then you can introduce a Solid pairing in years to come whilst playing the old heads in the meantime.