What is often quite comical about those who question Smith's selections are the players they nominate as being ones who could have made a difference were it not for his coaching ineptitude in not spotting their talents - Brough, for example.

Tony Smith isn't responsible for the failure of thousands of amateur clubs up and down the country to produce two half backs and two centres of the required standard for the last 10-15 years. Like every other coach he can only work with what he's got, and what he's got is by no measure good enough to challenge Australia and NZ on a consistent basis.

What Andy said.

When I saw the centres he'd named for the squad my initial reaction was WTF? Then I stopped and though about what his alternatives were. Unlike some, I didn't post until after I had stopped and thought.

Discussion about his selections/tactics is fine. I've done plenty of it on this very thread. But the bile certain posters reserve for him (saying he's only picked players because of club bias, he has no tactics etc) is frankly a little embarrassing.

That's just it though in manys opinion that he "isn't" working with what he's got.
It's his selections after banging on about the future and picking on form he clearly doesn't?????????
I agree about the clubs producing more quality in bigger numbers but when he makes statements like the above and then selects sykes,myler,bridge and L.smith it doen't add up.
That alone gives people the idea wether right or wrong about club bias and ego!!

Typical of the criticism levelled at Tony Smith - offer some alternative selections who have had better years than those he has picked.

We'll see how many of them are Leeds players before we touch on the concept of club bias shall we?

High quality post

I am not sure what else Smith could do I would go with the following

1. Owen
2. Shenton
3. Ellis
4. Smith
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. McGuire
8. Morley
9. Diskin
10.Graham
11.Gilmour
12.Peacock
13.Burgess

Subs
14.Carvell
15.Roby
16.Eastmond
17.Crabtree

I personally would not have Tomkins anywhere near this side - I think the Aussies will destroy him tomorrow - this is the big league.

We will not beat the Aussies by free flowing rugby the only chance we have is to control their forward motion and beat them in a tight game.

To do that we will have to defend like the Kiwis did last week hence Ellis and Gilmour to defend on either side

We need a boring structured attack hence Sinfield at 6

Pity Owen isn't selected for me he is the most exciting young player in SL.

Plank.

I agree with your sentiment, but too many players out of position for me.

Our strength is in our forwards, so we should not sacrifice some of them to plug other gaps. Ellis has been bashing the Aussie forwards all year, so has to play in the pack. I'd sooner use Gilmour there.

The truth is that the available players are not good enough in enough numbers. There is not a decent centre partnership with some major flaw.

So you think the current England team would give you great sex, with some persuasion, but you'd want to sh*g their sisters?

Absopositively yes!!

It's like sharing a forum with Oscar Wilde. I'm so glad you're around to brighten my days with your witty repartee.

Enjoy me while you can!!