Briscoe was reluctant to catch the ball all game but doubt he's going to get dropped, Smith should be in there.

I think Tomkins has played OK, always a threat and defence was ok.

The main performers for me are Sinfield, Burgess, Graham, Ellis and Crabtree.

Thought Briscoe looked a bit nervy at times. Nothing outstanding but shrewed enough to make sure he got the penalty to take the game away from NZ at the end.

Briscoe has been average throughout the tournament, hasn't let anyone down but offers nothing whatsoever in attack. Lee Smith should be the full back but TS will stick with Briscoe.

Lee Smith is moving on, and should never have been picked in the squad in the first place. Briscoe played his part in that win, and deserves to keep his place. He's never going to be a great player, and the sooner England somehow develop a good attacking fullback the better, but until then, he's done at least as well as Welens and Radlinski - sorry 'the Ginger God' - for England.

more concerned about Bridge the aussis will have him for breakfast

I think they're still full from the Mcguire and Smith all you can eat buffet a fortnight ago.

I'd be tempted to play Smith as we all know how good he can be, but I'm not sure he's done enough in the tournament to warrant it, and he's always worth a penalty or two.

Birsco is certainly not the answer though, and we won't be seeing him at FB for England after this tournament I'm sure.

Agree, major problem! But im not sure what TS can do?

We tried McGuire, Smith and Tom Briscoe - They got torn apart. I guess as bad as it looks - Bridge and Fox will have to have there turn at stopping the most an absolutely unstoppable threequarter partnership supplied by one of the best ever half back partnerships in Lockyer and Thurston.

The only thing i can think of is Eastmood defending out wide right to sweeper Inglis as he is the only one who could match him for speed.

What about this young lad "the next Billy Slater"? Is it Widdop? Maybe a future fullback or just hyped up by the press?

there are people like Atkins who have pace and power, but it isn't combined with guile, passing ability or strong defence.

We seem to breed two varieties of centre. A running centre, or a passing centre. Its very rare you get both in one over here.

A problem with the junior setups at amateur clubs where the big lads tend to get put in the middle of the pitch so they get their hands on the ball more often?

True, but you'd think that at the top level, a player could significantly improve some of the more basic skills to a better level

Too late by that point.

By the time a player hits the first team at a SL/Championship club the majority of the available training time is taken up by game planning and structure. Professional coaches shouldn't have to be teaching their players the basics of the game.

Sadly too many junior sides are coached by people with a stack of enthusiasm but no real idea of how to teach kids properly. Lazy techniques get covered up by athletic ability through their development and they arrive on scholarships at pro clubs with gaping holes in their games.

Its true. I see plenty of players at my level who are one trick ponies, and that is good enough to be effective. Very little time is spent on improving basic skills.

I've played with and against some great runners who couldn't pass or tackle for $hit

Briscoe maybe 'solid' majority of the times. But he offers nothing in attack, in what is regarded as a strike position in the modern game.