Anybody else heard Gareth Ellis wont be playiing due to knee op??

Briscoe weak defensively???? Not even close....

the above tackles percentage shows him as the same percentage as Charnley and he is always described as being weak defensively. I made my post before those stats were posted but to say he is equally bad was a pretty good call. We can talk about positional play but Charnley has ultimately being playing outside a second rower learning a new trade so at times has been exposed by Joels positional play. I stand by my comment they are as bad as each other defensively

1 - Tomkins
2 - Charnley
3 - Reed
4 - Yeaman
5 - Briscoe
6 - Widdop
7 - Lomax
8 - Morley
9 - Roby
10 - Graham
11 - Ellis
12 - Westwood
13 - O'Loughlin

14 - Griffin (prop)
15 - Mossop (2nd row)
16 - Carvell (prop)
17 - Bridge (Utility)

Brough is out of form, Atkins will cop out against tough opposition like last year

Peacock, JJB, Wilkin, Sinfield have had their chances and need to move over.

If we are to beat the Aussies (who are very drilled in defence) we need to offload and throw it about a bit but with McBanana in charge they will do 5 drives and a kick and play as if its a league game.

1. Tomkins
2. Hall
3. Reed
4. Atkins
5. Briscoe
6. Widdop
7. Brough
8. Peacock
9. Roby
10. Graham (c)
11. Ellis
12. Manu
13. O'Loughlin

14. Robinson
15. Carrvell
16. Morley
17. J Tomkins

18. Mossop
19. McIlorum
20. Lomax
21. Wilkin
22. Jones-Buchanan
23. Westwood (if fit)
24. Charnley
25. Crabtree

if westwood is fit he has to be first choice, arguably the best second rower in the comp. Mcilorum should be no where near an England shirt and thats coming form a Wigan supporter. and Graham shouldnt be captain, doesnt have the temprement for it. peacock, morley and lockers would all the captains armband above graham for me.