Rather bizarre selection.

Carvell should be in ahead of Westwood, Tomkins deserves a place somewhere too.

You can't? Really? I think that's simple. He's Smith's pet project. He certainly [ishouldn't[/i be in the squad, not because he doesn't have talent (I can't honestly remember whether he does!) but because playing one game in three months is no preparation for the Aussies.

I wonder why Smith has put Eastmond on the bench?

I actually think Tomkins will play in at least one of the big games.

For me this France game is about giving Myler another run out to see if he can get some of the rustiness out of the system

Having Eastmond on the bench also appears to me to be a case of easing him into the setup.

Got to say, that side looks pretty damn good. Pace to burn in the backs and the forwards look impressive too, especially with Burgess and Ellis at 2nd row, Ellis a mobile 2nd row forward and Burgess to beef it up cos he is a prop after all. Not bad when Jammer and Roby are on the bench.

This is the type of line up that Saints need to get back to. A big pack but with speed in the backs which we cleary don't have enough of.

And when we get a salary cap dispensation like Wigan had for years we could have a team like that lol

Personally I'd have Westwood sat in the stands with a real 2nd prop on the bench

This England side will get d*cked on by the Aussies and the Kiwi's.

Don't see what all the Lee Smith bashing is about. He's fast. He can play in a number of back positions. He scores tries in big matches.

It's not like we've got plenty of THOSE players in reserve.

Agree.

You play with your best players.

He is better than anything else we have to offer in that area, he is quick, good at high tackling, i mean good in defence and knows where the offside line is, i mean where the try line is.

IMO this is the worst set of backs I've ever seen for a England/GB team. The ain't any wordclass players in the backs and if I'm being honest the backs will cost us games against the Aussies and kiwis.

The pack is very strong IMO and will match or get on top of the kiwis and Aussies.

We've a big tough pack that won't take any crap and will lay the platform for the backs but the backs will let them down.

He's a good Winger, he's not a Centre.

Our best Centre is sat at home watching - Martin Gleeson.

A few seasons ago no one would have said any different.

However, from watching him, he has really adapted to that position at Leeds and looks very good in my opinion.

Ok, he's no Jamie Lyon, but he does the job very well.

Well, he'll fit right in with the rest of our non-centres. But at least he can put one foot in front of the other. Which is more than the rest of them can do.



Which is the best place for him. It's not like he's been running Inglis and company ragged recently.

If ever a horse was flogged past the point of death it's Gleeson.

I disagree, there have been worse collections of backs, no doubt, and right now we are not blessed at centre or wing. I can see Hall being in the team for a long long time though, also Eastmond and maybe Tomkins. Still plenty of years left for McGuire. The rest who knows, let just wait and see.

Problem really is that who else could he have picked and BTW I have no issue with Lee Smith being in there, his last few games in RL. Solid dependable player, pacey, dangerous in attack and solid in defence. It's not all about the future. The here and now says you have to pick some/most of your best players if you want to win international tournaments.

Good job we can laugh about it. I'm over it now.