Savelio inclusion is a good idea, I share the concerns regarding the back row and he has the potential to be better than any of our currently available options.

Do you see him as a back rower or a prop though? I can't make up my mind.



I think two things Greenwood needs to work on for now are his work rate and his tackling/wrestle. His last 4 matches he's averaged 27 tackles and 68 metres a match. Whitehead 34 tackles and 90 metres a match. Liam Farrell 37 tackles and 114 metres a match. Obviously part of the difference is due to playing styles (with Farrell in particular), but I think Greenwood is great if you are attacking someone's line at the minute, but to be an international second rower he needs to be just as effective carrying the ball in his own half. At the minute as well when he's tackling he can be wrong-footed, leading to a really quick play the ball. He doesn't necessarily miss the tackle, it just isn't a particularly effective one. As much as we criticise Wigan for it, slowing the PTB is huge nowadays but a lot of it comes from getting your footwork right into contact really.

How good is Widdop's kicking game? It'll have to be good, because in most of these teams he'd be doing it all on his own.

That wouldn't concern me. Both Roby and Hodgeson have a decent boot out of dummy half. Tomkins' kicking game is good enough to be a back up to Widdop.

Hodgson's excellent kicking out of acting half.

Farrell is nowhere near international quality. Its one thing making yards in SL, but he was just far too small last year, even losing the ball in the collision a few times. We need backrowers who love the tough stuff. The only way you could get away with a smaller second row is an absolute workaholic who runs good lines (so avoiding head-on collisions with bigger forwards). I don't see any of our options having that kind of engine or rugby brain.

On Savelio, if he's got the potential to pick other national teams, I'd be very tempted to do a Widdopp and get him in the squad ASAP even though he's not quite ready. That was a really smart move by our often criticised coach.

An absolute workaholic who runs good lines is how I see Farrell to be honest.

if you're picking players solely on form and not just on team colours, then Jerry McGillvary would be a shoe in!

I can't see past Hall and Burgess if I'm honest. Back up I prefer Makinson, in part because he can cover fullback too, but McGillvary after that I'd say. He's unfortunate to have came along at a time when England finally has some decent wingers!

Farrell was awful last year. I didn't see him run any good lines at all - generally straight at bigger forwards who knocked the ball out in the tackle too often. Its bad enough that both Burgii will drop the ball cold every now and then without having other forwards do it on regulation carries.

The sort of smaller forwards who work are Guerra/Cordner at the Roosters, Ryan Hoffman or even Greg Bird. All run really good angles making yards by running at gaps rather than defenders even under pressure. Like I say, Farrell may do that in SL but he was horrible for England last year (as was Joel Tomkins who at least had the excuse of only just having come back to RL).

Fair point, but I think we don't play enough internationals for us to be able to ignore how players perform in Super League. Based on last years Four Nations, Sarginson would be very hard to leave out, but he's been awful this year for Wigan. I don't think Farrell is ever gonna win you a game but you have an idea of what you're getting - a workhorse who hits a decent unders line and tackles well. I'd only pick George Burgess out of the Burgii.

You can't have Bateman and Farrell in the same team. Against the Aussies you're praying they go for mobility (in which case we could dodge a bullet). The problem is when the Aussies go for mobility it usually means picking equally big players who are ALSO mobile.

Against the Kiwi's steamroller-sized forwards we might as well open the oven door, turn on the gas and shove our heads in.

You can get away with one lightweight yet agile forward against SH sides. But you're aiming to get creamed playing two.

Besides, the Aussies looked like they had Farrell on toast previously.

I also think Farrell is done at this level, I'm a big fan of his at domestic level but his limitations are there for all to see.

I agree. One of the things any England coach has to look for is players who are better for England than club rugby would suggest - those who seem to grow an extra leg (I thought Sargison did that last year). We also have players who for whatever reason fold at international level. To me Farrell seems to fit more in that category.