It's a tremendous front row, but the back row isn't as good as it has been over recent years. O'Loughlin would make a big difference (apparently the option is still there to slot him into the team later in the week if he recovers).

They are missing Wilkin in that back row

The burgess bros and graham are top class and proven at the top level. The rest ain't so good tbh.

Id certainly have Whitehead in the back row above Tomkins. Farrell certainly lacks the size for international level rugby IMO but does run good lines so Id take him as the second option.

Perhaps LMS was hard done to, not being taken as a back row?
I've been critical of his inconsistency, but perhaps he could be adding a real bit of power to the England back row.

We don't know that he isn't plus there's still games after this one.

If he doesn't play and we lose then we basically out

Do you think????

Or will it be a case of NZ deciding who to play?

True. But it's equally right to say if he does play and we lose we're out...or if he doesn't play and we win we still have to more games etc. The point being that he's there as the current best LF available to us and is expected to be available at some point during the competition. There is no one else who could have gone in his place who, frankly, would make a difference in this game anyway so I'm not sure what we lose by him being there even if he can't play, especially given his undoubted influence around the camp. I don't think it's over stating the case to say our chances of a win are significantly improved with a fit O'Loughlin in the team on Sunday, so it's certainly worth having him there to at least make that a possibility. However, I hope that fact doesn't push the management into taking a gamble on playing him if he isn't fit. Unlike SL, an unfit player would get exposed at this level. That's the only negative I can see regarding him being there tbh and I hope McNamara makes the right decision.

why?

Assuming NZ beat Samoa, and Aus beat Samoa, we would need to beat NZ to get to 4 points with Aus. Depending on points difference, we would be in the final (unless the Aussies decide to vote on appointing themselves into the final). NZ would undoubtedly prefer to play England than Aus in the final, so I would expect them to field a weaker team against us.

Because we won't beat the Aussies or the kiwis and the Aussies will put a big score on Samoa

That would be very interesting to see what they would do. There are probably some that would say they'd back themselves again against this Aussie side so nothing to lose either way?

I don't think Lms was ever in contention and rightly so.

I've been a critic, but he'd have faired better than Jomkins,

Just got back from my jols. What a game that was. England really expressed themselves in that 1st half then remembered in the 2nd half that we're a nation of conservatism and reigned our sense of adventure right back in, to mess it up.

That was a try imo however, they blew it for themselves. That said, if we turn up and play like that again in both halfs, we can beat the Kiwis...not sure they can do it by more than 10 though.