England Side

1. Briscoe
2. Briscoe
3. Smith
4. Shenton
5. Hall
6. McGuire
7. Tomkins
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Morley
11. Peacock
12. Ellis
13. Sinfield

14. Burgess
15. Crabtree
16. Westwood
17. Eastmond

i know that smith is a good player,but expecting him to play in 2 positions at the same time?

Glad Tomkins is back in!!

That should read Hall. There are only two changes Tomkins for Myler and Crabtree for Moore. Looks like we are going for a bit more beef in the pack instead of two hookers. Peacock is moving to second row to give Graham a start with Burgess dropping to the bench.

Why Graham didn't start last week is a mystery, the answer to which, only Tony Smith has the key.

Maybe because Morley hadn't played for a month, so Smith thought it best to give him a start, and to give the overworked Graham a break and start him from the bench.

Ahh! if only we could unlock his mind.

I'm guessing that Kyle will be used as the second hooker to give Roby a break. Hopefully he will get more game time, and when Roby returns, he could move into the backs, with any luck.

It's a big pack and there is plenty of pace out wide. I hope Sinfield can step up and direct play like he does at Leeds, otherwise creatively we are screwed.

Sinfield isn't international class IMO, but with O'Loughlin injured, we don't really have any other options. Also, i don't see what everyone see's in Briscoe on the wing? He looks to have some potential, although i haven't seen much of him, what i have seen hes never really stood out to me, would have liked to see Fox given the chance, i rate him quite highly. Also, i can't see Crabtree causing many problems, don't really rate him myself, Carvell should have been ahead of him. Westwood is another i don't think is good enough.

I'd like to have seen:

Briscoe
Fox
Eastmond (No doubting Smith has ability, but we're building for the future, right?)
Shenton
Hall
Tomkins
McGuire
Graham
Moore
Peacock
Ellis
Burgess
Sinfield

Roby
Carvell
Morley
Wilkin

I do think Smith can cause a few problems, but i don't think he should be playing now he is off to Union, otherwise with him playing, i would move Eastmond to either full back and drop Briscoe, or move him to the bench in place of Wilkin, few options available.

Either way, its not to be and the team is what Smith has chosen, lets just hope they do us proud and show some heart and passion, its about time they did. Theres no questions the pack is good enough, but as we all know there isn't much in the backs IMO. We need someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck, like Longy did in 2006.

i have a feeling that this is going to be a bit embarrassing.

I know some will mention his inexperience there but i'd have Eastmond in the centres,Shenton looked like a rabbit in headlights last week.And Eastmond was arguably the best centre on display in our last 2 games.Seeing as Wilkin has turned into a more defencive player this year i'd have him in before Westwood,much more in attack and less likely to give needless pens away.

Whoever plays centre had better have some heart - the Aussie centres are not exactly small, or slow, or unskillful they will need to be tackled every time they have the call - look what happened against the Kiwis when they got loose