Im sure if the Aussies want to know how Tomkins plays they will have by now, by watchin a number of videos of his games for Wigan.

Unless they are blinded by their typical arrogance and complacency and haven't bothered

this England team will win against France, the only doubt is how many they will win by.

In the past, GB/England coaches have been slated for playing people out of their usual position on the big stage. Smith doesn't seem to have done this here and should be applauded for it. I, for one, think it's a good side.

No saints players starting though.

I'm confident that England would win by 15 even with Deakin as SH. This has nothing to do with the rights & wrongs of the turncoat Smith.

Myler is only a baby but between him, Tomkins and Eastmond we have the best half back prospects we've had for a while. It is too soon for all of them, but you put them in (not all the time, and not all at the same time especially against the stronger teams) and you see how they go, because we can't change when internationals come around, and because whatever the outcome, these lads will be better for the experience, so it should stand England in good stead, and because in any event they're likely to do at least as well as the alternatives.

To pick Myler against Wales and then drop him "for having a poor game" would be just silly.

However he was fine to pick Tomkins against Wales and then drop him "for having a very good game". That makes far more sense.

Except you don't actually believe that he has "dropped" Tomkins, though. You can be not playing for a myriad reasons, of which "dropped" is just one. Before someone else launches into a battle of semantics, I define "dropped" as "not being selected due to not playing well enough".

Yeah I know, and no doubt his mind was made up who he was going to play well before the Wales game. Probably around the time he was trying to convince Myler to sign for Warrington. But the fact remains Tomkins played Myler off the park last Saturday and yet he still picked Myler. It gives very much the wrong message to the squad in my opinion.

I agree it might - if Smith hasn't fully kept his players in the loop as to his selection policy and reasons. I would like to believe that he has.

Except while Smith doesn't have to explain his decisions to each of us I would grant him enough intelligence to explain his actions to the relevant members of the squad.*

*If I hadn't stopped for another gob full of my curry I would have beaten FA to the point.

I've no doubt he has explained it to them. And I doubt it's the real reason of "Because Myler now plays for Warrington"



I'm just saying I disagree with the choice based on the evidence I have available.

Scott Moore is a Saints player. HTH