I think the points and issues you raise G1 are spot on, my only other point on the matter is that i really don`t think Lee Smith should of been in there in the first place, having signed for union, once the Grand Final was over it should of been thanks very much Mr Smith go and collect your 30 pieces. I just can`t get my head round why he was selected.

IMO it's a very very poor backline. It's worst I've ever seen for a GB or England side.

The centre postion is going to be big problem for England over the next few years.

Lee smith has had good season and should be centre IMO if the team is being picked on form which I believe tony smith has said. Lee smith was poor on Saturday which could happen to any player as even the best players have shockers.

If I was in smith shoes I would have picked senior and gleeson as my centres because I think they are best all round English centres.

I would have also played pryce on the wing.

We can't really. Smith would have been the first choice if he wasn't going to union. Could Gleeson have done a job? I've seen nothing from him to suggest he can and also Smith shipped him out of Warrington which also suggests he doesn't rate him or regards his inclusion as being detrimental to the squad. Not an unreasonable assumption given he was shipped out of Saints too.

Didn't gleeson captain England while tony smith was in charge?

Its already been mentioned, I would have had Leon Pyrce at centre and Ellis the other one, two big centres.

Can,t understand Tony Smiths selection policy, particularly Lee Smith one more game and ceases to be a rugby league player, what long term objective is that.

Smith has selcted Chris Bridge into the squad so why doesn't he use him at centre?
Smith and McGuire got found out defensivly but not as much as Peacock who was too far inside, then too slow to cover where he should have been.
Smith and McGuire were left stranded by Peacock's absence.
Next week we need two backrowers who are big enough and fast enough to do the job. Ellis was great, so who should the other backrower be who can provide that defensive cover that's needed?
Find a good one and put Bridge at centre with Fox on the wing.
Bridge can beat a man and Fox is a mile faster than anything the Kiwis have.

Bridge is Lee Smith but bigger and probably quicker.
I'd have started him there tbh

Im sure if Ryan Atkins was fit he would have been in squad and would have played ahead of Shenton.

dont quite understand why shenton is coming in for some flak,tbh he`s done little wrong, defencively he`s been solid whilst in attack he has had no service whatsoever from the halves.

the problem is england dont have a newlove or a senior which we have had for the past 15 years who can bust a tackle and im not sure where we are going to get one from in the near future and ryan atkins isnt the answer.