people always use mcguires failure to live upto potential at international level against him. but in reality...how many of englands top players over the last 10 years have performed well in internationals. sean long had one good game in the 2006 tri nations. james roby did ok in that tournament. kevin sinfield did well last yr. sam burgess has looked good at times. scully had some good games in his pomp. adrian morley has done well. martin gleeson did well in 2004. brian carney had his moments. no one has really performed well consistently tho.

The reality is danny mcguire is an exceptional talent who can do a lot of damage both in broken play and close to the opponents line (yesterday against hull for example). But if your always playing behind a beaten pack as he does at international level, how much can he be really expected to do.

For me, tompkins full back, with mcguire and eastmond in the halves come the four nations.

It seems to be if you don't rate him as the best half back in the league then you must think he's .

I think most fans rate him highly, just a big difference between that and claiming he's best half back in league.

McGuire is on the same level as Tomkins, Eastmond, Briers and Pryce IMO. They all have their strengths and weaknesses.

Tomkins only steps off his left with any pace and the Aussies will know this. Having said that what a step it is, and he also has a drill of a fend to go with it and alot of pace.

Eastmod is freakishly strong and very dangerous close to the line, ducking between tacklers seems to be very effective. His passing and kicking games seem to be developing but not on the same level as someone like Briers.

Pryce can be devestating but also likes to go hiding when it gets tough IMO. has the advantage of being as big as some forwards.

Briers is a brilliant kicker and passer, but is not as athletically gifted as the others mentioned.

McGuire can step both ways, has quite alot of pace, has the knack of scoring tries and is the best support player out of the lot. It's a tough call for England selection, but I'd be tempted to go Eastmond 7, McGuire 6 and Tomkins at 1.

If you had to choose between Tomkins and McGuire for England I'd pick Tomkins, because he actually looked likehe meant it against the Aussies at the end of last year. He may pull at shirts in D but I don't care he gets the job done.

I don't know why, but McGuire just has one of those faces i just want to punch repeatedly. Very good half back though, always comes up with the goods when everything is on the line.

Well whoever said it was wrong. He was on the wing that night. Noble knew he would never make a decent stand off which is why he played him on the wing, giving him freedom to make a few runs from dummy half when the Bulls were on the front foot. The tactic won him the Harry Sunderland. A tactic Noble also used well with him internationally.

Pryce has, on the other hand, faced McGuire at stand off the last three Grand Finals. In those games Pryce implemented half of Nobles master plan by drifting out of the games, he just forgot to drift back in.

To the people suggesting Tomkins at 1 .... Widdup (assuming available) should be Full Back ... Tomkins one of the Half Backs. Not sure if Eastmond isn't a touch too 'brittle' at this stage for serious Internationals although I have no doubt his time will come.

That is all.