Quote Larry Billey="Larry Billey"Has the Exiles defeat been wiped from your memory..???'"
No Burgess (take your pick), Ellis, Widdop, Reed or Heighington (not that he'll get picked) from the NRL.
Also, no Brough or Roby (injured) so we didn't have our first choice half-backs and were light in the pack. Not to mention out of form centres in Shenton (picked on reputation) and Bridge (doesn't even play there for his club at the mo), Sinfield at stand-off (WTF?!) and a very poor bench and it's no wonder we got beat.
England's strength is unfortunately not in it's depth. We've known that for a while, but at least the Exiles game shows us this (unlike a game against France or Wales that makes our 4th string look like world beaters). We know who can and can't cut it,
Compare the team that faced the Exiles to the team likely to be in the 4N:
England (June 2011):
S.Tomkins, Hall, Bridge, Shenton, Briscoe; Sinfield, Myler; Peacock, Robinson, Graham, Westwood, Wilkin, O'Loughlin.
McIllorum, Carvell, J.Tomkins, Morley.
England (October 2011):
S.Tomkins, Charnley, Reed, Yeaman, Briscoe; Widdop, Brough; Peacock, Roby, Graham, Westwood, Ellis, O,Loughlin.
Robinson, Carvell, Morley, Heighinton.
*Think Sam Burgess is injured IIRC, and don't think Luke has been picked.
