Pretty much seals my decision to completely ignore the internationals until silly macnamara is gone from his job.

Fantasticchoice for captain. Ignore the wigan fans who think the international indadequate o loughlin should be captain

Give him a halfback partner that suit him like he has at Leeds then you're ok. That definitely ISN'T Chase! Perhaps Myler, he's use to playing with a not-too-quick 6 every week who is more of a thinker with a great kicking game.

I'd definitely move Tomkins to 6 or 7, and let someone with a physical presence - possibly Hardaker - take the flak of high balls etc. Five out of 6 tackles Tomkins would play exactly the same role he does at fullback but would not be as easily isolated. Personally, having seen a fair amount of him, I'd go for Widdopp/Tomkins at 6 and 7 with Sinfield at 13. I'd also make Sinfield responsible for running sets of 6 and long kicking, but if/when we get into the opposition 20 I'd be looking at planned moves around Widdopp/Tomkins.

The pluses for England are that if everybody's fit we may actually have some threequarters with punch - Charnley, Hall, Briscoe, Watkins, Reed and Atkins are miles ahead of what Tony Smith had just a few years ago.

On the downside, I simply don't buy into this 'better pack' routine that gets put out every year. Until our pack stands up to Australia in a big game, both physically and in playing as a unit and helping create space for the backs with dummy runners, I will not believe it. If anything I think its our much vaunted pack which has been most disappointing in big games.

If we have to pick a Captain Sinfield is one of a couple of people who are a good choice.

I however disagree with the concept of picking an international captain and would prefer SM to pick a leadership team of 5 players. Once a captain is named the coach is effectively forced to pick him regardless of his form or the form of anyone else competing for his position. With a leadership team we could nominate a captain from the group on a game by game basis and the coach would be in a better position to change the team if needed.

Good decision. But five years too late. I really like Kevin Sinfield but I'd have gone with James Roby.