Quote: kirkhall "So Close yet so far away? This England squad has/had the potential to win this world cup against, what are pretty ordinary Aussie and NZ teams compared to previous teams, they have had!
Unfortunately, our coach McNamara is our weakest link both, on and off the pitch! Nobody knows why he is the International coach and, just what has merited him to be head coach?
Without doubt our biggest area of concern is the halfbacks! I'm lucky to have seen the likes of Helme,Murphy,Bishop,Nash,Millward,Gregory,Edwards and Long so, just were does Sinfield compare at Scrum half to those world class players!
Tomkin and Burrow at halback for me with Roby at hooker and lets go at OZ and NZ with pace and flare!
Do what Bobby Goulding says and, leave super Kev out, there are plenty of candidates for captain; Tomkin, O'Loughlin etc....
Do it now McNamara before its too late !'"
I'd hardly say they were poor teams we face.
Greg Inglis would fit in with any of the teams of the past couple of decades I'm sure. Billy Slater and Cameran Smith would be up there too. Thurston is no Wally Lewis but he's better than anything we have and better than 'some' of the English one's you mention too.
As for Tomkins and Burrow at half back, they would be mashed
And although I'm ok with O'Loughlin being captain, to suggest Tomkins means you haven't seen him as a captain. Outstanding player, but a long way to go before he is a decent Wigan captain never mind England captain.