Chase not being included has to be either disciplinary or because of an injury. As much as I'm not a fan of Chase playing for England, it would be dumb to just change the halfback combination we've been practicing with for any other reason.

For the team out of that 19 man squad I'd go with:

Tomkins,
Charnley, Cudjoe, Watkins, Hall,
Widdop, Sinfield
Hill, Roby, Graham,
S. Burgess, Ferres, O'Loughlin.

Burrow, G. Burgess, Westwood, Ablett/Mossop.

I think I'd pick Ablett over Mossop or Farrell for the last bench spot. He offers cover for the backs if needed.
That only leaves 3 props - Graham, Hill, G. Burgess - but Graham always plays big minutes and Sam Burgess can always move up to prop if required.

I don't do optimism.

Assuming there are no discipline issues, which is just a rumor.

I can see the logic in trying something different. IMHO Chase has had several games to impress and really apart from half a game at Hull he has done very little to impress. I know the French game was knockout rugby, but really Graham could play standoff against the French and we should still win.

Now it's do or die and in a way the coach has little to lose. He's tried Chase and waited and waited for it to come good. He got 30 minutes from him in a game we had took control of. If he goes out with the same players, why would the result differ.

The coach is also up for a new contract. He can see what we have so far is not enough possible to get the job done against the Champions. So on a risk basis, if he feels 'his man' is not going to get the job done, then drop him.

I've no issue with dropping MM. I thought from his work in the season he earned a chance and he was given a chance for England, but I was far from thinking he was putting up a challenge to either Burrow or Roby.

Some times the best players in one team do not shine in another. I remember Danny Ore Being a god at Cas, but put him in the Wigan outfit and he faded.
I think the same applies for MM and Chase. Chase has games where he looks untouchable, but this set up has not worked for him. MM deserved a shot, but did not shine.

Others eg Sinfield pre tournement I thought he was a bad choice, but actually I've been impressed with what I've seen.

It's easy to always bag the team, in the end if you back them to lose, then it's a risk free bet. If they win, no one will care. If they lose, you can declare some great wisdom.

What I will say is that the halfbacks are thin on the ground so booting anyone out would be impossible. If we progress and Sinfield or Widdop get an injury, we'd be looking at hookers to cover halfback.

Does not what what the team is if we lose it will all be Sinfields fault

WOW, you're all completely forgetting who's the coach !!!!

We'll probably see Tomkins and Sinfield in the halfs and Widdop put as full back.

Only if he does a Billy Slater

Me!

Exactly - much as thoughI like Chase, he has been unimpressive, especially last weekend where he was almost anonymous.

New Zealand will be without winger Manu Vatuvei for Saturday's World Cup semi-final against England at Wembley.

We have a great in form pack that needs the halves to move the team around, Widdop can do that far better than Chase who seems to get in the way most times.

I'd go with that as well, but I'm not sure about that Gurgess bloke on the bench.