Looking at that squad I'm in full agreement that it looks unbalanced.

Only 2 centres suggests either Hardaker or Bateman have been picked as a centres. The big worry is not enough props. IMO there should be a minimum 5 in the squad.

I think we should be building towards the four nations next year and the next World Cup. For that reason I wouldn't have Westwood or O'loughlin in. I don't think Smith's form has warranted selection, neither do the Wigan fans after a quick read of their forum. I think he's been selected because McNamara was happy with him in internationals last year rather than just because he plays for Wigan as some suggest.

Genuinely surprised that there is no Liam Watts. He would be better to have in the squad that Westwood, considering the lack of props.

Can't believe Smith is still getting selected. He didn't seem to do anything last night, besides a few errors.

Hardaker
Burgess / Hall
Watkins /Bateman
Williams / Widdop

Graham / Roby / Hill
Whitehead and Farrell
O'Loughlin

Burgess / Cooper / Hodgson / Currie

- Shame that Burgess and Walmsley miss out through injury. He hasn't selected much depth up front.

- I can't see how Tomkins can play over Hardaker and I can't see how he can play over Williams, at #6, who has been outstanding. So I wouldn't pick Tomkins at all.

- How players like Smith, Cudjoe, Westwood and Ferres can get selected I don't know. Why continue with these players? This is the perfect opportunity to give younger players the chance to experience an England camp. From Saints the likes of Greenwood and Percival would benefit greatly.

Tomkins form hasn't warranted him to including in the squad, but no doubt he'll be squeezed in somewhere. He shouldn't be at 6 due to how long it's been since he last played there, and he shouldn't be at full back due to Zak's form. It just hope his inclusion to mean Zak gets put out to centre because that would just be a waste of his talents! Like others have said I don't think smith really warrants the shirt. Half backs would be Gale and Widdop for me

Has Danny McGuire retired from international footy? Because going off big finals he's been in recently he's ahead of Williams at the moment (Williams is a good runner of the ball and will improve, is actually really good but no McGuire in the biggest games yet), never mind Matty Smith whose inclusion is a ing joke.

Harry Sunderland winner last night, Lance Todd winner last year, good kicker, good try scorer, good support player, good passer, quite good defender...never picked for England anymore. And a player who has well out of his depth in the last two Grand Finals and every time I've seen him play for England gets in? Smith must have something on MacNamara.haha

Really unsure about Westwood and Farrell's inclusions too. Westwood is getting on and Farrell is a penalty machine but are both good players in their day.

I've not seen Ferres play well for two years though. I do not rate the guy at all for England v Kiwi level.

I'd play:
Widdop-McGuire
Widdop-Gale
Widdop-Williams
Widdop-Tomkins
McGuire-Gale
McGuire-Williams
McGuire-Tomkins
Gale-Williams
Gale-Tomkins
Williams-Tomkins
Westwood-Ferres
...in the halves before I'd let Matty Smith anywhere near the #7 jersey for England.

Watts plays for the wrong team. He's been one of the best back rowers in the league this season and if he played for a team higher up the table he'd probably be an automatic starter but Farrell Westwood (who I love as a Wire) and Ferres get it. Bizarre that one!

Strange selections aside, and with the big player injuries we have, it looks a good strong team.

Watts is a prop not a back rower and is very unlucky not to be picked.

It's beyond belief that some of you are saying Farrell shouldn't be in the team. I'm not sure what more he could do to prove how good he is, his defence is second to none, he makes more breaks than any other second rower I can think of, his footwork is brilliant, he can kick if needed and his passing is very good. The amount of tries he scores and sets up is pretty outstanding for a second rower. He was the best forward on the field last night.

With regards to Smith, I really wish McNamara didn't pick him. He's not had a good enough season and I think this is the worst thing for him, it's not like we're devoid of halfbacks this season. Last night will have done his confidence some damage and if he gets picked for England he'll only get more abuse. I'd like to see Williams/Gale then Widdop/Gale and as much as I want the team to move forward I think Danny McGuire is unlucky not to be included.

Disappointed Walmsley won't be playing, think he'd have made a serious impression against the kiwi props.

One last point about Tomkins, how many of you actually watch New Zealand Warriors games? Because if you did you'd see that he's been far from poor. He's been injured for a lot of the season so hasn't really stood out. The team he's playing in are not very good at all, Johnson never wants to pass for one. The games he has played in he has played well, his first two games this season he was their best player and the NZW fans all thought they were a much better team with him on the pitch.
No he's not has a good a season as Hardaker but he's playing in a team in a harder competition having been injured. Tomkins is a once in a generation kind of player. Hardaker is a better defender but if the side is good enough then your fullback shouldn't be getting tested all that often in defence. Tomkins attack is better in every aspect of the game.

Hardaker may deserve to play this season but to suggest he's a better player than Tomkins is ridiculous. The international team needs to have a core of senior players and Tomkins is one of those.

Three props in that squad, but eight back-rowers. Only two specialist centres.

Couple of injuries or withdrawals in the wrong positions and England are well and truly screwed. Unless people have withdrawn through injury but not made it public, I could name three or four props ahead of Burgess, who has been picked on his surname alone. Westwood and Currie had a mediocre finish to the season, as did Ferres who was anonymous in the big games at the end of the year.

Smith ahead of anyone is a nonsense. Very one-dimensional player who benefits from playing in a big team.

It's a shame in some ways that the Kiwis have had so many key withdrawals. A defeat in this series might have seen the back of McNamara, unfortunately a win might keep him in a job.