FORUMS > The Virtual Terrace > RLWC 2017 - England Squad |
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Player Coach | 2833 | No Team Selected |
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| My team would be:
Hardaker
McGilvry
Watkins
Shenton
Eden
Widdop
Gale
Graham
Hodgson
Sam Burgess
Whitehead
McMeekan
O'Loughlin.
Walmsley
Taylor
Watts
Burgess.
Firstly, I hope Bennett sees the sense in maintaining the Castleford left edge. Gale, Hardaker, Shenton and Eden have been the best attacking combination in SL this year, and spend hour after hour training together and know instinctively what each other will do. The timing and execution of the plays that these players can run are a potent attacking weapon. As an individual, I rate Percival more than Shenton BUT the advantage of having a unit that already plays together regularly and to a very high standard outweighs this, in my opinion.
Ryan Hall. He's been England's best over the last decade. But he isn't any more. His game has never been based on blistering pace, but he can't score the kind of acrobatic tries that is now expected of wingers. I hear talk of his kick returns, but the extra metre or so he makes on contact doesn't compensate for the metres that could be gained by players with more pace on the kick return(i.e. Eden). If Eden can make six or seven metres more ground before the chasers get to him, it's worth far more than an extra metre or two at the point of contact.
Mike McMeekan. I might be accused of Cas bias here, but McMeekan played very well in the Samoa game and has just earned himself a place in the Super League Dream Team. However, more importantly, I'm tired of us picking forwards who are too small (Bateman and Farrell). They may hold their own in SL (and more), but watching them against Australia's or New Zealand's forwards is like watching men playing boys. All too often, the best they can manage is literally dragging down other forwards, clinging on for dear life. They have no defensive impact and no ability to dominate when they carry the ball. McMeekan, on the other hand, has the size and strength to actually dominate in the tackle, whether this be in attack or defence.
Oh, and if Kevin Brown is anywhere near the squad, it's certain proof that Bennett hasn't watched a SL game all year.
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International Star | 7538 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/28.png) |
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| Looks like a first choice 13 in the warm-up match.
Interesting that Bateman is at right centre.
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Player Coach | 8480 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/34.png) |
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| Quote: Wigg'n "Looks like a first choice 13 in the warm-up match.
Interesting that Bateman is at right centre.'"
Oh dear. I am not saying Bateman isn't capable, but he isn't the 2nd best centre we have
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Player Coach | 15444 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/28.png) |
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Jul 2005 | 19 years | |
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[quote="Frank Zappa":1sacjrvf]Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.[/quote:1sacjrvf]
[quote="The_Enforcer":1sacjrvf]Most idiotic post ever goes to Grimmy..... The way to restart should be an arm wrestle between a designated player from each side.[/quote:1sacjrvf]: |
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| Quote: Wilde 3 "Oh dear. I am not saying Bateman isn't capable, but he isn't the 2nd best centre we have'"
Seems like a very negative option to me, as though we are more bothered about what they will do than what we will do. Unless Bennett is saying to himself "Percival has one centre spot, let's see the other two battle it out for the second spot"
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Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 3726 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/52.png) |
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Oct 2005 | 19 years | |
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18764_1329753271.gif Waiting for the 2021 RLWC:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_18764.gif |
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| Quote: Wilde 3 "Oh dear. I am not saying Bateman isn't capable, but he isn't the 2nd best centre we have'"
I agree. England never seem to learn NOT to select players out of position. If Bennet is concerned about defensive capabilities of his centres then Shenton is an automatic pick as he's a great defender. He may not be the most brilliant attacking centre but, then, neither is the second-row forward known as Batemen.
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Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 7538 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/28.png) |
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May 2011 | 13 years | |
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| Quote: Grimmy "Seems like a very negative option to me, as though we are more bothered about what they will do than what we will do. Unless Bennett is saying to himself "Percival has one centre spot, let's see the other two battle it out for the second spot"'"
Did you mean Watkins?
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