McNamara hinted at changes against the French, what team would you go for? I'd go for:

1. Tomkins (needs match fitness)
2. Charnley
3. Ratchford (debut) (swap with Watkins in final)
4. Cudjoe (swap with Hardaker in the final)
5. Briscoe (rest Hall)
6. Chase (if avaliable? Swap with Sinfeild in the final)
7. Myler
8. L.Burgess (debut)
9. McIlorum
10. Harrison (debut)
11. Ellis
12. Hock (give him a start for confidence)
13. Farrell (debut)

14. Burrow
15. Hill
16. Mossop
17. Ablett (utlility)

Hardaker (long season with Leeds, rest him for the final to replace Cudjoe)
Hall (long season with Leeds, rest our star winger for the final)
Watkins (star centre, rest him for the final)
Sinfeild (getting old, long season with Leeds, needs to best rested for the final)
Morley (getting old, rest him for the final)
Buchanan (long season with Leeds, rest for final)
O'Loughlin (got an injury, rest for the final)

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Ratchford
Briscoe
Sinfield
Myler
Hill
Burrow
L Burgess
Ellis
Hock
Harrison

Mcilorum
Morley
JJB
Mossop

Thats not a bad call actually, giving Watkins more international experience............ and also keeping the same 6 & 7 pairing and Harrison 13 as well. It'll be interesting to see who he picks.

I'd probably swap McIlorum and Burrow, but I'd agree with the rest.

Maybe you could start Burrow, and put chase on the bench to give him a game if hes fit............. just a random question, whats up with Westwood? Is he having an op or something?

From the 19 man squad announced I would go with:

1. Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Pats)
2. Josh Charnley (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Pats)
3. Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos, Latchford Albion)
4. Zak Hardaker (Leeds Rhinos, Featherstone Lions)
5. Tom Briscoe (Hull FC, Featherstone Lions)
6. Kevin Sinfield © (Leeds Rhinos, Waterhead)
7. Richie Myler (Warrington Wolves, Halton West Bank)
8. Adrian Morley (Warrington Wolves, Eccles)
9. Michael McIlorum (Wigan Warriors, Queens)
10. Chris Hill (Warrington Wolves, New Springs Lions)
11. Gareth Ellis (Hull FC, Lock Lane)
12. Jamie Jones-Buchanan (Leeds Rhinos, Stanningley)
13. Carl Ablett (Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Parkside)

14. Rob Burrow (Leeds Rhinos, Featherstone Lions)
15. Lee Mossop (Wigan Warriors, Hensingham)
16. Gareth Hock (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Judes)
17. Ben Harrison (Warrington Wolves, Barrow Island)

Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield Giants, Newsome Panthers) - for Tomkins
Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders) - for Briscoe
O'Loughlin for Harrison

Intersting note, if that team were to start, only players from 5 clubs have been selected, showing a lack of competition and depth in Super League

Hardaker
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Briscoe
Sinfield
Tomkins
Mossop
McIlorum
Hill
JJB
Ellis
Harrison

Subs
Morley
Hock
Ablett
Burrow

Myler to miss out and Hall to be rested IMO. I'd have a look at Tomkins at scrum half to give us an extra option.

I think defensively, Hardaker and Widdop are better fullbacks, maybe in internation rugby, Tomkins position is 6....... who knows

Why move the best FB we have to 6, when the best SO we have, plays SO every week for the best team in the NRL?

Doesn't make sense.

Not sure whats McNamara's obsession with not playing Widdop and playing Sinfield OOP.

I think Tomkins is poor under high balls and defensively in general, Widdop is a bigger guy with better defensive attributes........ Last time Tomkins played against Australia they put high ball after high ball and they murdered him......... He got slaughtered, as his career progress's he'll be moved to 6 like Lockery....... I don't think Tomkins played 6 and Widdop playing 1 is out of position, because they can both play there equally as well. Putting Morley in the centres is out of position....

So if he's poor defensivley in general(I agree BTW) why have him defending in the line, where he's going to be questioned more often than not? Of course they are playing OOP, Widdop plays 6 and Tomkins plays 1, so switching them around is indeed playing them both OOP.

He might well move to 6 when he's got a bit better defensivley and a bit stronger, but that is then and this is now, and for now Tomkins is the best FB England have, and Widdop is the best 6(IMO) and I can't see any sense is moving them about, not that Steve Mac will play Widdop or Hardaker anyhow when it comes up to the tests against NZ and Aussie.

In attack 1 and 6 are pretty much identical (defense different obvs)...... however Tomkins needs to work on his high ball catchs before he can be a competant international FB, maybe Widdop is the safer option at FB? Tomkins can be hidden on the wing (against the smallest winger for example Darius Boyd)?

I think Widdop and Hardaker have a good chance of playing against the Aussies, like you said Widdop is the best 6 (Sinny 7), Hardaker could be used in any of the 3/4 positions if we have injuries, which is highly likely......

Darius Boyd and various other Antipodean 3/4's are big powerful men. Sam Tomkins cant mark them, we need our own powerful wingers like Ryan Hall to mark them. Its no use putting Tomkins straight against them or any other big guy that they send his way, he'll be run over. That's why IMO, it would be better of keeping him at the back, and letting Widdop, who is used to defending against the big edge guys down under stay there.

FWIW, I just dont think McNamara will play Widdop, he will go with Sinfield at 6, but if I had my way it would be Widdop at 6 and Tomkins at 1.

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Reid
Hall
Widdop
Brough
Burgess
McIlorum
Graham
Ellis
Hock
O'Loughlin

Ablett
Crabtree
Roby
Mossop

I was never a fan of Sinfield, but I've changed my mind over recent times, he'll make a good 7........ bit old now though at 32...... I'd start Roby and have Burrow coming off the bench, Chris Hill has got to be in with a shout of the WC squad as well if he keeps his form next year. Looks a good team that though, competative to say the least. We now have depth to our squad which is a good thing!!!! Competetion for places!!!

Yeah Id have Hill in there, Ben Westood and Harrison too.

Sinfields a great player, just not an international.