Now that the regular season is almost over I was looking forward to the upcoming test series and wondering how we will line up in the 1st game. Whilst G Burgess will be a big miss I think this has the potential to be one of the best England teams in my lifetime. For me it would be something like this (with half an eye on the world cup in 2017)

1. Hardaker
2. McGilvary
3. Watkins
4. Reed
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Gale
8. Hill
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Whitehead
12. Bateman
13. Cuthbertson

14. S Tomkins
15. T Burgess
16. Walmsley
17. Currie

The selection of Tomkins may seem an odd one but I can see him being used the way that Leeds have used Burrow over the past few years, coming in at dummy half to run at tired defenders while Roby is spelled or covering 13. There are a lot of quality players who miss out and I think arguments could be made for the likes of Williams, Briscoe, Percival, Amor, Ferres, LMS, Clark, Hodgson, Cooper and many more.

That is just my opinion though and with about a month to go I was wondering what other peoples opinions were. The only place we don't have any serious quality in depth for me is the back row as I don't think Farrell and J Tomkins are international standard.

I think you will find that both Hardaker & Roby will not be taking part in the series

If I'm reading it right, I'm not sure what a 'sold out' GF has to do with unused tickets from England v Uruguay being redeemed for England v NZ tickets on November 7th....

It's an interesting idea, can't imagine the RFL suggesting it but it would certainly ruffle a few feathers...

Thursday, expect more withdrawals.

Obviously not knowing exactly who is available makes it a little hard but ill go on the fact theyre in unless they are publicly out so its G burgers out so far who'd be a shoe in for me anyway.

What ever NZ comes even a second string one will be good, we can ride on he back of the crap RU team and show that we have a Rugby Team that can win something this year, we need to pick the best team available to us, and not just pick kids for the future, I think having a few in the squad yes, but knowing they are there for the experience more than anything and pick a best 17/18 man team and go with it for all 3 games

Mine would be

Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Reed
Hall

Widdop
Smith

T, Burguess
Roby
Graham

J. Tomkins
Bateman
O'Loughlin

Subs
Cuthbertson
Hill
Walmsley
S. Tomkins

Others

Currie
Cooper
McGilvray
Williams
Farrell
Percival
(would have been Stevie Ward if fit)