Has he played at centre in the past? Would he go well there? Imo Tom Briscoe needs to be dropped because he looks well out of his depth. Lee Smith needs to take his spot the wing because he was getting shown up in defence at centre but he's good for a try or two so should play.

That leaves a centre position vacant and not many potential candidates. I'd prefer Eastmond not to have to play centre because he's so good at half back. Ellis is too slow and needed in the middle. Sykes is crap. The only option I can see other than Wilkin is Chris Bridge. Smith should have picked Senior and Pryce.

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I can't really remember Wilkin playing in the centre and don't think he would stand a chance in that position against worl class opposition and if Ellis is too slow then Wilkin certainly is. I agrre Lee Smith should be on the wing as at centre he is probably out of his depth at this level but a very able winger, but i don't totally agree that Briscoe looked way out of his depth as i think he didn't really have much chance to impose himself attacking wise and defensively Mcguire and Smith who were inside him badly let him down.

I think he will play Eastmond in the centre position because i dnt really see any other candidates that are in the squad, as you rightly said Sykes is crap and god only knows how he has managed to get in the squad, my guess is that he must know something about Tony Smith.

Senior and Gleeson should have been in the squad and believe Smith made a massive mistake by not picking them, he was trying to be too clever. If these 2 had played on Saturday the result could have been a lot different because i dnt think the Aussies would have had half as much joy down the left hand side!

We wouldn't have such a problem if

Pryce
Gleeson
Atkins
Senior

were in the squad.

Ones injured, one had retired (but couldnt be bothered to inform the coach of such himself), one hasnt played centre for years the other had his worse season in sl (though at his best is a cracking centrer).

Dont get me wrong i would have liked to have seen pryce or gleeson there over smith (who has never really been a centre) but we cant now which gives us only a few choices ellis, eastmond or bridge. I wouldnt put ellis there as why play our best second row in the backs? eastmond is a cracking player but against those big kiwi centres how will he fair? which leaves us with bridge who has looked good when i have seen him this year but i'm not sure international quality. I think tony smith should consider either shifting ellis to the other second row spot or swapping shenton to that side to improve our defence.

For me put eastmond in the halfs.

I agree with Eastmond in the halves, he and Tomkins are so dangerous.

They certainly are, i'm really looking forward to seeing these two in future years as there experiance grows and with it there talent.

With the current squad they have, they're best sticking with Eastmond at centre & Smith on the wing.

Why is it such a rarity that we can't produce a world class centre & winger in this country. In the last 10-15 years, I can only think of a handful, who weren't 1 season wonders ie Newlove, Robinson, Senior, Gleeson, Ellis, Sullivan (Yes I know he played for Wales) etc

The team I'd pick for the Kiwis is fairly obvious-

1)Briscoe 2)Smith 3)Eastmond 4)Shenton 5)Hall 6)McGuire 7)Tomkins Morley 9)Roby 10)Peacock 11)Ellis 12)Wilkin 13)Sinfield 14)Burgess 15)Graham 16)Crabtree 17)Moore

All well and good but James Graham ISN'T an Impact Player. I hard grafter and relentless workhorse.

Pack:
Morley
Sinfield
Graham
Peacock
Burgess
Ellis

Subs
Crabtree
Westwood
Carvell
Wilkin

One thing is key though, we must switch on as soon as we leave the sheds, face up to the HAKA and get into them from second one.

If we start playing 15minutes in or at half time like we have been doing we'll be watching the Kiwi's and Aussies the following week

Mate,

Ive nothing against Roby, My selection is based on what were facing.

Roby is a genuine superleague player, However hes not the biggest physically and i personally thought Sinfield was a sniff better in the second half.

Both Teams have clearly stated its going to be fierce out there.

Moi Moi has said in the Sydney Morning Herald "its on and has a big point to prove"

Graham as mentioned it and Tommy Leululi

Wilkin = Flat Track Bully.

Difficult one this week but id go with all forwards on the bench with sinfield to swapp in with roby as i thought he played really well at 9 last week

Briscoe
Smith
Eastmond
Shenton
Hall
McGuire
Tomkins
Morley
Roby
Graham
Peacock
Ellis
Sinfield

Burgess
Crabtree
Carvell
Westwood

The team has already been named and is as follows:

Shaun Briscoe
Peter Fox
Chris Bridge
Michael Shenton
Ryan Hall
Sam Tomkins
Kyle Eastmond
Adrian Morley
James Roby
James Graham
Jamie Peacock
Gareth Ellis
Kevin Sinfield

Bench:
Sam Burgess
Eorl Crabtree
Ben Westwood
Jon Wilkin

Im glad that McGurie has been dropped, nice to see eastmond getting his chance at 7 and also happy Jon Wilkin has been brought back in.