Peoples thoughts on a fully fit England starting 17 at this point on form.

1. S Tomkins
2. J Charnley
3. K Watkins
4. J Reed
5. R Hall
6. G Widdop
7. K Sinfield
8. S Burgess
9. M McIlorum (Not Roby just because haven't seen his form properly this year)
10. J Graham
11. B Westwood
12. L Farrell
13. S O'Loughlin

14. G Burgess
15. L Mossop
16. G Hock
17. Z Hardaker / Roby / Burrow / Take your pick for what you think you might need.

I'd go with that team, but obviously Roby should play hooker for the full 80 minutes and I'd have Ellis in the squad if he regains fitness and form at Hull. It's such a shame when you see the quality that side has to offer with Widdop and George Burgess but you just know McBanana will make some shocking selection decisions.

Correct. I expect McNamara to choose Chase ahead of Widdop (wrongly IMO)

I also expect an Ablett/JJB type selection in there as well.

Wouldn't choose Mcllorum, missed a lot of tackles this year.

The squad looks good, but the half back selection is where we will fail. Sinfields far too slow for 6 and not creative enough, Chase is brilliant one minute, awful the next. Very easy for teams to defend against, last tackle all charge at Sinfield as we have no other kicker, and put Chase under pressure rest of time as we just don't have other options.

Would love 6. Widdop 7. Brough 13. Sinfield to give us options, but just not going to happen sadly.

I would try Hardaker at Full Back, Sinfield at Scrum Half and Tomkins at Stand Off in some of our warm up games.
The pack looks good whichever options are selected.

Tomkins
hall
watkins
reed
charnley/riley/lynham

widdop/myler
sinfield/brough

graham
roby
carvell
westwood
ellis
s burgess

g burgess
l farrell
mossop
burrow (always like him internationally as aus/nz arent used to his style)

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Reed
Hall
Sinfield
Widdop
S Burgess
McIlorum
Graham
Farrell
Westwood/Ellis
O'Loughlin

G Burgess
Mossop
Hock
Roby

With players like Hardaker, Briscoe, Atkins, Burrow, Brough, Chase, Crabtree completing the 25 man sqaud.

I've no doubt however that players like Wilkin, Ablett, JJB, Cudjoe will be in the squad even though time and time again they've been shown up as not good enough at the highest level.

Widdop absolutely has to start. Last night I watched the 2011 Four Nations final again, it is the half backs where we are left wanting. I think we all know that he will go for Sinfield/Chase though, yet I still think we can do it. Call me mad!

Think Cudjoe and Ablett have shown enough development to be considered still. Ablett has a lot more competition so probably shouldn't make it, but do we really have many centres better than Cudjoe? Reed hasn't backed up enough since his debut season - but he has time to come back again.

Wouldn't mind seeing McNamara try 6. Chase, 7. Brough, 13. Sinfield just to see if Brough/Sinfield could work at the same time with another playmaker on the field (with a view to replacing Chase with Widdop).

I think we need to keep Tomkins at full back since we have numerous half back options. No need to weaken one position to strengthen another IMO.

Only controversy is over the halves and two props.

I would pick Luke Burgess, who was very solid for South Sydney last year, and will return to play in July. He would play for the first 20 minutes before being replaced by younger brother George. I would also pick Eorl Crabtree or Chris Hill as starting props (to be replaced by James Graham after 15 minutes).

Sam Burgess is much better used as a back rower, as he is showing at South Sydney right now.

James Roby is the number 1 hooker in England, and should claim his place when he returns from injury. Rob Burrow is an exciting impact player who can run rings around a tiring Australian or New Zealand pack.

Gareth Widdop must be selected since he is consistently good for Melbourne, and is an excellent second choice field kicker or goal kicker.


[iSam Tomkins

Ryan Hall, Jack Reed, Kallum Watkins, Josh Charnley

Gareth Widdop
Kevin Sinfield

Sam Burgess
Gareth Ellis, Ben Westwood
Luke Burgess, James Roby, Eorl Crabtree/Chris Hill[/i

InterchangeGeorge Burgess, James Graham, Gareth Hock, Rob Burrow
[/i

1. Tomkins
2. Hall
3. Watkins
4. Reed
5. Charnley
6. Widdop
7. Sinfield
8. G. Burgess
9. Lunt
10. Graham
11. Farrell
12. Ellis
13. S. Burgess

14. Roby/Burrow
15. Crabtree
16. Mossop
17. Hock

1. S Tomkins
2. J Charnley
3. K Watkins
4.L Cudjoe
5. R Hall

6. G Widdop
7. Brough
8. G Burgess
9. Roby )
10. J Graham
11. B Westwood
12. L Farrell
13. S Burgess

14. Crabtree
15. L Mossop
16. G Hock
17. Sinfield.

Sinfield used to spell Sam Burgess and Roby.

There are three ways to beat Australia.
1 Batter them in the forwards and then get some off loads going,
2 batter them in the forwards and then some clever runs from dummy half/ little inside plays for brough, tomkins , roby to run through some gaps.
2 A good kicking game to turn them around. Brough does that then Sinfield to comes on to share the duties and confuse the Aussie players is the kick coming from left to right.

We can normally match the Aussies for 60 minutes . The team above can all play big minutes and defend well but we need to think about how we can get points on the board the above is the way to do it IMHO

Tomkins
Charnley/Briscoe
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Sinfield
Brough
Graham
Lunt
Hill
Westwood
Ellis/Farrell/Delaney
Sam B

Roby
Crabtree
George B
Hock/Ablett/Ferres

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Reed
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. Widdop
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. S Burgess
11. Ellis (If he keeps fit & in form, Westwood if he doesn't)
12. Farrell
13. O'loughlin

14. G Burgess
15. Crabtree
16. Hock
17. tough call, probably a hooker from Burrow, McIlorum, Lunt, ect

Some real size on that bench, plenty of impact!

Watkins was in Cudjoes pocket today