The kid is playing the best rugby of his career. Thought even in defeat recently he's always been influential.

The thing I like about him is his [iattitude[/i. It's absolutely what you want from a half. Always positive. Radiates confidence. Always talking to his players. Doesn't panic when mistakes are made. Oh ... and - his game doesn't fall apart when he's the one making them (see Danny Brough, Smith etc.)

Good footwork. Good acceleration. Good hands with an eye for a gap. Perhaps his kicking game could do with a little fine-tuning but I'm really being picky here.

If he were playing for Saints, Leeds or Wigan he'd be an automatic starter at international level.

Don't you think you should wait until the international squad is actually picked?

If he's in it then won't this thread be pointless?

So he can be overlooked once again? No point saving your argument until AFTER the selection is made.

In case you haven't heard - we're playing to win.

He's been exceptional for Cas this year. Think he's missed 2 games and we've been absolutely rank without him. Totally agree about his attitude, doesn't matter who the opposition is he's fired up and gives his all. Captain material and probably our player of the year. I certainly think he adds more then say Matty smith for example.

He's not the only one.

Even I offer more than Matty Smith at the moment.

that last sentence has hit the nail smack on the head!

the same reason why a lot of players don't get talked up for international selection.

look at McGillvary, hes been doing what he's doing for years now but it's only just been picked up by the media and other clubs fans, whereas if he was at certain other clubs he would have been selected by now.

its not just him either, Holmes at cas hardly ever gets mentioned but yet as soon as some kid at Wigan, Leeds, saints, or wire has a few good games he's been talked up as a certainty.

also a good sport, the other week when played cas, the cas fans were chanting "Gale for England", after a particularly poor couple of minutes from him the giants fans chanted "Gale for Batley" and he took it in good spirits and had a giggle about it.

I'm not sure but isn't Holmes Scottish and played for Scotland? (That hasn't stopped McBanana in the past) but get your point
Few years ago Danny Kirmond was the best second rower in the comp but wasn't selected because he didnt play for a fashionable club. That's the problem with England, always selecting on reputation and not form. There's that saying - you keep doing the same thing you get the same results.

"Upset?"

Not unless I switched allegiance to Cas without knowing.

IIRC, McNamara stated before the world cup that he wanted England to be "team England", and set out to more or less turn the national team into a club team, with a squad , he then proceeded to more or less pick every eligible wigan and leeds players plus a couple from warrington, hull, hudds and rangi chase!

the idea been that as leeds and wigan were the top club sides at the time then the "team England" should be more or less based around 1 or 2 club teams.
it nearly worked though in terms of getting to the final.

The top teams are the top teams because they have the best players within their squads. So, it makes sense that the most of the England players come from the top sides.
The likes of McGilvery will be in contention for selection, but he plays in a position we have a lot of depth in at the moment, so if he doesn't get selected then he'll be unlucky, but it won't be a travesty. Well, it will be if Charnley or Makinson is selected in font of him.

As for Gale, he's had a great season, I think he deserves his place in front of Matty Smith, and I think he will get selected in front of him.